The Gary Walters '67 PVC Awards Banquet is held annually on the Thursday evening of Reunions to celebrate the graduating varsity student-athletes and recognize departmental award winners. This year, the Princeton Athletics community came together virtually on May 28th to honor and celebrate the 205 members from the Princeton Athletics Class of 2020.
Rece Davis P20, ESPN analyst and host of the ESPN's College Gameday, helped kick off this year's event in true Princeton style.
VIRTUAL ORANGE CARPET
Senior student-athletes Chris Davis (baseball) and Katie Reilly (lacrosse) teamed up with Ford Family Director of Athletics Mollie Marcoux Samaan '91 to co-host the banquet. View the "Virtual Orange Carpet" video below to hear memories and perspectives from a number of senior student-athletes.
CLASS OF 1916 CUP
Awarded annually to the Princeton varsity letterwinner who, continuing in competition in his or her senior year, achieved at graduation the highest academic standing.
This year's finalists were Alison Chang (golf), Emma Hopkins (lightweight rowing), Maggie O'Connell (volleyball), Adam Teece (lightweight rowing) and Hadley Wilhoite (track & field).
CLASS OF 1916 CUP - RECIPIENT
HADLEY WILHOITE '20 | TRACK & FIELD
Hadley Wilhoite is a Spanish and Portuguese major who has earned points for Princeton women’s track & field in both the high jump and sprint relays during her career. She was awarded the program’s John H. Chang ’60 Award, which recognizes one’s contributions to their teammates through their generosity, enthusiasm, commitment and dedication to the team.
Wilhoite was previously honored by the Spanish Department with the Premio Ángel Rama for excellence by an underclassman in advanced Spanish courses. She has served her community as a lead student-athlete volunteer for Reading with the Tigers and National Girls & Women in Sports Day.
ART LANE '34 AWARD
Awarded to an undergraduate student-athlete(s) in recognition of his or her selfless contribution to sport and society. Given in memory of Art Lane '34 by family and friends.
This year's finalists were Grace Baylis (field hockey), Chris Davis (baseball), Georgia Hellard Timm (lightweight rowing), Ryan Hutzley (heavyweight rowing), Katie Reilly (lacrosse), Ellen Scott-Young (track & field), Emerson Solms (open rowing) and Morgan Steelman (squash).
ART LANE '34 AWARD - RECIPIENTS
GRACE BAYLIS '20 | FIELD HOCKEY
Grace Baylis, the 2019 NJAIAW Princeton Woman of the Year, served on the Student-Athlete Wellness Leader (SAWL) executive team, Student Health Advisory Board, and as a SCORRE leader and Athlete Ally during her time at Princeton. She helped implement the “Pause Wall” in Caldwell Fieldhouse, a place to pause, reflect and leave a message of support.
While battling back from a season ending injury freshman year, Baylis traveled to Namibia, Africa and volunteered with the Physically Active Youth (PAY) charity. Upon returning to campus, she helped resurrect field hockey’s partnership with the Friends of Jaclyn, a program that pairs children battling cancer with a local team or community group.
CHRIS DAVIS '20 | BASEBALL
Chris Davis, a four-year starter and two-time captain for Princeton baseball, has been a member of the Varsity Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for three years, serving as President this past year.
Davis helped lead VSAAC efforts around the “All Stripes One Streak” initiative focused on campus inclusivity and “No Tiger Too Tough,” a campaign to eliminate the stigma around mental health. He also helped orchestrate the baseball program’s involvement with Trunk or Treat this past fall, a Halloween-themed event for families in the Princeton community.
MARVIN BRESSLER AWARD
Presented to that member of the Princeton family who, through heartfelt support of the University's student-athletes and coaches, best embodies a belief in the lifelong lessons taught by competition and athletics as a complement to the overall educational mission.
RECIPIENT - DR. STAN KATZ
Dr. Stan Katz h21 h80 h83 h85 has been an Athletics Fellow for the Princeton football program for the majority of Coach Bob Surace's tenure, working specifically with the quarterback position group. He has served as the thesis advisor for a number of Tiger student-athletes, including seniors Kevin Davidson (football) and Grace Baylis (field hockey) this past academic year.
CLASS OF '67 CITIZEN-ATHLETE AWARD
Presented by the Princeton Varsity Club for contributions to sport and society.
WYC GROUSBECK '83 | LIGHTWEIGHT ROWING
A champion rower for Princeton and a championship owner of the Boston Celtics, Wyc Grousbeck has always pushed forward in the name of achievement and innovation, his passion for supporting a world-class NBA franchise only surpassed by his love for his family and dedication to bettering the lives of others.
"What did you like most about your sport and your experience? Take that into your choice of career and your choice of lifestyle. Take that excitement, power and teamwork and find a career that brings out that best you, the one that you find when you're competing." (Wyc Grousbeck '83)
Wyc Grousbeck and his wife Emilia are involved in a number of charities including the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, Boston Children's Hospital, Mass. Eye and Ear, Camp Jabberwocky, Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston, National Braille Press, Make-a-Wish Foundation, USA Rowing, Robin Hood, and the Lovelane Special Needs Riding Program.
Grousbeck is the Chair of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, a world leader in fighting blindness and deafness. He launched a capital campaign to seek cures for blindness and deafness, which has raised in excess of $250 million.
WILLIAM WINSTON ROPER TROPHY
Awarded annually to a Princeton senior man of high scholastic rank and outstanding qualities of sportsmanship and general proficiency in athletics. Presented by Mrs. William W. Roper and the Class of 1902.
This year's finalists were Richmond Aririguzoh (basketball), Joey Daniels (track & field), George Huhmann (volleyball), Matthew Kolodzik (wrestling), Conor Lundy (cross country, track & field) and Michael Sowers (lacrosse).
WILLIAM WINSTON ROPER TROPHY - RECIPIENTS
MATTHEW KOLODZIK '21 | WRESTLING
Matthew Kolodzik was already the first three-time All-American in program history, and even though the cancellation of the 2020 NCAA Championships cost him a final chance to compete for an NCAA individual title, he is now the first four-time All-American in program history.
Kolodzik finished in the top seven at the NCAA Championships in all three trips, placing third as a sophomore in 2018. Having won his third EIWA title in 2020 and second at 149, he became just the fourth wrestler in program history to win three EIWA titles and first since 1941. Kolodzik was a four-time first-team All-Ivy honoree, and in 2020 he helped Princeton to its first Ivy League title since 1986.
MICHAEL SOWERS '20 | LACROSSE
Michael Sowers established himself as one of the greatest players in the history of NCAA lacrosse. Sowers is Princeton’s career leader in points with 302, a figure that is 57 more than the next-highest total in school history. He also has the top three single-season scoring totals in Princeton history and was well on his way to his best season through five games in 2020.
Sowers averaged 6.43 points per game, which is second in NCAA Division I history and the best in the last 39 years. His list of individual honors includes being the National Player of the Year in 2020 by Inside Lacrosse, a 2019 first-team All-American honor, and being named a Tewaaraton Award finalist in 2019, among other national and Ivy League honors.
C. OTTO VON KIENBUSCH AWARD
Given annually to a Princeton senior woman of high scholastic rank who has demonstrated general proficiency in athletics and the qualities of a true sportswoman. Presented in memory of C. Otto von Kienbusch ’06, friend and benefactor of women’s athletics at Princeton.
This year's finalists were Bella Alarie (basketball), Carly Bullock (ice hockey), Megan Donahey (softball), Tess D'Orsi (lacrosse), Hadley Irwin (open rowing), Maggie O'Connell (volleyball), Claire Thompson (ice hockey) and Maya Walton (golf).
C. OTTO VON KIENBUSCH AWARD - RECIPIENT
BELLA ALARIE '20 | BASKETBALL
Bella Alarie is the all-time leading scorer in Princeton women's basketball history, a three-time Ivy League Player of the Year and a four-time first-team All-Ivy League selection. She led Princeton to three Ivy League championships, became the first Ivy League player to ever earn consecutive Associated Press All-America accolades and became the highest-ever WNBA Draft Pick for the Ivy League when she was selected fifth by the Dallas Wings.
As a senior captain, she led Princeton to a 26-1 record, ending the year on a 22-game winning streak with an RPI of No. 9, the best mark in Ivy history. Alarie is first in program history in Ivy Player of the Week awards (20), blocks (249), double-doubles (40) and points (1,703).
ESPN College Basketball Analyst Jay Bilas provided a special surprise congratulatory message for Bella Alarie that is worth the watch!
