Rewatch the GWAs
CLEVELAND, Miss. -- COVID-19 took a back seat for the evening with a virtual presentation of the 52nd Green and White Awards hosted by Delta State University Athletics on Thursday, May 7, 2020.
Olivia Dick (softball)
and Zach Zediker (men's golf) claimed top honors during the presentation, taking home the Charles S. Kerg Senior Student-Athlete of the Year awards.
Overall, 74 student-athletes and teams were honored during the event that was available via YouTube.com/DSUStatesmen, as well as the school's social media channels (Twitter: @DSUStatesmen and Facebook: DSUStatesmen).
"I want to congratulate our Kerg winners, Olivia Dick and Zach Zediker, along with all of our deserving award recipients," Director of Athletics Mike Kinnison said. "Our student-athletes put in a lot of work to represent Delta State Athletics on and off the field and our staff felt it was important to keep honoring their achievements through a virtual presentation."
The Charles S. Kerg Senior Student-Athlete of the Year Award was established in 1968 by former Director of Athletics and Head Football Coach Horace McCool to honor the all-around student-athletes who excelled on the field, in the classroom, and within the campus and community.
Dick is a four-year letterwinner for the Lady Statesmen and was voted Team Captain for the 2020 season. She batted .220 with four RBI, six runs scored, eight walks, and posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage before the remainder of this year's season was canceled after 22 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Brandon, Miss., native carries a 3.83 GPA and will graduate from Delta State in May 2020 with a degree in biology (pre-med) with minors in chemistry and marketing. Dick was awarded the Ferretti/Karnstedt Academic Scholarship and made either the President's or Dean's list through all seven semesters. Dick also made the GSC Spring Academic Honor Roll four times and is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.
The Lady Statesman centerfielder casted a strong on-campus presence as a member of the DSU Student Senate, Kappa Delta Sorority, and is a team representative on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. She was voted on the DSU Homecoming Court as a sophomore (2017) and junior (2018). Her volunteer activities include Make-A-Wish fundraiser events, DSU Athletics Trunk-or-Treat, Kappa Delta Girl Scout Volunteer, and a Sunny Seniors volunteer.
Zediker adds the Kerg Award to a growing list of honors that includes PING First-Team All-American and All-South Region while also being selected as the only Division II member on the United States Arnold Palmer Cup team. Zediker played in all six events before the spring season was canceled, garnering GSC Golfer of the Month twice and finishing ranked No. 2 in the Golfstat and GCAA DII National rankings.
The Panama City, Fla., was the low medalist in four tournaments and runner-up in two in 2020.
After finishing second in the season opener at the Cougar Invitational, Zediker went on a tear by capturing the Derrall Foreman Invitational individual title, the NCAA Division II National Preview title, the Matt Dyas Invitational title, and the Hurricane Invitational individual title. Zediker closed the year with a runner-up finish at the Mississippi College Invitational in February.
In the classroom, Zediker earned Gulf South Conference All-Academic team honors in 2018-19. His 3.38 GPA in health, physical education, and recreation landed him on the GSC Spring Academic Honor Roll three times.
The current Men's Golf team SAAC representative also made his presence felt in the community and on campus. His community activities include time at the Bolivar County Animal Shelter, reading at Pearman Elementary School, Sacred Heart Missions, and working with special needs kids. On-campus activities include volunteer timer at Delta State Swimming and Diving meets, participating in the Pink Mile walk for breast cancer awareness, Delta Down and Dirty mud run for youth, DSU athletics Trunk-or-Treat, and with Make-A-Wish fundraisers events.
It was an outstanding year academically for the Green & White, as 215 Statesmen and Lady Statesmen carried a 3.0 GPA or higher, including 15 with a 4.0 GPA. 22 student-athletes were named Academic All-Americans, and the Statesmen Swimming and Diving team also added their fourth NCAA Elite 90 winner when Michael Maly was announced at the 2020 NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving Championships in March. Delta State athletic teams combined for a 3.14 overall GPA that included a 3.20 for the Lady Statesmen and a 3.09 for the Statesmen.
Each year, the AD's Hall of Fame inducts the top male and female student-athlete with the highest GPA while recognizing the top men's and women's programs as well. Michael Maly (Statesmen Swimming and Diving) and Ella Hunkin (Lady Statesmen Soccer) took home the top awards. Maly carries a 4.0 GPA and has earned 118 credit hours in chemistry, while Hunkin is an exercise science major who completed 117 hours with a 4.0 GPA. Men's Golf (3.25 GPA) and Women's Soccer (3.51 GPA) earned the team awards.
A complete list of award recipients is below.
Moment of the Year: Statesmen Swimming and Diving Wins third straight NSISC crown.
Play of the Year: Emanuel Fava Wins NCAA DII National Title in the 200-IM
Performance of the Year: Giulio Brugnoni wins six events to earn NSISC Championships Swimmer of the Meet
2020 GWA'S INDIVIDUAL TEAM AWARDS
