Culver-Stockton College held its annual All-Sports Award Banquet May 6 as nearly 600 student-athletes, administrators, coaches and friends filled the auditorium inside the Robert W. Brown Performing Arts Center to celebrate the academic and athletic achievements of the Wildcat Athletic Department during the 2018-19 school year.

Avery Johnson (Durham, Mo. / Highland HS) of the softball team and Mike Johnson (Jackson, Mich. / Jackson HS / Lansing CC) of the men's basketball team were awarded the Female and Male Most Outstanding Senior Student-Athlete Award. The awards were based on their accomplishments in the classroom and in the athletic arena over a career at Culver-Stockton.

Avery Johnson is a four-time all-conference player, including first team honors in 2018 and 2019. During her career, she set the school's career record for hits (241), runs scored (172) and total bases (386), and she is second in batting average (.370), second in RBIs (155), third in home runs (31), and fourth in doubles (44), and fourth in walks (80). In addition to her athletic accomplishments, Avery is a two-time Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete and a four-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association Scholar-Athlete.

Mike Johnson is a two-time all-conference first team selection and a two-time NAIA All-America honorable mention selection. A transfer from Lansing Community College, Mike is the school's record holder for most points scored in a season with 735, and he is sixth on the school's all-time career list in 3-point field goals (165) and free throws (174). Off the court, Mike is a two-time Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

The Male and Female Athlete of the Year awards were given to sophomore football player Andrew Rupcich (Wonder Lake, Ill. / McHenry HS)) and junior women's soccer player Kehley Bitzas (Greenvale, Australia / Ivanhoe Grammar School).

Rupcich, an offensive tackle, became the first Wildcat to earn all-conference first team football honors since 2014 and the first offensive player to claim first team honors since 2007.

Bitzas, a goalkeeper, was named first team on the Heart of America Athletic Conference all-conference team and the College Soccer Coaches All-Midwest region team. In addition, she was named to the NAIA All-America team as an honorable mention selection. Kehley registered a 1.03 goal against average this season. She recorded 85 saves and allowed 21 goals, a .783 save percentage, and had seven shutouts and one combined shutout during the regular season.

The Female Newcomer of the Year was awarded to Ryan Dooley (Assumption, Ill. / Moweaqua Central A&M HS / Parkland College) of the women's basketball team, and the Male Newcomer of the Year was given to Jannick Lange (Elmshorn, Germany / Bismarckschule Elmshorn) of the men's soccer team.

In addition to the individual athletic awards, the Athletic Director's Academic Excellence Team Awards were awarded to the softball team and the men's cross country team for having the highest team grade-point-average for the 2018 calendar year. The softball team captured this award for the second straight year, while the men's cross country team won it for the first time.

Also, the Athletic Advisory Council (AAC) handed out three awards during the ceremony. Head softball coach Jordan Bastian was named Coach of the Year for the second consecutive year; Dr. Andy Walsh, Professor of Religion and Philopsophy, was named faculty/staff member of the year, and Pete and Stacy Raith, long-time boosters and friends to the athletic department, were named the Community Members of the Year.

The athletic department also gave out the PAW award to one player from each athletic team and the student athletic training staff. PAW stands for passion, attitude and work ethic.

Those honored with PAW awards were Josh French (men's cross country), Katie Neff (women's cross country), Caelen McGee (football), Collin Milford (men's soccer), Mabry Lewis (women's soccer), Jenna Lord (women's volleyball), Cullen Smith (men's basketball), Sydney Neuner (women's basketball), and Ryan Clamors (men's volleyball).

Also awarded PAW awards were Dakota Sweeney (baseball), Kirsten Burris (softball), KT Seth (men's track and field), Karlie Johnson (women's track and field), Grace Frese (women's golf), Conor Bronson (men's golf), Kalli Gordanier (cheer), Austin Curttright (men's bowling), Cheyenne Bequette (women's bowling), and Nicole Griffin (athletic training).

Finally, all student-athletes who were selected to All-America teams, all-conference teams, HAAC player of the week or named NAIA scholar-athletes were recognized.