The 2023 SLUSPY Awards were held Monday, April 24, at the Busch Student Center on the SLU campus. The annual celebration, which is administered by the Billikens' Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), recognized student-athletes who excelled this past year in the department's strategic objectives of education, competition and building community.
 
Below is a list of the awards bestowed.
 
Highest Team GPA – Softball
Team with the highest GPA during the fall 2021 semester as determined by Billiken Student-Athlete Academic Support Services.
 
Top Female Academic Performance – Vicky Casazza (Dance) and Carly Sear (Cross Country and Track & Field)
Junior or senior female student-athlete with the highest GPA with at least four semesters completed at SLU as determined by Billiken Student-Athlete Academic Support Services.
 
Top Male Academic Performance – Sam Hernandez (Swimming & Diving)
Junior or senior male student-athlete with the highest GPA with at least four semesters completed at SLU as determined by Billiken Student-Athlete Academic Support Services.
 
Outstanding Female Strength & Conditioning Student-Athlete – Emily Nichols (Track & Field)
The female student-athlete who exemplifies the highest levels of achievement in aspects of leadership, the ability to follow instruction, work ethic, winning attitude, and consistency as chosen by the Sports Performance staff.
 
Outstanding Male Strength & Conditioning Student-Athlete ­– Diego Collado (Track & Field)
The male student-athlete who exemplifies the highest levels of achievement in aspects of leadership, the ability to follow instruction, work ethic, winning attitude, and consistency as chosen by the Sports Performance staff.
 
Billiken of Distinction "Step UP!" Award – Kaili Hanner (Softball)
A student-athlete who participated in several community service endeavors and substantially contributed to the athletic department. This person embodies the goals of the Step UP! Program – raises awareness of helping behaviors; increases motivation to help others; develops skills and confidence when responding to problems or concerns; and ensures the safety of self and others.
 
Billiken Spirit Award – Sydney Ross (Softball)
The student-athlete who employs a positive attitude at every practice, game, workout, etc. They may be the person you can always count on to make light of a tough situation. Additionally, this student-athlete uplifts not only their teammates, but also shows school spirit at the games, matches, meets, etc. of other student-athletes.
 
Staff Member of the Year Award – Ramon Lopez (Sports Performance)
Awarded to a staff member to recognize their support of the mission of Billiken Athletics. The award honors staff members who are committed to the excellence of student-athlete performances.
 
Coach of the Year Award – Rebecca Tillett (Women's Basketball)
Awarded to a head coach who throughout the season best demonstrates the true spirit of Billiken Athletics. The award honors coaches who encourages their student-athletes to excel in the department's strategic objectives of education, competition and building community.
 
Boken Award – Julia Martinez (Women's Basketball)
Awarded to the student-athlete who is the ultimate teammate and member of the athletics community. A person who is always positive and supportive, is friendly to student-athletes from all teams and brings a smile to other people more often than not. The Boken Award is in memory of Megan Boken, who we lost in August 2012, but whose spirit lives on in our department.
 
Team MVPs
As nominated by coaching staffs, these student-athlete embody the mission of SLU Athletics through education, competition and community involvement.
 
Baseball | Patrick Clohisy
Men's Basketball | Yuri Collins
Women's Basketball | Brooke Flowers
Cheer | Ciara McNeil
Men's Cross Country | Toby Gillen
Women's Cross Country | Carly Sear
Dance | Adriana Scagliarini
Field Hockey | Olivia Smith
Men's Soccer | John Klein
Women's Soccer | Emily Puricelli
Softball | Chloe Wendling and Gabbie Kowalik
Men's Swimming and Diving | Daniel Verdico
Women's Swimming and Diving | Emily Leonard
Men's Tennis | Ryota Fukushima
Women's Tennis | Elizabeth Mintusova
Men's Track and Field | Toby Gillen
Women's Track and Field | Madi Person
Volleyball | Jillian Mattingly