Courtesy of Jeff Weiss, Wayne State Associate Athletics Director for Media Relations
ATLANTA -- Wayne State University women's basketball senior guard Kristen Long (Durand, Mich.) was named a national semifinalist for the 12th Annual Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup, given for the most outstanding role models among athletes as announced by Athletes For A Better World.
"The incredible stature of those who are nominated," stated ABW President and Founder Fred Northup, "it is humbling read these nominations, and how challenging it is to try to select which candidates are in some way more distinctive. How grateful we are to those of you who make the effort to articulate to us what is so special about your candidate. We have between 75-100 nominees each year, and virtually everyone is worthy of this great honor."
Wayne State has been well represented in by Wooden Cup nominees in previous years including women's hockey student-athlete Ashley King, who was a national finalist in 2008. Baseball pitcher Christian Bilkovic was a national semifinalist in 2014 and 2015, while women's tennis player Tanya Joseph was a 2013 national semifinalist.
The national semifinalists are:
Kristen Long, Basketball, Wayne State University
Samantha Alvino, Field Hockey, Softball, Elms College
Allyson Barys, Soccer, Georgia College
Erin Bies, Volleyball, Siena College
Sara Carlson, Women's Ice Hockey, University of New Hampshire
Sam DeFrabrizio, Cross Country, Vanderbilt University
Derrick Gordon, Basketball, University of Massachusetts
Landon Foster, Football, University of Kentucky
Jasmin Guinn, Basketball, Track and Field, Academy of Art University
Joe Hulen, Wrestling, Truett-McConnell College
Morgan Jackson, Track/Cross Country, Georgia Institute of Technology
Skyler Page Love, Basketball, University of North Carolina – Asheville
Liam Nadler, Football, Gannon University
Patrick Nuzzolese, Football, University of Dayton
Logan Paben, Football, Peru State College
Casey Skowron, Football, University of Arizona
Nick Weiler, Football, University of North Carolina
And the five finalists are:
Bonnie Brandon, Swimming, University of Arizona
Malcolm Brogdon, Basketball, The University of Virginia
Ty Darlington, Football, University of Oklahoma
Alexa Hone, Soccer, University of South Carolina, Upstate
Lucas Romick, Football, Denison University
John Wooden, who won ten national championships during the years 1964–1975 as basketball coach at UCLA is regarded as the greatest college coach of any sport who ever lived. He is universally regarded as one of the finest human beings to ever grace the world of sports, and his character, conduct and selfless gifts stand at the highest level by any standard. When Coach Wooden learned about Athletes for a Better World, he gave authorization to attach his name to this annual award and he attended and addressed the inaugural event in Los Angeles in 2005. In his honor, the Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup is presented to two distinguished athletes, one collegiate and one professional or Olympic, for their character and leadership both on and off the field and for their contributions to sport and society.
With Jack Nicklaus, Pat Summitt, Dikembe Mutombo, Drew Brees, Mia Hamm, Peyton Manning, John Smoltz, John Lynch, Andrea Yaeger, Shannon Miller and Cal Ripken, Jr. as previous recipients, the Wooden Cup is becoming one of the most prestigious awards in all of sports. Recipients are considered role models and athletes of excellence both on and off the field.
Founded by Athletes for a Better World (ABW), a non-profit organization committed to changing the culture of American sports, the Wooden Cup is unique in that it is open to athletes in all collegiate and Olympic or professional sports. Nominations are open to every division and conference in college sports.
