University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Matthew A. Smith
Tigers Celebrate Excellence at 2023 PAWSCARS
Apr 26, 2023 | Baseball, Football, General, Men's Basketball, Men's Cross Country, Men's Golf, Rifle, Men's Soccer, Men's Tennis, Men's Track and Field, Softball, Women's Basketball, Women's Cross Country, Women's Golf, Women's Rifle, Women's Soccer, Women's Tennis, Women's Track and Field, Women's Volleyball
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis Athletics celebrated the accomplishments of its student-athletes during the ninth annual PAWSCARS awards ceremony Wednesday night at Rose Theatre on campus.
Gigi Crescenzo from the volleyball team earned the prestigious Elma Roane Award. The award was created in 1978 and named after the former women's athletic director at the University of Memphis. It is presented annually to the female student-athlete who possess drive, enthusiasm and determination while maintaining a concern for others.
From her nomination, "From her first day on campus to her last match in a Tiger uniform, Gigi has paved her own path as a student-athlete both on and off the court. She is a very centered and well-grounded young woman that is bright, competitive, caring, leads in tough situations, and has compassion for others. In her career, Gigi has been a key contributor in many statistical categories as she amassed 682 kills and 1086 digs and is a driven individual that has made significant contributions as a teammate, in the classroom and within the Memphis community.
Cam Weston from the men's soccer team was named the recipient of the Zach Curlin Award, which is presented to the male student-athlete who holds the same characteristics. Curlin was the men's basketball coach from 1924-48. He coached the men's basketball team during the Great Depression and World War II, which included stoppage in competition in 1943 so the student-athletes at the time could serve our country.
From his nomination, "Not only was he a good in the locker room but Cam was able to earn the captain's armband this past fall leading us to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in nearly two decades. He was recognized for his play as he was named to the All-East Region Team along with two other teammates of his…and anchored a backline that recorded seven shutouts."
Additional awards presented during the PAWSCARS ceremony include:
All-Around Tigers: Bailey Houlihan (volleyball), Pablo Alemany (men's tennis)
The All-Around Tiger awards recognizes one male and one female student-athlete for the way they fully embrace being a Tiger. These recipients lead their teams in the way of showing unwavering support to their teammates, the athletic department and the University. They are also dedicated in the classroom and are dedicated to serving within the community.
Best Individual Male Performance: Cole Riddle (track & field)
A record-breaking performance, Riddle would set the program record in men's pole vault on three separate occasions within the same number of weeks. Riddle cleared 5.64 meters (18'6") to also break the American Athletic Conference's record. Riddle would finish the season as the AAC Indoor Runner-Up in pole vault and earned Second Team All-America honors following his 14th place finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
Best Individual Female Performance: Madison Griggs (women's basketball)
Griggs was a staple for the Tigers success this season, breaking the program's all-time three-point field goal record while also surpassing 1,000 career points. The All-AAC Third Team selection would hit the game-winning overtime buzzer beater at SMU this season to keep the team's, then, six-game win streak alive.
Best Record-Breaking Performance: Kendric Davis (men's basketball)
In his first season with Memphis, Davis would break three American Athletic Conference records (career points, assists and free throws made) while leading the team to an AAC Championship and back to the National Tournament. Davis ended his collegiate career with 744 points during the 2022-23 season – a mark that had stood since the 2013-14 season by Shabazz Napier with UCONN.
Breakthrough Student-Athlete: Lineker Rodriguez dos Santos (men's soccer)
Rodriguez dos Santos stunned the AAC this season after helping to lead the team to the NCAA Tournament for just the third time in program history. After six goals and four assists this season, where two of his goals were game-winning goals, Rodriguez dos Santos was named to All-AAC Second Team.
Men's Team of the Year: Men's Basketball
Recording a program record of most wins in a single season since 2012-13 and had the most wins of any Division I program in the state of Tennessee, the Memphis Tiger men's basketball team picked up the men's team of the year. They would claim the program's first AAC Tournament crown in route to their second consecutive trip to the National Tournament. Memphis went 6-1 against Power 5 programs and 4-1 against SEC opponents this season.
Women's Team of the Year: Women's Soccer
A historic season for the Tigers led them to being named the department's Women's Team of the Year. After defending their crown as the reigning American Athletic Conference Champions, the Tigers would shutout (10) Saint Louis and Mississippi State in the first two rounds of the National Tournament to make it to the Round of 16 for the first time in program history. Memphis would finish the season ranked 21st in the United Soccer Coaches Poll.
Female Student-Athlete of the Year: Emani Jefferson (women's basketball)
Jefferson, a junior out of Miami, Fla., was third on the team with just over 10 points and 5.8 rebounds per game this season while leading the Tigers in steals (46), assists (74). Jefferson would combine for 29 points in the team's first two WNIT wins over Jackson State and Ball State and help lead the team to the Super 16 for the first time since the 1999 season.
Male Student-Athlete of the Year: Cormontae Hamilton (football)
Hamilton, a redshirt sophomore on the football team, started in all 13 games for the Tigers this season while totaling 46 tackles, six for loss, 4.5 sacks and leading the team in quarterback hurries with seven. The Memphis native would also force a fumble and record two pass breakups this season while helping to lead the team to the 2022 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl win.
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Athletics, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the department's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Gigi Crescenzo from the volleyball team earned the prestigious Elma Roane Award. The award was created in 1978 and named after the former women's athletic director at the University of Memphis. It is presented annually to the female student-athlete who possess drive, enthusiasm and determination while maintaining a concern for others.
From her nomination, "From her first day on campus to her last match in a Tiger uniform, Gigi has paved her own path as a student-athlete both on and off the court. She is a very centered and well-grounded young woman that is bright, competitive, caring, leads in tough situations, and has compassion for others. In her career, Gigi has been a key contributor in many statistical categories as she amassed 682 kills and 1086 digs and is a driven individual that has made significant contributions as a teammate, in the classroom and within the Memphis community.
Cam Weston from the men's soccer team was named the recipient of the Zach Curlin Award, which is presented to the male student-athlete who holds the same characteristics. Curlin was the men's basketball coach from 1924-48. He coached the men's basketball team during the Great Depression and World War II, which included stoppage in competition in 1943 so the student-athletes at the time could serve our country.
From his nomination, "Not only was he a good in the locker room but Cam was able to earn the captain's armband this past fall leading us to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in nearly two decades. He was recognized for his play as he was named to the All-East Region Team along with two other teammates of his…and anchored a backline that recorded seven shutouts."
Additional awards presented during the PAWSCARS ceremony include:
All-Around Tigers: Bailey Houlihan (volleyball), Pablo Alemany (men's tennis)
The All-Around Tiger awards recognizes one male and one female student-athlete for the way they fully embrace being a Tiger. These recipients lead their teams in the way of showing unwavering support to their teammates, the athletic department and the University. They are also dedicated in the classroom and are dedicated to serving within the community.
Best Individual Male Performance: Cole Riddle (track & field)
A record-breaking performance, Riddle would set the program record in men's pole vault on three separate occasions within the same number of weeks. Riddle cleared 5.64 meters (18'6") to also break the American Athletic Conference's record. Riddle would finish the season as the AAC Indoor Runner-Up in pole vault and earned Second Team All-America honors following his 14th place finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
Best Individual Female Performance: Madison Griggs (women's basketball)
Griggs was a staple for the Tigers success this season, breaking the program's all-time three-point field goal record while also surpassing 1,000 career points. The All-AAC Third Team selection would hit the game-winning overtime buzzer beater at SMU this season to keep the team's, then, six-game win streak alive.
Best Record-Breaking Performance: Kendric Davis (men's basketball)
In his first season with Memphis, Davis would break three American Athletic Conference records (career points, assists and free throws made) while leading the team to an AAC Championship and back to the National Tournament. Davis ended his collegiate career with 744 points during the 2022-23 season – a mark that had stood since the 2013-14 season by Shabazz Napier with UCONN.
Breakthrough Student-Athlete: Lineker Rodriguez dos Santos (men's soccer)
Rodriguez dos Santos stunned the AAC this season after helping to lead the team to the NCAA Tournament for just the third time in program history. After six goals and four assists this season, where two of his goals were game-winning goals, Rodriguez dos Santos was named to All-AAC Second Team.
Men's Team of the Year: Men's Basketball
Recording a program record of most wins in a single season since 2012-13 and had the most wins of any Division I program in the state of Tennessee, the Memphis Tiger men's basketball team picked up the men's team of the year. They would claim the program's first AAC Tournament crown in route to their second consecutive trip to the National Tournament. Memphis went 6-1 against Power 5 programs and 4-1 against SEC opponents this season.
Women's Team of the Year: Women's Soccer
A historic season for the Tigers led them to being named the department's Women's Team of the Year. After defending their crown as the reigning American Athletic Conference Champions, the Tigers would shutout (10) Saint Louis and Mississippi State in the first two rounds of the National Tournament to make it to the Round of 16 for the first time in program history. Memphis would finish the season ranked 21st in the United Soccer Coaches Poll.
Female Student-Athlete of the Year: Emani Jefferson (women's basketball)
Jefferson, a junior out of Miami, Fla., was third on the team with just over 10 points and 5.8 rebounds per game this season while leading the Tigers in steals (46), assists (74). Jefferson would combine for 29 points in the team's first two WNIT wins over Jackson State and Ball State and help lead the team to the Super 16 for the first time since the 1999 season.
Male Student-Athlete of the Year: Cormontae Hamilton (football)
Hamilton, a redshirt sophomore on the football team, started in all 13 games for the Tigers this season while totaling 46 tackles, six for loss, 4.5 sacks and leading the team in quarterback hurries with seven. The Memphis native would also force a fumble and record two pass breakups this season while helping to lead the team to the 2022 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl win.
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Athletics, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the department's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Men's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Football
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Basketball
Pole Vault
/ Men's Track and Field
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