TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati Department of Athletics celebrated its 2022 One Team Honors event on Monday in Fifth Third Arena. This was the first in-person celebration since April of 2019 as the last two events were held virtually.
One Team Honors is an annual end-of-year event which celebrates the best of Bearcats Athletics. Led by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Bearcats student-athletes and staff presented awards in several different categories.
2021 AWARD WINNERS
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Awarded to a male and female student-athlete in their first year as Bearcats who have made the biggest impact on their respective teams. This award is nominated and voted by their fellow student-athletes.
Abby Walker – Volleyball, 2021
Mason Fletcher – Football
NANCY HAMANT SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Awarded to the male and female senior student-athlete with the highest student-athlete cumulative GPA.
Jane Sensibaugh – Women's Track & Field
DR. SIMON ANDERSON FACULTY AWARD
This award honors Dr. Simon Anderson, who worked as a professor in UC's College-Conservatory of Music for 41 years. This accolade is presented to a faculty member who demonstrates continued support of the educational advancement of UC student-athletes.
Barry Baker
COMMUNITY CATS AWARD
This award made its debut in 2021 and recognizes a Bearcats student-athlete that goes above and beyond when it comes to serving the University and Cincinnati community. This award is nominated and voted by their fellow student-athletes.
Annie Metzger – Women's Soccer
ONE TEAM STUDENT-ATHLETE AWARD (In honor of Zack Tobler)
This individual might be seen as the unsung hero of the team. Someone who may not always receive recognition but is still always looking out for the best interest of the team, is supportive and always maintains a positive attitude. A student-athlete who lives the one team culture every day and best represents the CPAW. This award is nominated and voted by their fellow student-athletes.
Sofia Gritzali – Women's Basketball
Dondrae Bremner – Baseball (2x Award winner, last won in 2021)
BEN FLICK MEMORIAL AWARD
Former UC football players Grant Coleman and Mark Wilson created this award to honor the memory of teammate Ben Flick, who passed away in 2013. This award is granted to a freshman who has made an impact on the Bearcats Community and embodies the same characteristics of charisma, passion, and dedication that Ben displayed. This award is nominated and voted by their fellow student-athletes.
Annika Kinley – Women's Track & Field
Collin Singler – Men's Swimming and Diving
TED CORBITT BREAKING BARRIERS AWARD
New this year, this award is in honor of four-year letter winner Ted Corbitt, who competed from 1938-1942 when when opportunities to compete were limited because of racial barriers and discrimination. The grandson of slaves and World War II veteran went on to amass one of the most prolific careers in the history of distance running. Known as the "Father of Ultramarathoning" in the United States, he finished more than 223 marathons and ultramarathons, and was the first Black marathoner in U.S. Olympic history. This award is given to a student-athlete who has demonstrated a commitment to breaking barriers and advancing the UC student-athlete experience.
Victoria Abunaw – Women's Track & Field
HELEN NORMAN SMITH & JIMMY NIPPERT AWARDS
The Helen Norman Smith and Jimmy Nippert Awards are given to the female and male senior student-athletes who have demonstrated over the course of their career academic achievement, outstanding contributions and/or excellence in athletic performance in their sport and documented community service.
HELEN NORMAN SMITH AWARD
Helen Norman Smith came to UC in 1922 as an instructor in health and physical education and rose to the rank of assistant professor in 1923 and associate professor in 1926. For much of her tenure, she served essentially as the athletics director for women's sports, which operated on a philosophy of broad-based participation. She organized the first certified health education course of studies at UC and was elected to UC's James P. Kelly Athletics Hall of Fame in 1979.
Maria Mallon - Volleyball
Accolades:
JIMMY NIPPERT AWARD
Jimmy Nippert was a center on the 1922 and 1923 UC football team that became the namesake of UC's historic home facility. During the season-ending clash with rival Miami (Ohio) in 1923, Nippert sustained a spike-wound injury and died a month later from blood poisoning. His grandfather, James N. Gamble of Procter and Gamble, provided the funds needed to complete the horseshoe-shaped structure, and the James Gamble Nippert Memorial Stadium was dedicated on Nov. 8, 1924.
Desmond Ridder - Football
Accolades:
ABOUT CINCINNATI ATHLETICS
The University of Cincinnati Department of Athletics competes at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics with the vision to reach Next Level Success for all 18 varsity teams and more than 500 student-athletes. The Bearcats have a proud athletics history, winning eight national championships and 117 conference titles. The Cincinnati men's basketball team is among the 15 winningest programs all-time, while the football team became the first American Athletic Conference program to compete in the College Football Playoff in 2021. Olympic gold medalist volleyball player Jordan Thompson, NBA Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson and Major League Baseball legend Sandy Koufax are among the several luminaries who have competed as Bearcats.
UC student-athletes collectively posted a 3.387 overall GPA in the fall of 2021 with 78 percent earning spots on the Honor Roll.
Under the leadership of Director of Athletics John Cunningham, and supported by more than 150 full-time staff members, UC Athletics' mission is to connect our community, enhance our university and impact the lives of student-athletes as they prepare to change the world on and off the field.
For more information visit gobearcats.com.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati athletics, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow Cincinnati Athletics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
One Team Honors is an annual end-of-year event which celebrates the best of Bearcats Athletics. Led by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Bearcats student-athletes and staff presented awards in several different categories.
2021 AWARD WINNERS
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Awarded to a male and female student-athlete in their first year as Bearcats who have made the biggest impact on their respective teams. This award is nominated and voted by their fellow student-athletes.
Abby Walker – Volleyball, 2021
- AAC Freshman of the Year
- Second Team All-Conference
Mason Fletcher – Football
- Fourth best average in the AAC
- Recorded a career-long 54 yard punt against Alabama in the College Football Playoff Semifinals
NANCY HAMANT SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Awarded to the male and female senior student-athlete with the highest student-athlete cumulative GPA.
Jane Sensibaugh – Women's Track & Field
- Graduated spring of 2021 with a degree in Psychology and philosophy and a certificate in Business French as well as a minor in criminal justice currently majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies
- 2020 Legion of Excellence
- American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team – 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
- Six-time TopCat
- Majoring in Information Technology and Cybersecurity.
- Has a 4.00 GPA, has made the Dean's List every semester and is scheduled to graduate in August.
- Four-time TopCat
- Two-time American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team (2020,2021)
- Named Scholar Athlete of the Week
DR. SIMON ANDERSON FACULTY AWARD
This award honors Dr. Simon Anderson, who worked as a professor in UC's College-Conservatory of Music for 41 years. This accolade is presented to a faculty member who demonstrates continued support of the educational advancement of UC student-athletes.
Barry Baker
- Adjunct faculty in Organizational Leadership here at UC.
- Nominated by Paighton Masterson from Women's Golf.
COMMUNITY CATS AWARD
This award made its debut in 2021 and recognizes a Bearcats student-athlete that goes above and beyond when it comes to serving the University and Cincinnati community. This award is nominated and voted by their fellow student-athletes.
Annie Metzger – Women's Soccer
- Serves as the Community Engagement Officer on the Executive Board of SAAC.
- Dedicates her time to serving her community and creating opportunities for other student-athletes to serve.
- Actively involved in student government.
- Organized Bearcat Fridays and Homecoming events.
- Was instrumental in promoting Bearcats United.
ONE TEAM STUDENT-ATHLETE AWARD (In honor of Zack Tobler)
This individual might be seen as the unsung hero of the team. Someone who may not always receive recognition but is still always looking out for the best interest of the team, is supportive and always maintains a positive attitude. A student-athlete who lives the one team culture every day and best represents the CPAW. This award is nominated and voted by their fellow student-athletes.
Sofia Gritzali – Women's Basketball
Dondrae Bremner – Baseball (2x Award winner, last won in 2021)
BEN FLICK MEMORIAL AWARD
Former UC football players Grant Coleman and Mark Wilson created this award to honor the memory of teammate Ben Flick, who passed away in 2013. This award is granted to a freshman who has made an impact on the Bearcats Community and embodies the same characteristics of charisma, passion, and dedication that Ben displayed. This award is nominated and voted by their fellow student-athletes.
Annika Kinley – Women's Track & Field
Collin Singler – Men's Swimming and Diving
TED CORBITT BREAKING BARRIERS AWARD
New this year, this award is in honor of four-year letter winner Ted Corbitt, who competed from 1938-1942 when when opportunities to compete were limited because of racial barriers and discrimination. The grandson of slaves and World War II veteran went on to amass one of the most prolific careers in the history of distance running. Known as the "Father of Ultramarathoning" in the United States, he finished more than 223 marathons and ultramarathons, and was the first Black marathoner in U.S. Olympic history. This award is given to a student-athlete who has demonstrated a commitment to breaking barriers and advancing the UC student-athlete experience.
Victoria Abunaw – Women's Track & Field
- Leads the Black Student-Athlete Association
- Serves as the One Team Diversity and Inclusion Officer on the SAAC Executive Board
HELEN NORMAN SMITH & JIMMY NIPPERT AWARDS
The Helen Norman Smith and Jimmy Nippert Awards are given to the female and male senior student-athletes who have demonstrated over the course of their career academic achievement, outstanding contributions and/or excellence in athletic performance in their sport and documented community service.
HELEN NORMAN SMITH AWARD
Helen Norman Smith came to UC in 1922 as an instructor in health and physical education and rose to the rank of assistant professor in 1923 and associate professor in 1926. For much of her tenure, she served essentially as the athletics director for women's sports, which operated on a philosophy of broad-based participation. She organized the first certified health education course of studies at UC and was elected to UC's James P. Kelly Athletics Hall of Fame in 1979.
Maria Mallon - Volleyball
Accolades:
- Four-time All-Conference Honoree, including a three-time First Team All-AAC Recipient.
- Honorable Mention All-America Honoree.
- She became just the ninth Bearcat to record both 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in a career.
- She sits in the seventh spot in career service aces and the eighth spot in both career kills and digs.
- 2021 Legion of Excellence Inductee.
- Two-time Bearcats Strong Recipient.
JIMMY NIPPERT AWARD
Jimmy Nippert was a center on the 1922 and 1923 UC football team that became the namesake of UC's historic home facility. During the season-ending clash with rival Miami (Ohio) in 1923, Nippert sustained a spike-wound injury and died a month later from blood poisoning. His grandfather, James N. Gamble of Procter and Gamble, provided the funds needed to complete the horseshoe-shaped structure, and the James Gamble Nippert Memorial Stadium was dedicated on Nov. 8, 1924.
Desmond Ridder - Football
Accolades:
- Two-time AAC Offensive Player of the Year (2020 and 2021).
- Finalist for the Johnny Unitas Gold Arm Award and Manning Award, among several national honors.
- 2020 AAC Championship game MVP and 2018 AAC Freshman of the Year.
- Set the school record for touchdown passes and total yards.
- Finished eighth in the 2021 Heisman Trophy voting.
- Never lost a game at Nippert Stadium, going 26-0 at home in his career.
- Finished with 44 wins – third most by a quarterback in college football history.
- Two-time Bearcats strong recipient.
- First Team Academic All-American
ABOUT CINCINNATI ATHLETICS
The University of Cincinnati Department of Athletics competes at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics with the vision to reach Next Level Success for all 18 varsity teams and more than 500 student-athletes. The Bearcats have a proud athletics history, winning eight national championships and 117 conference titles. The Cincinnati men's basketball team is among the 15 winningest programs all-time, while the football team became the first American Athletic Conference program to compete in the College Football Playoff in 2021. Olympic gold medalist volleyball player Jordan Thompson, NBA Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson and Major League Baseball legend Sandy Koufax are among the several luminaries who have competed as Bearcats.
UC student-athletes collectively posted a 3.387 overall GPA in the fall of 2021 with 78 percent earning spots on the Honor Roll.
Under the leadership of Director of Athletics John Cunningham, and supported by more than 150 full-time staff members, UC Athletics' mission is to connect our community, enhance our university and impact the lives of student-athletes as they prepare to change the world on and off the field.
For more information visit gobearcats.com.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati athletics, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow Cincinnati Athletics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.