Michael Peterson and Bri Rogers Tabbed As Willie Bouyer Leadership Award Recipients

Note: This is the first of four major FSU Athletics Awards that will be presented between now and Monday for the 2020-21 campaign.

Big Rapids, Mich. - Ferris State University men's basketball senior Michael Peterson (Rockford) and senior midfielder Bri Rogers (Livonia/Ladywood) of the Bulldog women's soccer program have been tabbed as co-recipients of Ferris State University Athletics' prestigious Willie Bouyer Leadership Award for the 2020-21 campaign.

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 Bri Rogers and Michael Peterson are outstanding choices of this leadership award that bears the name of the late Willie Bouyer," said FSU Athletics Director Perk Weisenburger. "As a team captain, Bri has set a wonderful example for her teammates both on the field, in the classroom and in the community, leading our program to its first-ever conference championship this spring. 

"Michael was not only a great leader and ambassador for Ferris State University, but also a tremendous role model for younger teammates and fans," he added. "He accepted whatever role he was asked to play for a championship program and he certainly played a key role in all the success Bulldog Basketball has achieved over the course of his career."

Rogers led the Bulldog women's soccer squad to the program's first-ever Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Championship this past spring. She was named to the United Soccer Coaches' College Player Award of Distinction list and finished the spring with three points on a goal and an assist in 10 contests while notching 19 total shots. The three-time GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team honoree earned All-GLIAC First Team honors for the second consecutive year. Previously, she was chosen in 2019 as both a GLIAC Commissioner's Award winner and a United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II Scholar All-American in addition to garnering College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District and Division II Conference Commissioner's Association (D2CCA) All-Region laurels. 

Behind the play of Rogers this spring, the Bulldogs were ranked as high as #11 in the country and finished with an 8-1-1 overall record. FSU concluded the year ranked 17th nationally and played host to the GLIAC Semifinals/Finals for the first time in program history. FSU allowed only two goals over the course of the entire campaign, including only one during the regular season when Ferris State finished with a 8-0-1 mark as the league's only unbeaten squad.

"Bri Rogers has been an exceptional leader for our program, both on and off the field," said FSU head coach Greg Henson. "She was instrumental in our team claiming the first conference championship in program history this spring. Bri has continued to lead by example throughout her career and we're thrilled she's been chosen as one of this year's recipients of this prestigious honor."

Meanwhile, Peterson had his best season as a Bulldog this past winter, totaling nearly 10 points and a squad-high 6.6 rebounds per game in a starting role. The four-year letterwinner earned GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team honors for the third-straight year and posted eight double-figure scoring games his senior campaign. A GLIAC Commissioner's Award nominee, Peterson helped lead the Bulldogs to a top four finish in the GLIAC this year and was an all-conference caliber performer on the hardwood. He's earned D2 Athletic Directors Association Academic Achievement honors three times in his collegiate career and was a member of the Bulldogs' 2018 NCAA Division II National Championship team. Overall, he helped lead the Bulldogs to three conference championships in his collegiate career along with a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances. 

Off the court, Peterson has ranked as the Bulldogs' President's Academic Award honoree and been active in the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee at FSU. He's also played a key role in the program's involvement with Mitchell's Run, an annual 5K event in his hometown of Rockford to raise funds for Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy in recognition of his brother, Mitchell Peterson, who has been an honorary member of the Bulldog squad. Peterson earned his degree this spring from Ferris State in finance and has been invited to join the Michigan State men's basketball team as a graduate transfer for the 2021-22 season.

"It's exciting to have Michael chosen as a recipient of the Willie Bouyer Leadership Award," said FSU head coach Andy Bronkema. "Over his career at Ferris State, he developed himself from a partial scholarship player to a starter and team captain thru hard work and dedication. His work ethic was outstanding and he displayed the type of leadership traits all championship programs need.

"Michael and the Peterson Family have left an incredible mark on the program and he is a great choice to win this honor," he added.

Rogers is only the second-ever Bulldog women's soccer student-athlete in school history to receive the Willie Bouyer Leadership Award while Peterson is the sixth Bulldog men's basketball standout to claim the distinction.

The other 2020-21 finalist for the Willie Bouyer Leadership Award included yet another strong leaders and representative in sophomore men's golfer Thomas Hursey.

Willie Bouyer Leadership Award Recipients
2020-21 - Bri Rogers (Women's Soccer) and Michael Peterson (Men's Basketball)
2019-20 - Travis Russell (Football)
2018-19 - Carley Dubbert (Women's Soccer)
2017-18 - Noah King (Men's Basketball)
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)