Anthony Darkangelo & Jenna Way Honored As Co-Recipients Of Willie Bouyer Leadership Award
Note: This is the second of four major FSU Athletics Awards that will be presented between now and Thursday for the 2016-17 campaign. The final award, the Bulldog of the Year Award, will be announced on Thursday.
Big Rapids, Mich. - A pair of veteran senior leaders who helped guide their respective squads to championship success throughout their careers have been been chosen as this year's co-recipients of the Ferris State University Athletics Department's Willie Bouyer Leadership Award for the 2016-17 campaign in an announcement made today.
This year's honorees include senior linebacker Anthony Darkangelo (Brighton/Detroit Catholic Central) of the Super Region Champion and NCAA National Semifinalist Bulldog football program along with senior Jenna Way (Charlevoix), who helped lead the FSU volleyball program to its third consecutive GLIAC Championship and a second-straight NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen finish last fall.
The Willie Bouyer Leadership Award, which is regarded as one of the most prestigious of the FSU Athletics Department's four annual major honors, is named in memory of Ferris State's first All-America football student-athlete Willie Bouyer. Bouyer was tragically killed in his hometown of Detroit in 1977. The recipient is chosen by a FSU Athletics Department committee.
Candidates for the award are judged on their strong inspirational leadership and dedication to fellow Ferris State student-athletes. The nominees also should be involved outside of athletics in other college and community activities along with participating on a varsity athletics team for at least two years. The Willie Bouyer Leadership Award was reinstated upon the conclusion of the 2002-03 season following a seven-year absence.
"Both Anthony and Jenna have been tremendous leaders in our respective football and volleyball programs and are very deserving of receiving the Willie Bouyer Leadership Award," said FSU Athletics Director Perk Weisenburger. "Their efforts have helped both Bulldog Football and Volleyball achieve championship success over the past four years. They are great choices as the co-recipients of this leadership award that bears the name of Willie Bouyer."
A team captain, Darkangelo was the leader of a FSU defensive unit that ranked among the league's best during FSU's historic run last fall. He totaled a team-high and career-best 143 total stops in 2016 with 62 solo tackles and 81 assisted hits. He also recorded 11 tackles for loss resulting in -17 yards and had a sack along with a forced fumble. The first-team all-conference choice was a four-year letterwinner and key contributor in the Bulldogs' success over his collegiate career.
For his efforts, Darkangelo was recognized as a 2016 Football Gazette First Team All-American and was a two-time all-region choice as he helped the Bulldogs to the greatest three-year stretch in school history.
In his career, Darkangelo won two conference titles, a super region championship and made three NCAA Playoff berths in a Bulldog uniform.
"Anthony Darkangelo was a tremendous leader and competitor in our football program and is extremely deserving of the recognition," said FSU football head coach Tony Annese. "His dedication and commitment leaves a lasting legacy both on and off the field. We're proud of all his accomplishments and the outstanding effort he gave over the past four years."
A four-year letterwinner for the Bulldog Volleyball squad, Way helped lead FSU to three consecutive Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Regular Season and Tournament Championships in her career. During her Bulldog tenure, FSU also made four-straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including back-to-back trips to the Division II Sweet Sixteen each of the past two years. As a junior, the Bulldogs captured the prestigious Colorado Premier Invitational Championship and had a nation-best 33-3 overall record while garnering the program's first-ever number one national ranking. Way was a four-time GLIAC All-Academic Team honoree.
As a senior this past fall, Way's efforts helped the Bulldogs return to the Sweet Sixteen and win yet another conference championship despite the loss of four senior starters from the previous campaign. She was also a member of FSU's 2013 squad that reached the NCAA Elite Eight.
Way continued a longstanding family tradition at Ferris State - her grandfather Dean Davenport formerly was Ferris State's Athletic Director and is a member of the Bulldog Athletics Hall of Fame while her mother, Chris, was a two-sport varsity athlete at FSU and later served as a volunteer assistant coach. In addition, her uncle Terry designed the current Bulldog mascot logo as a Ferris State student in the 1980's.
"Jenna Way's work ethic and incredible devotion to her team led to an array of team accomplishments, but even more outstanding is Jenna's leadership and devotion to being a positive force for others," said FSU Volleyball head coach Tia Brandel-Wilhelm. "Jenna's leadership on the volleyball team covered the full range of what every coach and team desires in a leader. She was a leader by example, a servant to her team and community, a driving competitor, a compassionate listener and, most importantly, Jenna always placed the needs of her team above her own. She cared deeply about the success of her team and her university and that was evident in all she did."
Both standout student-athletes also participated with their teams in various charitable events such as reading to elementary students, assisting in campus move-in, coaching youth activities and other important civic causes.
Way is the sixth volleyball student-athlete in school history to receive the Willie Bouyer Leadership Award, following in the footsteps of previous honorees including two-time recipient Brittny Godlewski (2004-06), Danielle Baucher (2006-07), Ashley Huntey (2011-12) Samantha Fordyce (2012-13) and Alexis Huntey (2015-16).
Meanwhile, Darkangelo becomes the sixth football player to claim the distinction and the first in more than two decades, joining previous recipients Fred Kirkland (1980-81), Steve Piotraczk (1984-85), Jim Beson (1988-89), Jere Getzinger (1993-94) and Benny Roe (1995-96).
The other 2016-17 finalists for the Willie Bouyer Leadership Award included Noah King (Men's Basketball) and Chad McDonald (Hockey).
Willie Bouyer Leadership Award Recipients
2016-17 - Anthony Darkangelo (Football) and Jenna Way (Volleyball)
2015-16 - Alexis Huntey (Volleyball/Women's Basketball)
2014-15 - Drew Lehman (Men's Basketball)
2013-14 – Simon Denis (Men's Ice Hockey)
2012-13 – Samantha Fordyce (Volleyball)
2011-12 – Ashley Huntey (Volleyball)
2010-11 – Matt DeHart (Men's Basketball)
2009-10 – Casey Haines (Men's Ice Hockey) and Kurt Valley (Men's Golf)
2008-09 – Holly Bruntjens (Softball)
2007-08 – Raquel Hansen (Women's Golf) and Katie Kraai (Softball)
2006-07 – Danielle Baucher (Women's Volleyball) and Raquel Hansen (Women's Golf)
2005-06 – Brittny Godlewski (Women's Volleyball) and Jeffrey Shanahan (Men's Basketball)
2004-05 – Brittny Godlewski (Women's Volleyball) and Navreet Gill (Softball)
2003-04 – Melissa Worsley (Softball) and Derrick McIver (Men's Ice Hockey)
2002-03 – Steve Picucci (Mens' Cross Country and Men's Track & Field)
1995-96 – Benny Roe (Football)
1994-95 – Tim Christian (Men's Ice Hockey)
1993-94 – Jere Getzinger (Wrestling and Football)
1992-93 – Dave Morin (Baseball)
1991-92 – Erica Thomas (Women's Basketball)
1990-91 – Mark Kamppinen (Baseball)
1989-90 – Doug Mooney (Wrestling) and Jody Johnson (Softball)
1988-89 – Jim Beson (Football and Wrestling)
1987-88 – Sam Sweet (Men's Track and Field)
1986-87 – Paul Surmont (Cheerleading – Bulldog Mascot)
1985-86 – Kurt Stevens (Men's Basketball)
1984-85 – Steve Piotraczk (Football), Katy Kelley (Women's Basketball)
1980-81 – Fred Kirkland (Football and Men's Track & Field)