PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh Department of Athletics hosted the seventh annual Panthers’ Choice Awards Sunday night with a celebration of student-athlete achievements in academics, athletics and citizenship made during the 2023-24 academic year.
The Panthers’ Choice Awards honor Pitt’s top athletic performances, community service participation as well as the top teams in terms of both athletic and academic accomplishment.
The prestigious Panther Awards and Blue-Gold Awards were presented during the program. The names of the recipients are forever recognized on Pitt’s Varsity Walk between the Cathedral of Learning and Heinz Memorial Chapel, in a tradition that dates back to 1950.
Men’s basketball’s Blake Hinson, wrestling’s Cole Matthews, women’s soccer’s Amanda West and Landy Mertz and men’s diving’s Dylan Reed will each have their names engraved on the prestigious Varsity Walk, ensuring their status as legends in Pitt Athletics history.
Below is a full list of awards presented Sunday.
Top Overall Academic Teams of the Year
• Reserved for the male and female team with the highest cumulative GPA for the spring and fall semesters of 2023.
• Winners: Men’s Soccer and Women’s Cross Country
Bridge Builder Award
• Presented to the team whose student-athletes demonstrate the strongest commitment to making an impact in the community.
• Winner: Spirit Squad
Heart of a Panther Award
• Presented to the student-athletes who best embody the spirit of service through the Pitt Promise and is involved in the community above and beyond what is required.
• Ellie Coffield (Women’s Soccer)
Gold Standard Teammates of the Year
• Presented to the student-athlete who most effectively inspires his or her team through exemplary commitment, composure, and integrity.
• Baseball: Dom Popa
• Men’s Basketball: Papa Kante
• Football: Nate Yarnell
• Gymnastics: Ciara Ward
• Women’s Basketball: Aislin Malcolm
• Lacrosse: Abby Thorne
• Men’s Soccer: Jackson Gilman
• Women’s Soccer: Ellie Coffield
• Men’s Track and Field/Cross Country: Sam Otis
• Women’s Track and…
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