The ninth annual Ziggy Awards were held Sunday evening as the Bowling Green State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics held an awards show on campus at the Stroh Center.

BGSU Athletics honors and recognizes its student-athletes and supporters of the department during the event each year. The Ziggy Awards follow in the tradition of the former Athletics Honors Night.

Gage Schenk of the baseball team, and track & field’s Zaresha Neal earned the highest honor given to a BGSU student-athlete – The Falcon Medal of Honor. The award is given to one male and one female student-athlete who embody the essence of the qualities BGSU Athletics hold important for all student-athletes.

Volleyball’s Petra Indrova was named Female Athlete of the Year, while Joey Akpunonu of men’s soccer was named Male Athlete of the Year. Indrova and Schenk were named the department’s Senior Scholar-Athletes of the Year.

Women’s soccer’s Maya Dean and Akpunonu were named the Junior Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards, while football’s Odieu Hiliare and volleyball’s Lauryn Hovey were the Newcomers of the Year.

The Comeback Performance of the Year Award was given to football team for its 42-35 comeback win at Toledo, capped by a 42-yard touchdown pass from Matt McDonald to Ta’ron Keith with nine seconds left.

Emilie Gardner of women’s soccer was the Community Service Individual of the Year, and the swim & dive team was the Community Service Team of the Year.

Todd Walker, the Voice of the Falcons, picked up the Distinguished Service Award. Kristi Koester won the Distinguished Alumnus Award.

A full rundown of awards is listed below:

2022-23 – Award Winners

Falcon Medal of Honor – Zaresha Neal (Track & Field) and Gage Schenk (Baseball)

Athlete of the Year – Petra Indrova (Volleyball) and Joey Akpunonu (Men’s Soccer)

Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year – Petra Indrova (Volleyball) and Gage Schenk (Baseball)

Junior Scholar-Athlete of the Year – Maya Dean (Women’s Soccer) and Joey Akpunonu (Men’s Soccer)

Newcomer of the Year – Lauryn Hovey (Volleyball) and Odieu Hiliare (Football)

Comeback Performance of the Year – Football’s 42-35 win at Toledo

Community Service Individual of the Year – Emilie Gardner (Women’s Soccer)

Community Service Team of the Year – Swim & Dive

Diversity & Inclusion Award – Bernie Compton (Women’s Soccer)

Distinguished Service Award – Todd Walker

Distinguished Alumnus Award – Kristi Koester