Bulls Celebrate Another Memorable Year at Stampede of Champions
PHOTO GALLERY
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, APRIL 25, 2019 – USF Athletics continued its tradition of celebrating memorable accomplishments by the Bulls' student-athletes, coaches and staff members during the seventh annual Stampede of Champions on Wednesday night at the Yuengling Center.
USF teams were dressed to impress in formal attire as they walked along the red carpet on the way to enjoying the popular Hollywood-style awards show ceremony everyone looks forward to each spring. This year's theme was Cirque de Champions, which featured a magician, balloon artist and fun activities like the strongman game.
Student-athletes
Claire Embry (volleyball) and
Kaytlyn Gill (track & field) had the honor of emceeing the highly anticipated event along with men's soccer goalkeeper
Harrison Devenish-Meares, who was decked out in a tuxedo, top hot and white gloves.
"It's going to be a great show, I'm really excited," Devenish-Meares said. "It's one of the best events of the calendar. Stampede of Champions is one of my favorite nights."
Eighteen awards were presented to winners of categories that included team of the year (women's soccer, The American regular season champion, 15-4 record), co-female athletes of the year (softball's
Georgina Corrick, women's tennis'
Ana Roman Dominguez), male athlete of the year
(Laquincy Rideau, men's basketball), coaching staff of the year (men's basketball), female newcomer of the year (
Sydni Harvey, women's basketball) and male newcomer of the year (
Alexis Yetna, men's basketball).
Roman Dominguez also took home the best performance award for her
epic 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 singles victory over No. 1
Katarina Jokic of No. 2 Georgia on Jan. 25 in Athens.
It also was a special night for
Laura Ferreira of the women's basketball team. The senior wing from Lisbon, Portugal proudly received the prestigious Lee Roy Selmon Award, which recognizes an enduring example of integrity, academic excellence, compassion and competitiveness.
Ferreira also won the moment of the year award for her
unforgettable Senior Night experience against then-No. 2 UConn on March 4. The Yuengling Center roared that night as Ferreira marched out to the court during the starting lineup introduction, just hours after she revealed her heart condition to the public for the first time. Thanks to an honorable agreement between the programs, Ferreira coasted in for a layup to score the game's first points before her final exit as a Bull.
Head coach
Cristina Moros' women's tennis program was presented with the team community award for the Bulls' extraordinary efforts of giving back to the Bay Area. Senior
Kirby Powers, a high jumper on the track & field team, received the individual community award.
In a continuance of its
Green Sports Alliance (GSA) membership initiative of sustainability, USF Athletics donated all the extra food from Wednesday's event to
Where Love Grows, which will distribute it to those in need in the Bay Area.
Stampede of Champions award winners were determined by votes from USF student-athletes, coaches and administration. Check out the complete list of winners below.
Moment of the Year: Laura Ferreira (women's basketball) –
Senior Night against UConn.
Male Athlete of the Year: Laquincy Rideau (men's basketball).
Co-Female Athletes of the Year: Georgina Corrick (softball) and
Ana Roman Dominguez (women's tennis).
Male Newcomer of the Year: Alexis Yetna (men's basketball).
Female Newcomer of the Year: Sydni Harvey (women's basketball).
Unsung Hero: Harrison Devenish-Meares (men's soccer).
Team of the Year: Women's soccer –
2018 American Athletic Conference regular season champion, made fourth NCAA tournament appearance in the past five years and went 15-4 overall.
Lee Roy Selmon Award: Laura Ferreira (women's basketball) –
an enduring example of integrity, academic excellence, compassion and competitiveness.
Bulls Male Scholar Award: Kirk Livingstone (football).
Bulls Female Scholar Award: Briana Stowell (volleyball).
Team Community Award: Women's tennis.
Individual Community Award: Kirby Powers (track & field).
Most Improved: Men's basketball.
USF Most Spirited: Men's soccer.
Stafflete of the Year: Dr. Lee Dorpfeld (Behavioral Health Specialist).
Coaching Staff of the Year: Men's basketball.
Best Performance: Ana Roman Dominguez (women's tennis) –
for defeating No. 1 singles player in the nation.
About USF Athletics
USF Athletics sponsors 19 varsity men's and women's teams that compete in 11 different sports, 18 at the NCAA Division I level in the American Athletic Conference. The Bulls' athletic program began in 1965 and is in its 53rd season in 2018-19. Nearly 500 student-athletes train and compete in the athletic district located on the east end of the campus in Tampa, Fla. The Bulls have claimed 17 American Athletic Conference team titles since joining the conference in 2013, including at least three in each of the last three seasons. Nine USF programs reached national post-season competition in the 2017-18 season and six were ranked in the Top 25 nationally. The Bulls posted a combined annual grade-point average over 3.0 for the third straight year in 2017-18 and have posted a program record eight straight semesters with a combined GPA over 3.0. USF has seen more than 200 student-athletes earn their degree in the last two years.
