BGSU Athletics Celebrates 2020-21 With Ziggy Zoombas Awards Show

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The seventh annual Ziggy Awards (the Ziggy ZOOMbas) were held Tuesday evening (June 8), as the Bowling Green State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics held a virtual awards show via Zoom. BGSU Athletics honors and recognizes its 425 student-athletes and supporters of the department during the event each year. The Ziggy Awards follow in the tradition of the former Athletics Honors Night.

Chris Sullivan, of the men's soccer team, and softball's Madi McCoy earned the highest honor given to a BGSU student-athlete – The Falcon Medal of Honor. The award is given to one male and one female student-athlete who embody the essence of the qualities BGSU Athletics hold important for all student-athletes.

Sullivan, who picked up three awards on the night, was named the Male Athlete of the Year, while Kailee Perry of women's cross country/track and field won the Female Athlete of the Year award. Sullivan helped the men's soccer Falcons to a MAC championship, while Perry won the MAC individual cross country title. Sullivan and track and field's Kaila Butler were named the department's Senior Scholar-Athletes of the Year. Butler competes in the hammer throw at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Ore., on Thursday.

Volleyball's Hanna Laube and men's soccer's Jensen Lukacsko earned the Junior Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards, while men's soccer's Jacob Erlandson and women's basketball's Lexi Fleming were the Newcomers of the Year. The Comeback Performance of the Year Award was given to Madi Wolfbauer, who missed the 2019 season due to injury, but was named to the All-MAC First team and led the 2020(-21) women's soccer Falcons to a third consecutive MAC title.

The hockey and tennis teams were recognized for having the highest team grade point averages in the department for men's and women's programs, respectively. Swimmer Lauren Sullivan was the Community Service Individual of the Year for the second-straight year, and the women's golf team was the Community Service Team of the Year.

Bernie Compton received the Diversity & Inclusion Award, while BGSU Chief Health Officer Ben Batey picked up the Distinguished Service Award. Dana L. Dowers '79 won the Distinguished Alumnus Award, and the BGSU Sports Medicine Staff received the Gratitude Award.

A full rundown of awards is listed below:

2020-21 Ziggy ZOOMbas – Award Winners
Falcon Medal of Honor – Chris Sullivan (Men's Soccer) and Madi McCoy (Softball)
Athlete of the Year – Chris Sullivan (Men's Soccer) and Kailee Perry (Women's Cross Country/Track & Field)
Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year – Chris Sullivan (Men's Soccer) and Kaila Butler (Track & Field)
Junior Scholar-Athlete of the Year – Jensen Lukacsko (Men's Soccer) and Hanna Laube (Volleyball)
Newcomer of the Year – Jacob Erlandson (Men's Soccer) and Lexi Fleming (Women's Basketball)
Highest Team GPA – Hockey and Tennis
Comeback Performance of the Year – Madi Wolfbauer (Women's Soccer)
Community Service Individual of the Year – Lauren Sullivan (Swim/Dive)
Community Service Team of the Year – Women's Golf
Diversity & Inclusion Award – Bernie Compton
Distinguished Service Award – Ben Batey
Distinguished Alumnus Award – Dana L. Dowers '79
Gratitude Award – Sports Medicine Staff

And we are [virtually] underway at the 2021 Ziggy ZOOMba Awards! Stay tuned throughout the night as we recognize this historic year for BGSU Athletics! pic.twitter.com/aD4bGQPePj
— BGSU Athletics (@BGathletics) June 8, 2021

We are committed to fostering an environment conducive to academic success. Our student-athletes work hard to excel on the court, field, ice, track, or in the pool, and also to achieve excellence in the classroom. Congratulations! pic.twitter.com/0QDb0eAJ5Q
— BGSU Athletics (@BGathletics) June 8, 2021

This year's women's program with the top cumulative grade point average is Women's Tennis with a cumulative team GPA of 3.86. And the award for top cumulative GPA for a men's program goes to Hockey with a 3.60 cumulative grade point average. Congratulations to those programs! pic.twitter.com/4vjKq6HmZa
— BGSU Athletics (@BGathletics) June 8, 2021

Congratulations to @BernieComptonSP on receiving this year's Diversity and Inclusion Award! pic.twitter.com/v62QEGFWLV
— BGSU Athletics (@BGathletics) June 8, 2021

This year's individual winner continues to make civic engagement a priority and was the winner of this award last year. She has compiled over 77 hours this past year and found creative ways to give back even during COVID.
Congratulations Lauren Sullivan! pic.twitter.com/6EtwPOXdgH
— BGSU Athletics (@BGathletics) June 8, 2021

Community service is something that we truly take pride in here at BGSU. This team stood out because each member averaged 14 hours of community service and you could find them raking leaves or working at the food pantry. This year's team winner is Women's Golf. Congratulation! pic.twitter.com/64cbbsNsS5
— BGSU Athletics (@BGathletics) June 8, 2021

Congratulations to BGSU Athletic's Alumnus Dana Dowers on being named 2021 Distinguished Alumnus. Dowers is a '79 graduate and baseball alumn! Last May, Dana led a group of alumni from all decades to join together and raise $1.5 million for the revival of the baseball program.
— BGSU Athletics (@BGathletics) June 8, 2021

The Falcon Club All American Society and Champions Circle are comprised of generous donors who have chosen to sponsor a student-athlete from one of our 18 varsity sports. Thank you for your generous gifts to @Bgsufalconclub!
Give Now: https://t.co/LQt3aIw5zG pic.twitter.com/RRuJpQWz4V
— BGSU Athletics (@BGathletics) June 8, 2021

Your Junior Female Scholar-Athlete award winner, Hanna Laube! pic.twitter.com/83kWPWGDAy
— BGSU Athletics (@BGathletics) June 8, 2021

Congratulations to our Junior Male Scholar-Athlete, Jensen Lukacsko! pic.twitter.com/TizfDyBTr8
— BGSU Athletics (@BGathletics) June 8, 2021

The highest academic recognition given to a Falcon student-athlete is the Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year and Meserve Scholarship award. Congratulations @kaila_butler14! pic.twitter.com/Za1TolvYAo
— BGSU Athletics (@BGathletics) June 8, 2021

The 2020-2021 Senior Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award winner has displayed a commitment to academics and athletics. This year's winner is Chris Sullivan! pic.twitter.com/GI4AT1I48O
— BGSU Athletics (@BGathletics) June 8, 2021

Our winner of the Male Falcon Medal of Honor, Chris Sullivan. pic.twitter.com/v9iX30F4aM
— BGSU Athletics (@BGathletics) June 8, 2021

The Falcon Medal of Honor is an award that is meant to define the essence of the qualities we hold important for all our student-athletes. Congratulations to Madi McCoy! pic.twitter.com/N1osHJlR2P
— BGSU Athletics (@BGathletics) June 8, 2021

We would also like to recognize the efforts put in by our SAAC Representatives! pic.twitter.com/t2PUlMH55N
— BGSU Athletics (@BGathletics) June 8, 2021

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Kaila Butler

Jacob Erlandson

Lexi Fleming

Hanna Laube

Jensen Lukacsko

Madi McCoy

Kailee Perry

Chris Sullivan

Lauren Sullivan

Madi Wolfbauer

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