Trio Of Senior Student-Athletes Honored As Dean Davenport Bulldogs Of The Year
Note: This is the last of the four major FSU Athletics Awards presented for the 2019-20 campaign.
Big Rapids, Mich. - A trio of Ferris State University All-America student-athletes have been named recipients of the Dean Davenport "Bulldog of the Year" Award for the 2019-20 athletics season as senior defensive end Austin Edwards (Lansing/Waverly) of the national semifinalist football squad was joined by senior outside hitter Allyson Cappel (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln-Way North) of the championship women's volleyball program and cross country/track and field standout Katie Etelamaki (Ishpeming/Westwood) as this year's award winners.
They were selected in voting conducted by the Bulldog head coaches and selected FSU Athletics Department staff members.
All three individuals were recognized as the school's top male and female student-athletes, respectively, for their accomplishments this past season with Cappel and Etelamaki sharing the women's hoonr. In 2019-20, all three student-athletes claimed All-America accolades while leading their respective teams. The 2019 Gene Upshaw Award winner as the nation's top lineman, Edwards earned the distinction for the first time as did Etelamaki while Cappel repeated as the female award recipient for the third consecutive year, becoming only the third student-athlete in school history to receive the honor three times.
"Austin Edwards, Allyson Cappel and Katie Etelamaki are outstanding choices as the Dean Davenport Bulldog of the Year Award recipients this year and all three capped off tremendous careers as student-athletes," said FSU Athletics Director Perk Weisenburger. "They were great representatives of their respective programs, our department and the university."
"Allyson had one of the finest careers of any volleyball player in school history, becoming our first four-time All-American, and led our program to unprecedented championship success in each of her four seasons as a Bulldog. Katie earned All-America honors multiple times during her career as one of the school's top distance and cross country runners of all-time. Meanwhile, there was no better defensive player or lineman in the country this year than Austin Edwards as evidenced by the recognition he received for our championship football program. We congratulate all three on earning the prestigious Dean Davenport Bulldog of the Year Awards."
The Dean Davenport "Bulldog of the Year" Award, which was reinstated in the 2002-03 season following a seven-year absence, is presented annually to the most outstanding Ferris State male and female student-athlete. Award criteria consists of strong athletic achievements (must be a letterwinner and achieve outstanding athletic accomplishment), strong individual character and leadership achievement.
The award was renamed in honor of former Ferris State Athletics Director Dean Davenport, who served in the position from 1979-93. During his tenure at Ferris, Davenport was instrumental in the planning of the FSU Sports Complex, the growth of women's intercollegiate athletics, the emergence of Ferris' NCAA Division I men's ice hockey program and the development of the athletics scholarship program. He also led the athletics department to 14 consecutive Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) President's Cup Championships. Davenport also played a key role in helping found many of the department's key major annual awards.
Edwards' selection marks the 16th time a Bulldog football player has been honored as a winner of the Dean Davenport "Bulldog of the Year" Award. He's the second consecutive football honoree and fourth in the last six years, following in the footsteps of former two-time Harlon Hill Trophy winning quarterback Jason Vander Laan (2014-16) and fellow Harlon Hill recipient Jayru Campbell (2018-19).
Meanwhile, Etelamaki is the first women's track and field/cross country honoree since Samantha Johnson in 2014-15 and the 12th overall. Cappel is among 17 volleyball participants to claim the honor and it represents the fifth consecutive year in which a volleyball student-athlete has been awarded the distinction, coming on the heels of former Bulldog All-Americans Megan Vander Meer and Stephanie Sikorski in 2015-16 and 2016-17, respectively, before she won the award the past two years as well.
The other student-athlete nominee finalists for the 2019-20 Dean Davenport Bulldog of the Year Award were Stanley Williams (Track & Field/Football), Bri Rogers (Women's Soccer) and Riley Blair (Women's Basketball).
Along with being FSU's first-ever Gene Upshaw Award recipient this past fall, Edwards became the first defensive player to win the GLIAC Player of the Year Award since 2005 after leading the Bulldogs to an undefeated regular season, a second consecutive GLIAC Championship and a No. 2 ranking nationally. He followed up an All-America-caliber season in 2018 with his third All-GLIAC First Team selection and was a consensus first-team All-America choice this fall. He also earned an invitation to compete in the prestigious East-West Shrine Bowl held in January and signed as a preferred free agent with the NFL's Atlanta Falcons.
Anchoring one of the stingiest defenses in Division II, Edwards compiled 17.5 tackles for loss (-106 yards) along with 10.5 sacks (-87 yards) and 64 total stops this past campaign with both a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. The three-year starter was a three-time All-GLIAC honoree and three-time All-American who helped FSU to its sixth consecutive NCAA Division II Playoff appearance this past year and the region's top seed along with a fourth-straight trip to the national quarterfinals or beyond. The two-time All-GLIAC First Team pick was a finalist for the second consecutive year for the Cliff Harris Award as one of the nation's top small college performers. He was named to the 2019 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-America First Team and also chosen as the D2Football.com National Defensive Player of the Year along with being a candidate for the 2019 Harlon Hill Trophy presented to Division II's top all-around performer.
"The only thing that exceeded Austin's performance of the field was his attitude off of it - - that includes his work ethic and humility," said Ferris State Head Coach Tony Annese. "He cared about every one of his teammates. Austin was such a great leader on our defensive line and his development over the past four years played a key role in our continued and sustained success. He was a dominating player at the line of scrimmage and really played a big role in the success of our defense this year. Austin was not only a great player, but such a great person as one of our team captains and leaders and it's awesome to see him receive this award."
One of the top players in school history, Cappel was chosen as an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) and Division II Conference Commissioners Association All-America First Team pick this past year, becoming the Bulldogs' first four-time All-America choice on the court. She also added to her impressive list of accomplishments by being tabbed as a 2019 College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-American.
On the floor, this past year represented the fourth consecutive year in which Cappel received AVCA All-America accolades, becoming the first player in Bulldog history to garner the distinction four-straight years. Cappel was also chosen as the GLIAC Player of the Year for the third-straight season after guiding FSU to the program's sixth-straight league regular-season championship. A four-time All-American, Cappel tallied a team-leading 460 kills along with 343 digs, 37 blocks and 35 aces as FSU's most versatile weapon. She was also chosen as both the AVCA and the Division II Conference Commissioner's Association (D2CCA) Regional Player of the Year this season as FSU finished with a 25-6 overall record and also won its sixth-straight GLIAC Tournament Championship while making the program's ninth consecutive and 24th all-time NCAA Division II Tournament appearance.
"Allyson was exceptional this year and throughout her career," said head coach Tia Brandel-Wilhelm. "She was consistently a force on offense and was one of the best passes and defenders in the nation. She was a true catalyst for our team – not only would she step up to get the needed kill or dig or great serve, she was also an inspiring leader. She reached out to her teammates in need, held teammates accountable to the standards and reminded us all about the joy of playing Bulldog Volleyball."
Finally, Etelamaki earned All-America honors for the second consecutive year at the 2019 NCAA Division II National Cross Country Championships and was a three-time GLIAC Commissioner's Award recipient. Etelamaki competed individually at the national championships, posting a 23-second personal best and notching the second-fastest time in school history in Sacramento. Overall, she earned All-GLIAC First Team honors in cross country three-straight years and was a three-time All-Midwest Region choice.
This season, Etelamaki earned all-region cross country recognition with an 11th-place individual finish in a time of 21:18.8 in the D2 Midwest Regional Championships in Evansville, Ind. The two-time cross country All-American also claimed 2019 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field All-America recognition and concluded her career as a 10-time NCAA national qualifier in track and field. Etelamaki garnered GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team honors for the fourth consecutive year and ranks among the Bulldogs' top five all-time perforemrs in seven different events. On the track, she was also a NCAA Division II Provisional National Qualifier this winter.
"Katie was a fantastic athlete and a great leader for our program," said FSU head coach Jared Kelsh. "She has been our number one runner for the last four years. Not only is she a multiple time All-American, but will go down as one of the best runners to compete in a Bulldog jersey. This award recognizes all she has done and is a great way to end her athletic career.
The selections of the Dean Davenport "Bulldogs of the Year" wrap up the postseason awards for FSU. Earlier this week, the Bulldogs announced the selections of former sports information director and longtime university employee Ted Halm as the Pete Peterson Pride Award recipient and Bulldog men's basketball student athlete D'angelo Hughes as the Jimmy Swears Courage Award winner. In addition, senior captain Travis Russell of the football squad received recognition as the Willie Bouyer Leadership Award recipient.
"We're honored to be able to present these year-end awards and extremely pleased as an athletic department to be able to honor our outstanding student-athletes and people with awards named after individuals who have played such a big part in the history and tradition of Bulldog Athletics," said Weisenburger.
Bulldog of the Year Recipients:
2019-20 - Austin Edwards (Football), Allyson Cappel (Volleyball) and Katie Etelamaki (Women's Track & Field/Cross Country)
2018-19 - Jayru Campbell (Football) and Allyson Cappel (Volleyball)
2017-18 - Zach Hankins (Men's Basketball) and Allyson Cappel (Volleyball)
2016-17 - Zach Hankins (Men's Basketball) and Stephanie Sikorski (Volleyball)
2015-16 - Jason Vander Laan (Football) and Megan Vander Meer (Volleyball)
2014-15 - Jason Vander Laan (Football) and Samantha Johnson (Women's Track & Field/CC)
2013-14 – CJ Motte (Men's Ice Hockey) and Anna Rudd (Women's Track & Field/CC)
2012-13 – Kyle Bonis (Men's Ice Hockey) and Anna Rudd (Women's Track & Field/CC)
2011-12 – Taylor Nelson (Men's Ice Hockey) and Tina Muir (Women's Track & Field/CC)
2010-11 – Justin Keenan (Men's Basketball) and Tina Muir (Women's Track & Field/CC)
2009-10 – Justin Keenan (Men's Basketball), Eric Lilleboe (Men's Golf), and Tina Muir (Women's Track & Field/CC)
2008-09 – Jake Visser (Football), Mikinzie Stuart (Women's Track & Field/Cross Country)
2007-08 – Jake Visser (Football), Rachel Folcik (Women's Basketball), and Becky Hoffman (Women's Golf)
2006-07 – Mike Klobucher (Football), Rachel Folcik (Women's Basketball), and Kristie Smilanich (Women's Soccer)
2005-06 – Dennis Springs (Men's Basketball), Jenny Irwin (Women's Cross Country and Women's Track & Field)
2004-05 – Carlton Epps (Men's Basketball), Karla Fairbanks (Women's Volleyball)
2003-04 – Derek Fudge (Football), Lucy DeMartin (Women's Basketball)
2002-03 – Chris Kunitz (Men's Ice Hockey), Kathryn Bobbie (Women's Golf)
1995-96 – Bill Love (Football), Theresa Luciow (Softball)
1994-95 – Bill Love (Football), Shelli Gaul (Women's Track & Field)
1993-94 – Ed Philion (Football), Kathy O'Connor (Women's Volleyball & Women's Basketball)
1992-93 – Monty Brown (Football), Jodi Raab (Women's Basketball)
1991-92 – Dan Hutcheson (Wrestling), Monica Ferguson (Women's Cross Country/Track & Field)
1990-91 – John DePourcq (Men's Ice Hockey), Karen Volkers (Women's Volleyball)
1989-90 – Paul Cochran (Men's Track & Field/Football), Karen Volkers (Women's Volleyball)
1988-89 – Jarvis Walker (Men's Basketball), Penny Bailey (Women's Track & Field/Cross Country)
1987-88 – Dave DenBraber (Football), Patty Theis (Women's Volleyball)
1986-87 – Brad Morris (Wrestling), Patty Theis (Women's Volleyball) and Karen Kramer (Women's Basketball)
1985-86 – Scott Kelly (Baseball), Patty Theis (Women's Volleyball)
1984-85 – Paul Jungck (Wrestling), Sharon Sanders (Women's Volleyball)
1983-84 – Terry Schumacher (Wrestling), Leigh Feenstra (Women's Volleyball)
1982-83 – Bruce Faccio (Football), Monta Ware (Women's Basketball) and Linda Spicer (Women's Volleyball)
1981-82 – Tim Smelser (Wrestling), Vicki Williams (Women's Basketball)
1980-81 – Rick Baillergeon (Men's Basketball), Terri Fraser (Women's Volleyball & Women's Basketball)
1979-80 – David Sall (Football), Roxanne Abramouski (Softball)
1978-79 – Tim Herman (Men's Basketball), Sharon Lipinski (Women's Basketball)