Thirteen Golden Eagle student-athletes honored as recipients of 2016 President's Award

Mariah Dean | Women's Basketball | Senior | Bakersfield, Calif. – Mariah Dean proved to be a key player on the women's basketball team both on and off the court for her entire four-year career in the purple and gold. A true leader and role model, Dean constantly displayed a positive attitude and strong work ethic every day to better herself and the team. For her leadership on and off the court, Dean was honored with the prestigious Frank Porter Award her junior and senior seasons, and received the team's leading rebounder award this year for averaging 6.6 boards per game. After suffering an injury early in her senior campaign, Dean pressed on tirelessy in her rehab to return to the court midway through the season and start 10 of the 19 games she participated in. She posted three double-doubles and set a career-high six blocks to help lead the Golden Eagles to a school record 13 blocks versus Jacksonville State. She also set career highs in the 2015-16 season in points (15 vs. EIU) and rebounds (16 vs. JSU). Over her four-year career, she saw action in 96 games (starting 14), shot 44.2 percent from the field (163-369), 100 percent from the 3-point range (1-1), and 58.1 percent from the line (75-129). She grabbed 351 rebounds, put up 79 blocks, and tallied 45 steals. A five-time member of the Athletic Director's and one-time selection to the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll, Dean completed her senior year with a 3.24 GPA.

Allyson Dunn | Women's Golf | Sophomore | Kingsport, Tenn. – From the moment she officially transitioned to the Tennessee Tech golf team after spending her freshman campaign at East Tennessee State, Allyson Dunn made Golden Eagle fans realize just ho great of a steal head coach Polk Brown made. In her first season donning the purple and gold, Dunn led the Tech squad in scoring average with the third lowest mark in program history of 76.77. The sophomore's season highlight came in the final outing of the season when she battle back to finish in a tie for second at the OVC Championship after carding a final-round 69, which also led the team to a second place showing. Tying her lowest career round, which she posted early in the fall as well, the 69 represented the second lowest in school history and completed an incredible 54-hole score of 222. Dunn actually set her career-low scoring mark for three rounds two events earlier, tallying a 220 at the EKU Colonel Classic for the fourth-best performance in TTU history. The score also earned her OVC Female Golfer of the Week honors. An OVC All-Tournament honoree, it represented her fourth All-Tournament nod of the season and second second-place finish. She helped the Golden Eagles completely shatter the program scoring mark with an 888 at The Fall Invitational and the single-round record with a 290 at the same event. Dunn took home team MVP honors and won the Best Putter, Low Average and Long Hitter Awards, as well as a share of the Impact Award with teammate Hollee Sadler. Named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll twice in 2015-16, she finished her first year at Tech with a 3.71 GPA. 

Alberto Esteban | Tennis | Junior | Madrid, Spain –  A key cog in one of the most successful tennis season in Tennessee Tech history, Alberto Esteban continued to build on a legacy of winning in the Ohio Valley Conference. The junior claimed his third consecutive All-OVC honor, earning a spot on the All-OVC First Team for the second time in his career. Esteban finished the year an impressive 21-12, including sporting a 7-2 mark in the league while helping lead the Golden Eagles to the regular season title. He proved particularly effective down the stretch, winning his last six decisions of the year, and eight of his last 10 matches. In leading the Tech squad to its first OVC Tournament championship since 2006, the native of Madrid, Spain claimed a crucial, comeback victory over Mathias Chaim of Jacksonville State, 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-3. He then rallied again in the championship match, defeating EKU's Guillem Sanchis, 2-6, 6-1, 6-4. Esteban's match against No. 5 Ohio State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament went unfinished, but the junior seemed destined for another comeback, taking an early lead in the second set after dropping the first. In the classroom, he has displayed constant consistency, earning a place on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll in each of his first six semesters. He also has been named to the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll twice.

David Garza | Baseball | Sophomore | Othello, Wash. – A junior college transfer from the state of Washington, sophomore David Garza capped a highly successful first season donning the Tech purple and gold representing one of just two members of the Golden Eagle baseball team to start each and every one of the 2016 campaign's 55 games. The newcomer proved plenty effective at the plate, batting .295 with 35 runs scored, 14 doubles, a team-high three triples, and five home runs. Garza drove in 38 runners while accumulating .471 slugging and .374 on base percentages. His seven steals ranked second on the team while his four sacrifice flies tied him for the team lead. Defensively, the shortstop led the Golden Eagles with 126 assists, often making highlight-reel stops and grabs while anchoring the left side of the infield. Off the court, Garza proved highly successful in the classroom, compiling a 3.90 GPA in his first year enrolled at Tech. He also earned a spot on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll in each of his first two semesters.

Abi Gearing | Soccer | Junior | Libertyville, Ill. – Serving as a force to be reckoned with on the offensive side of the pitch, junior Abi Gearing led the Tennessee Tech soccer team in goals and points in 2015, helping direct the Golden Eagles to one of their best seasons in program history. Behind a club-best four goals and 11 points, the 5-foot-9 forward pushed a TTU offensive unit that doubled its goal total from last year and frequented the back of the net most often since 2011. The stout numbers led the Libertyville, Ill. native to a spot on the All-OVC first team, joining freshman Kari Naerdemann as the first two Golden Eagles to seize first team recognition since 2009. Gearing's play skyrocketed during OVC action, coming up huge during TTU's record-setting conference campaign that saw the Golden Eagles capture a program-best six wins. The dynamic junior registered all four of her goals and all 11 of her assists during conference play. Among the highlights for Gearing, the third-year Golden Eagle scored the game-winner in Tech's regular season finale, a 1-0 victory over Morehead State on Oct. 29 that clinched a second-place conference finish, the highest in 15 years. Named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll in all six of her completed semesters and to the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll twice, she concluded her junior year with a 3.96 GPA.

Collin Gwaltney | Men's Cross Country | Sophomore | Cleveland, Tenn. – Following his freshman season on the Golden Eagle men's cross country team, Collin Gwaltney experienced a life-changing episode when a lifelong friend vanished while on a mountain run in Colorado during his summer of 2015. Gwaltney returned to Tech for his second season and provided mature leadership while competing in all six regular season meets and finishing among the team's top five in four events. In April, he was selected by his teammates as the winner of the Golden Eagle Award during the first Golden Wings Awards Night. For two years he has majored in mechanical engineering, building a cumulative GPA of 3.47, but the loss of his friend has altered his plans. He will transfer to the Air Force Academy where he will begin a six-year program toward his new goal of working in Combat Rescue. In his two years, Gwaltney was a constant presence on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll, collecting the honor in each of his four semesters. He also claimed a place on the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll following his freshman year.

D'Airrien Jackson | Track & Field | Freshman | Santa Clara, Calif. – D'Airrien Jackson was voted the Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year during the Outdoor Track & Field season. She sprinted her way to an individual crown at the OVC Outdoor Championships and was a major contributor to Tech's relay success with third and fourth place finishes. She accounted for 21 of the team's 59.5 total points. Jackson ran away from the field on the second lap in the 800-meter event to be crowned OVC champion, posting a winning time of 2:10.37. The 4x100m relay team finished fourth in 46.38 seconds to eclipse the previous school record, with Jackson roaring through one of the strongest legs of the race. In the 4x400m relay, Jackson was nothing short of brilliant in the second leg of the race, covering her distance with a split of 51.77 seconds (better than the school record at 400 meters) as the Golden Eagles claimed third place. During the indoor season, Jackson helped set school records in both the 4x100m and distance medley relays, and posted the team's second-best times at both 400m and 800m. During the outdoor season, she set school records in the 400m and 800m events, as well as the 4x100m, 4x400m and 4x800m relays. Her 400m time of 52.64 seconds ranked as the seventh-best in the nation and earned her a spot at the NCAA Regional, where her first-round time advanced her to the quarterfinals. In her first year donning the purple and gold, Jackson was named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll twice while accumulating a 3.41 GPA.

Gabby LaSala | Softball | Freshman | Mason, Ohio – Dedicated both on the diamond and in the classroom, it didn't take long for Gabby LaSala to start making regular contributions to her team during the 2016 season, as the true freshman earned a starting role midway through the year. While playing in 41 of the team's 56 contests, the rookie tallied a total of 36 starts and played in 28 of the team's final 30 games. Filling a role in the infield, LaSala rounded out her first year in the purple and gold with a .258 batting average with 13 runs and 10 RBI. She ranked third on the squad with six doubles on the year and clubbed two round trippers as well, finishing with a .381 slugging percentage, as well as a .327 on base percentage. The Mason, Ohio native totaled five multi-hit performances throughout the year and, defensively, ranked third on the Golden Eagle roster with 37 assists. In the classroom, LaSala was perfect in her first two semesters, accumulating a 4.0 GPA and earning a spot on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll in both the fall and spring semesters.

Mason Ramsey | Men's Basketball | Sophomore | Livingston, Tenn. – Back for his second season on the hardwood donning the Tech purple and gold, Mason Ramsey took strides in his game as a sophomore during the 2015-16 season, proving to be a key reserve off the bench for the highly successful Golden Eagle men's basketball team. In helping the Tech squad to its seventh postseason berth in program history, the big man played in all 31 games on the year, averaging 5.7 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. Ramsey shot 50 percent from the field on the year and made his first career start in a blowout victory over Southeast Missouri, scoring 10 points and corralling a season-high seven boards. He dropped a career-high 17 points against UC Clermont and scored in double figures five times on the year, each resulting in a Golden Eagle victory. The Livingston, Tenn. native demonstrated a high skill set at the charity stripe, sinking 74 percent of his free throws on the year. In the classroom, Ramsey continued to display the kind of success he demonstrated in his first two years at the university, earning a place on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll for the fifth and sixth straight semesters. He has also taken home a spot on the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll twice and wrapped up the year with a 3.68 GPA. 

Jay Rudwall | Football | Senior | Ooltewah, Tenn. – Always a force to be reckoned with throughout his Tennessee Tech tenure, Jay Rudwall established himself as an elite defensive presence in the Ohio Valley Conference, while also maintaining a high level of excellence off the field. A starter at inside linebacker, the Ooltewah, Tenn. native ranked second on the team and third in the OVC with 103 tackles, an average of 9.2 tackles per game. It marked his second consecutive season topping 100 total tackles, raising his career total to an impressive 275. Among the year's highlights, Rudwall notched a season-high 15 tackles against No. 1 Jacksonville State on Oct. 17, and recorded a sack at FBS opponent Houston in the season-opener on Sep. 5. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound senior also registered a pair of fumble recoveries. Coupled with his off the field merit, Rudwall was named as a 2015 Hammer Strength All-American, an honor announced by Hammer Strength, a Life Fitness-owned performance brand of strength equipment, in partnership with the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCA). To be considered as a Hammer Strength All-American, student-athletes were judged on their personal qualities and achievements in terms of work ethic, leadership, consistency and academic performance. A two-time member of the Athletic Director's Honor Roll and one time selection to the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll, Rudwall completed his undergraduate career with a 3.13 GPA and sported a GPA of 3.40 as a graduate student.

Mitch Thomas | Men's Golf | Senior | Knoxville, Tenn. – Named a co-captain of the Golden Eagles in his fourth and final season, Mitch Thomas wrapped up a stellar career on the links by leading his team in scoring average with a mark of 73.32, which also ranked in the top 10 in the Ohio Valley Conference. Backed by steady play that saw eight top 20 finishes in 11 events, the veteran earned a spot on the All-OVC Team, his second such honor of his career. Thomas turned in his best scorecard of the season in the first event, carding a 211 at the GolfWeek Program Challenge. He also posted his best individual round at the event, firing a third-round 67, one of the top 15 lowest rounds in program history and fourth lowest of his career. Wrapping up his final season, Thomas took home the Gilbert Darcy Most Valuable Player award for the Tech squad. He also claimed the Best Putter and Low Average awards while finishing as one of the most consistent players in school history with a 73.89 career average. Thomas has been a model of consistency in the classroom as well, earning a place on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll in each of his eight semesters, including a spot in the Gold Club for a perfect 4.0 semester in the spring. His cumulative 3.56 GPA has earned him a place on the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll three times and a GCAA Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar honor last year. While earning his bachelor's degree in accounting, he was a three-year member of the Tennessee Tech Accounting Club while also serving as a member of SAAC for four years. In the community, Thomas has been active in teaching young athletes to improve their golf game at Algood Middle Schood and encourage an active lifestyle for the children of Capshaw Elementary School at their annual Cougar Run. He also never missed a chance to ring bells and collect donations for the Cookeville Rescue Mission over the Christmas holidays.

Kellie Williams | Volleyball | Sophomore | Charlotte, N.C. – Kellie Williams showed growth on the court and continued to dominate in the classroom during her sophomore year, developing into one of the Golden Eagles' top offensive options while maintaining a fantastic scholastic approach to her career as a student-athlete. The youngster ranked second on the Tech squad with 328 kills in the 2015 season, averaging nearly three per set. She compiled 44 blocks on the year, including 10 solo, ranking fourth on the team. Her 355.0 points on the season also listed her second on the Golden Eagles, sitting only behind teammate Cody Dodd. Williams played especially well down the stretch, racking up a career-high 28 kills behind an impressive .314 attack percentage in the regular-season finale at UT Martin. She tallied 29.0 points in the match. She followed that up with 19 kills and 22.0 points in Tech's thrilling, 3-2 comeback victory over Eastern Illinois in the first round of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. Academically, Williams has been a four-time member of the Athletic Director's Honor Roll and earned a spot on the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll once.