Southeastern Athletics Hands Out Honors at 2023 SCA's

DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern athletics held the Southeastern Choice Awards banquet on Tuesday night at Choctaw Casino and Resort, handing out a series of honors ranging from team MVP's and scholar-athlete honors to the naming of the finalists for the Male and Female Athletes of the Year.
 
The event was organized by the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and was emceed by the group's officers, president Gracie Ore, vice-president Caleb High, secretary Keitian Bell, and social media coordinator Brooklee Waltrip.
 
A total of 11 student-athletes were named as finalists for the Athlete of the Year honors, six women and five men.
 
Below are the women finalists:

• Sara Gonzalez, Women's Tennis
• Caitlin Kobiske, Women's Basketball
• Bailey Witt, Rodeo
• Briley Moon, Women's Basketball
• Cheyenne Mahy, Softball
• Samantha Wallis, Track and Field

 And the men's finalists:

• Marquis Gray, Football
• Jett Sternberger, Men's Basketball
• Luke Thrash, Rodeo
• Damon Burroughs, Baseball
• Juan Gonzalez, Men's Tennis

 
Southeastern named its top Scholar-Athletes as well. The women were led by women's basketball's Briley Moon, while on the men's side, baseball's Jared Barta took home the top honor.
 
Below is the top-five ranking for both the men and the women:
 
Women:
1st – Briley Moon, Women's Basketball
2nd- Holli Lindley, Women's Basketball
3rd- Michelle Markovic, Women's Tennis
4th- Hannah Hughes, Rodeo
5th- Lauren Beason, Women's Basketball
 
Men:
1st- Jared Barta, Baseball
2nd- Kody Clouet, Men's Basketball
3rd- Jake Miller, Baseball
4th- Jakob Berger, Baseball
5th- Colton Craddock, Baseball
 
Each Savage Storm sports team also named its MVP's on Tuesday night. Below is a list of Southeastern's MVP's by sport:
 
Volleyball – McKenzie Turkoly
Football – Marquis Gray
Cross Country – Alexis Longoria
Women's Basketball – Caitlin Kobiske
Men's Basketball – Jett Sternberger
Rodeo Female – Bailey Witt
Rodeo Male – Luke Thrash
Men's Golf – Trent Zorgdrager
 
Five sports, baseball, softball, and men's and women's tennis, and track and field, will hand out their MVP awards following the conclusion of their respective seasons.
 
Additionally, the SAAC recognized faculty and staff from around campus who have gone above and beyond in support of student-athletes, with this year's honorees include SE President Dr. Thomas Newsom and Pamela Locke.
 
Director of Sports Performance Dustin Plankey recognized the Sports Performance Athletes of the Year who were Peyton Kriegel from volleyball for the women and Matthew Nunez from football for the men.