Texas Tech hosts annual Red & Black Gala
April 17, 2023 | Baseball, Football, Men's Basketball, Men's Golf, Men's Tennis, Softball, Women's Basketball, Women's Golf, Women's Soccer, Women's Tennis, Women's Volleyball, Academics, Student-Athlete Development, Track and Field
Annual event recognizes student-athletes for work in competition as well as in the classroom and the community
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech Athletics celebrated its best and brightest from the 2022-23 academic year Monday evening during the Red and Black Gala hosted at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center.
The gala, a yearly event for Texas Tech student-athletes each spring, recognizes student-athletes for not only their work in competition, but also in the classroom and through community service initiatives. Each award presented during the gala was determined based on academic merit in consultation with athletics staff, namely in the Marsha Sharp Center for Student-Athletes and the J.T. and Margaret Talkington Department of Student-Athlete Development.
It was a busy night for Wes Kittley and his women's track and field program as he was tabbed the Women's Team Coach of the Year while the Lady Raiders were tabbed the Team of the Year. On the men's side, the Red Raider men's track and field and men's golf programs split Team of the Year honors as both have regularly ranked in the top five of the national polls for the past year.
Joey McGuire was named the Men's Team Coach of the Year after a memorable debut season where he led the Red Raiders to their most Big 12 victories since 2009 and a victory over Ole Miss in the TaxAct Texas Bowl. McGuire wasn't the only member of the football program recognized as Tyler Shough was the male recipient for Comeback Athlete of the Year, while Tyrique Matthews shared the Student-Athlete Development Award for community service and Tony Bradford Jr. took home the Fearless Champion Award. Jordan Brown was also honored with the Strive for Honor Award for his efforts academically.
Shough, the MVP of the Red Raiders' bowl victory, took the stage alongside volleyball's Alex Torres and soccer's Sierra Jones, who shared Comeback Athlete of the Year honors. Matthews, meanwhile, was recognized alongside track and field's Taylor Limbaugh for their work with the student-athlete development office and in the community.
Top honors of the night went to Ludvig Aberg, the reigning Ben Hogan Award winner, and Demisha Roswell, the Big 12 indoor champion in the 60-meter hurdles, who were named Red Raiders of the Year. They were joined on stage earlier in the evening by women's golf's Anna Dong, who was recognized with the prestigious Jeannine McHaney Award.
A full listing of the Red and Black Gala Award winners can be found below.
RED & BLACK GALA AWARD WINNERS
Spirit & Sportsmanship Awards: Zach Bradford (Men's Track and Field), Sarah Zdansky (Women's Track and Field)
Comeback Athletes of the Year: Tyler Shough (Football), Alex Torres (Volleyball), Sierra Jones (Soccer)
J.T. & Margaret Talkington Student-Athlete Development Awards: Tyrique Matthews (Football), Taylor Limbaugh (Women's Track)
Top Team GPA: Men's Tennis & Women's Golf
Red Raider Giveback Awards: Men's Golf & Women's Basketball
Jeannine McHaney Award: Anna Dong (Women's Golf)
Athletics Administrator of the Year: Valerie Flournoy, Assistant A.D. for Student-Athlete Development
Strive for Honor Award: Jordan Brown (Football), Maddie Correa (Volleyball)
Strength & Conditioning Workhorse: Brendan Girton (Baseball), Alanna Barraza (Softball), De'Vion Harmon (Men's Basketball), Kilah Freelon (Women's Basketball), Edward Rush (Men's Cross Country), Hannah Spears (Women's Cross Country), Bryce Ramirez (Football), Ethan Davidson (Men's Golf), Cecilie Nielsen (Women's Golf), Franco Ribero (Men's Tennis), Metka Komac (Women's Tennis), Jacob Mechler (Men's Track), Emma Bock (Women's Track), Hannah Anderson (Soccer), Reese Rhodes (Volleyball)
Red & Black Award: Zac Vooletich (Baseball), Morgan Hornback (Softball), Bryn Gerlich (Women's Basketball), Kevin Obanor (Men's Basketball), Edward Rush (Men's Cross Country), Halena Rahmaan (Women's Track), Tony Bradford Jr. (Football), Ludvig Aberg (Men's Golf), Anna Dong (Women's Golf), Charlotte Teeter (Soccer), Franco Ribero (Men's Tennis), Metka Komac (Women's Tennis), Adam Clayton (Men's Track), Malin Smith (Women's Track), Reese Rhodes (Volleyball)Â
Fearless Champions Awards: Tony Bradford Jr. (Football), Charlotte Teeter (Soccer)
Red Raiders of the Year: Ludvig Aberg (Men's Golf), Demisha Roswell (Women's Track)
Coaches of the Year: Joey McGuire (Football), Wes Kittley (Women's Track and Field)
Men's Teams of the Year: Men's Golf/Men's Track and Field
Women's Team of the Year: Women's Track and Field
Players Mentioned
