Photo Gallery (images by Matthew Schumacher)
San Francisco, CA -- With the regular season for the spring sports approaching their finale, the Academy of Art University celebrated its 2013-14 season in style with the inaugural ARTYs Awards, an end-of-the-year banquet honoring all of the artist-athletes and their coaches for their performances this past year. This was the first ever such event for the Urban Knights, who now finishing their sixth year of intercollegiate athletics, felt that a celebration of the program was long overdue.
"The administration wanted to start a new tradition and host a special evening for our artist-athletes and coaching staff, to honor and celebrate the various accomplishments achieved in the 2013-14 academic year," said Associate Athletic Director
Meghan Bushnell. "We had our artist-athletes, coaching staff, and administration vote for nominees for a variety of categories and awards. We also went back in time and honored our alumni who helped pioneer and lead our Athletic Department into the NCAA. It was a memorable night having our Urban Knight family gather to reminisce and honor the positive endeavors accomplished this year. We look forward to building this tradition at ART U."
Urban Knights from all 16 teams came together and celebrated each other's accomplishments, both on the field and in the classroom. For many of the athletes, the time spent on the field can hinder interactions with those that play other sports, but the overall camaraderie came together with rowdy applause as each award was announced.
"Being a young program, we have the chance to create a tradition that will last for eternity," said Athletic Director
Colin Preston. "Our student-athletes, coaches and staff deserve and earned the opportunity to celebrate as a department. I am more than excited to continue the tradition of the ARTYs."
"Given the uniqueness of our school and its artist-athletes, the ARTYs definitely delivered in terms of its style and class," said Sports Information Director
Rob Garcia. "It was particularly satisfying to see the cross-sport bonds of friendship really shine through. The students and staff have wanted to do an event like this for some time and I think everyone was very happy with its final presentation."
Women's Basketball dominated the awards, winning Best Moment (PacWest
Regular Season &
Tournament Championships), Newcomer of the Year (
Krystal Forthan), Female Athlete of the Year (Forthan), Team of the Year, and Urban Knight of the Year (
Jasmin Guinn).
"Our team was honored to be part of the inaugural ARTYs," said women's basketball coach
LaNay Larson. "I think it is an event that is important in recognizing the hard work and effort put forth by the student-athletes not only in their respective sports, but also in the classroom and in the community."
Women's Golf took the academic spotlight as the Urban Knights highlighted the highest individual GPA (
Deanna Tyndall) and team GPA (Women's Golf), while the women's tennis team took home both Freshman of the Year (
Annika Schneider) and Coach of the Year honors (Beth Daub).
"The ARTYs was a great opportunity to have the whole Urban Knight family in one room celebrating all the athletes for their dedication to their sport," said Coach Daub. "It was nice to hear all about each other's accomplishments and the improvements throughout the season. Seeing all the athletes come together as one group and support one another was fantastic. The Knight pride was shown and it is a great tradition to now have."
Full list of ARTYs winners below:
| Fifth Year of the Year | Ian Sutherland (MSOC) |
| Best Individual GPA | Deanna Tyndall (WGOLF) |
| Best Team GPA | Women's Golf |
| Record-Breaking Performance | Jonmundur Gretarsson's three goals in 4:04 at Chaminade on Oct. 26, 2013 (MSOC) |
| Best Moment | PacWest Regular Season & Tournament Championships (WBB) |
| Freshman of the Year | Annika Schneider (WTEN) |
| Newcomer of the Year | Krystal Forthan (WBB) |
| Coach of the Year | Beth Daub (WTEN) |
| Male Team MVPs | Nicolas Rifflard (MXC), Jonmundur Gretarsson (MSOC), Alexis Moore (MBB),
Lyle "Kalani" Brackenridge (BASE), Alberto "Dago" Esponda (MGOLF), Jordan Edwards (MTRK) |
| Male Individual Athlete of the Year | Jordan Edwards (MTRK) |
| Female Team MVPs | Hannah Emmett (WSOC), Rachael Smith (VB), Kaelyn Harbison (WXC), Krystal Forthan (WBB),
Taylor Thurman (SB), Deanna Tyndall (WGOLF), Michelle Dandik Zaale (WTEN), Dinesha Bean (WTRK) |
| Female Individual Athlete of the Year | Krystal Forthan (WBB) |
| Urban Knight of the Year | Jasmin Guinn (WBB/WTRK) |
| Team of the Year | Women's Basketball |
