The University of Louisville athletics department relished in the successes of of its teams and student-athletes Monday night at the annual Louies Student-Athletes Awards Show, held at the Palace Theatre.
The adidas High Performance Athlete of the Year, the top athletic honor of the evening, was presented to Asia Durr (women’s basketball), Mallory Comerford (swimming and diving) and Nicolas Albiero (swimming and diving).
Durr, a consensus All-American, the senior from Douglasville, Georgia, was the recipient of the Dawn Staley Award and Ann Meyers Drysdale Award, presented to the top guard and top shooting guard in the nation. A member of the ACC All-Tournament Team and Albany Regional All-Tournament Team, she helped the Cards to an Elite Eight birth. She was named ACC Player of the year, first team all ACC, and a member of the ACC All-Academic Team. A member of the winningest class in UofL women’s basketball history, she was recently the second overall pick of the 2019 WNBA Draft by the New York Liberty.
A senior from Kalamazoo, Michigan, Comerford won her third straight NCAA title in the 200 freestyle, becoming the first UofL swimmer in history to win three NCAA titles in a single event. She then earned her second championships of the meet in the 100 free. In addition to her two titles, she took bronze in the 50 free in a UofL record time. Comerford also competed on four All-American relays to lead the Cards to their highest NCAA finish in program history. A repeat champion in the 100, 200 and 500 free for the second straight season, she was also named ACC Championships Most Valuable Swimmer for the second consecutive year.
A four-time All-American at the NCAA Championships this season, Albiero earned four individual top-ten finishes and another on the 400 free relay. The Louisville native set new UofL records in the 100 back, 200 fly and 100 fly at the ACC Championships and he holds records in all five relays for UofL. He earned three gold and two silver medals in the ACC Championship and scored 86 individual points for the Cards.
The L1C4 award–given to a student-athlete who exemplifies the meaning of the athletic department’s “humble and hungry” culture–was presented to women’s basketball’s Arica Carter. Carter was one of three Cardinals selected in the 2019 WNBA Draft last week, going 32nd overall to the Phoenix Mercury.
Men’s golf’s Simon Zach was given the Record-Breaking Performance Award for his showing at the Warrior Princeville Makai Invitational. The native of the Czech Republic set the NCAA and Louisville record for lowest 54-hole score in a collegiate event, finishing at 21-under par 195 to lead the Cardinals to the team title.
Softball’s Celene Funke and men’s basketball’s Jordan Nwora were named the Breakthrough Athletes. Funke led the Cardinals with a .356 batting average and 17 stolen bases in her sophomore season. She started 52 games overall and was a Google Cloud Academic All-American. Nwora was named the ACC’s Most Improved Player after averaging 17.0 points per game to lead the Cardinals this season. The sophomore knocked down 77 three pointers, the 10th-most ever in a UofL single season.
Women’s swimming and diving delivered the Best Championship Performance after recording their highest finish in program history at the NCAA Championships and earning the program’s first-ever team trophy. Comerford also took home Moment of the Year with her third straight NCAA title in the 200 freestyle.
Women’s soccer’s Emina Ekic was named Comeback Player of the Year after rebounding from an injury late in 2017 to start every match for the Cardinals this season. Ekic was a second team All-American after posting seven goals and five assists.
The spirit award was created in 2016 to highlight the dedication and support from Louisville’s spirit squads, which make hundreds of community appearances and serve as lead ambassadors for the Louisville Cardinals. Kayla Goodman (pep band), Emily Mattey (cheer), and Sydney Thompson (Ladybirds) each were recognized.
A senior from Kalamazoo, Michigan, Comerford won her third straight NCAA title in the 200 freestyle, becoming the first UofL swimmer in history to win three NCAA titles in a single event. She then earned her second championships of the meet in the 100 free. In addition to her two titles, she took bronze in the 50 free in a UofL record time. Comerford also competed on four All-American relays to lead the Cards to their highest NCAA finish in program history. A repeat champion in the 100, 200 and 500 free for the second straight season, she was also named ACC Championships Most Valuable Swimmer for the second consecutive year.
A four-time All-American at the NCAA Championships this season, Albiero earned four individual top-ten finishes and another on the 400 free relay. The Louisville native set new UofL records in the 100 back, 200 fly and 100 fly at the ACC Championships and he holds records in all five relays for UofL. He earned three gold and two silver medals in the ACC Championship and scored 86 individual points for the Cards.
The L1C4 award–given to a student-athlete who exemplifies the meaning of the athletic department’s “humble and hungry” culture–was presented to women’s basketball’s Arica Carter. Carter was one of three Cardinals selected in the 2019 WNBA Draft last week, going 32nd overall to the Phoenix Mercury.
Men’s golf’s Simon Zach was given the Record-Breaking Performance Award for his showing at the Warrior Princeville Makai Invitational. The native of the Czech Republic set the NCAA and Louisville record for lowest 54-hole score in a collegiate event, finishing at 21-under par 195 to lead the Cardinals to the team title.
Softball’s Celene Funke and men’s basketball’s Jordan Nwora were named the Breakthrough Athletes. Funke led the Cardinals with a .356 batting average and 17 stolen bases in her sophomore season. She started 52 games overall and was a Google Cloud Academic All-American. Nwora was named the ACC’s Most Improved Player after averaging 17.0 points per game to lead the Cardinals this season. The sophomore knocked down 77 three pointers, the 10th-most ever in a UofL single season.
Women’s swimming and diving delivered the Best Championship Performance after recording their highest finish in program history at the NCAA Championships and earning the program’s first-ever team trophy. Comerford also took home Moment of the Year with her third straight NCAA title in the 200 freestyle.
Women’s soccer’s Emina Ekic was named Comeback Player of the Year after rebounding from an injury late in 2017 to start every match for the Cardinals this season. Ekic was a second team All-American after posting seven goals and five assists.
The spirit award was created in 2016 to highlight the dedication and support from Louisville’s spirit squads, which make hundreds of community appearances and serve as lead ambassadors for the Louisville Cardinals. Kayla Goodman (pep band), Emily Mattey (cheer), and Sydney Thompson (Ladybirds) each were recognized.
Class honors
Tate Schmitt (men’s soccer) and Ayeisha McFerran (field hockey) were given the Ed Kallay Senior of the Year honors.
Christopher Morin-Kougoucheff (men’s tennis) and Dorcas Wasike (cross country) were selected as the Male and Female Junior of the Year.
Baseball’s Logan Wyatt and field hockey’s Mercedes Pastor picked up Sophomore of the Year honors.
Baseball’s Logan Wyatt and field hockey’s Mercedes Pastor picked up Sophomore of the Year honors.
Bartosz Piszczorowicz (swimming and diving) and Violette Legrand (rowing) were chosen as the Freshmen of the Year.
