Denver – The winners of the 2018 Rowdy Awards were announced on Sunday night during a celebration held by the MSU Denver Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.  The event was emceed by Zora Stephenson from Fox 31/Channel 2.
 
Awards were handed out in multiple categories including: Best Offensive Performance, Best Defensive Performance, Newcomer of the Year and The Rowdy Award.  Additional awards were distributed for top athletic and top academic performances.  Also, two other awards were handed out to an MSU Denver faculty and staff member for their contributions to Roadrunners Athletics.  A complete listing can be found below:
 
Female Junior Academic Student-Athlete of the Year
Jonalyn Wittwer (Fall Creek, Wis./Fall Creek H.S.), Women's Basketball, 3.99 GPA
 
Male Junior Academic Student-Athlete of the Year
Keenan Kaltenbacher (Colorado Springs, Colo./The Classical Academy), Men's Tennis, 3.92 GPA
 
Female Senior Academic Student-Athlete of the Year
Kristyn Peters (Lakewood, CO/Dakota Ridge), Softball 3.98, GPA
 
Male Senior Academic Student-Athlete of the Year
Calum Hayes (Leeds, England/Guiseley H.S.), Men's Tennis, 3.98 GPA
 
Best Team GPA – Fall 2017
Women's team – Volleyball, 3.70 GPA
Men's team – Men's Tennis, 3.41 GPA
 
Female Senior Athlete of the Year
Georgia Ohrdorf (Wollongong, Australia/St. Mary Star of the Sea College), Women's Basketball
 
Male Senior Athlete of the Year
Josh Graetz (Albury, Australia/The Scots School), Men's Tennis
 
Dr. Liz Friot Award
Given to an MSU Denver Faculty Member In Outstanding Support of Roadrunners Athletics
Dr. Matt Makley
 
Joe Arcese Award
Given to an MSU Denver Staff Member In Outstanding Support of Roadrunners Athletics
Angela LeValley
 
Best Offensive Performance
Annika Anderson (Loveland, Colo./Loveland H.S.), Softball
 
Best Defensive Performance
Donny Ortiz, Jr. (Littleton, CO/Columbine High School), Baseball
 
Newcomer of the Year
Jordan Lewis (Bakersfield, California/Frontier High School), Women's Soccer
 
The Rowdy Award
The Rowdy Award was developed to honor an individual, male or female, that has made an outstanding contribution to his or her team and embodies all that it means to be a Roadrunner.
Sarena Espinoza (Corona, Calif./Corona Centennial H.S.), Softball
 
Team of the Year
Volleyball
 
The Rowdy Awards began in 2016.  The idea for the awards ceremony was developed by former women's basketball student-athlete Raquel Torres (Vallejo, Calif./Jesse Bethel H.S.) who served as the past president of the MSU Denver Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.