BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic University athletics hosted its eighth annual Owlspys, an event planned and presented by the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), on Monday night. This year's award show marked the first time since 2019 the department has been able to hot the award show in person after opting to hold the past two shots virtually. Student-athletes and coaches dressed to impress, as they walked down the red carpet prior to the show.
 
This year's show was hosted by men's soccer student-athlete Emmanuel Abolo Carré after SAAC President Federico Maranges started the evening with opening remarks.
 

Gallery: (4-19-2022) 2022 Owlspys Red Carpet

 
The show presented 20 awards, including the "Student-Athlete of the Year" award. Mackenzie Morris won on the female side, marking the second consecutive year a beach volleyball player has won the award, while Hunter Cooley of baseball were named the Male Student-Athlete of the Year. Both student-athletes were recognized at the 2022 Honors Convocation last week.

 
Morris will go down as one of the best beach volleyball players in program history, while being a great student in the classroom and leader int the community. Academically, Morris holds a 3.919 GPA, as she pursues her MBA after graduating with her bachelor's degree in spring 2022. Morris has earned President's List and Dean's List honors multiple semesters at FAU. In the community, Morris has logged 45+ community service hours with her beach volleyball team that is active in giving back to the local community.
 
Morris has numerous athletic accomplishments, highlighted by being an AVCA First Team All-American, two-time AVCA Top Flight selection (won 75% of her season's matches), two-time C-USA Pair of the Week honoree, AVCA National Pair of the Week choice and C-USA Preseason Team selection. Morris and her partner Erica Brok hold the school record in career wins as a pair with a 91-29 record, including a 20-6 mark this season. Morris also holds the school record in individual winning percentage (0.758) and most court one wins with Brok (49). The pair has knocked off court one pair's from No. 3 Florida State, No. 5 LSU and No. 7 Grand Canyon, among others this season, and is consistently ranked as one of the top pairs in the nation.
 
Cooley has achieved a great deal on and off the field during the past four years. In the classroom, Cooley has maintained a 3.83 cumulative GPA and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and Corrections this past fall, while now pursuing his master's degree in criminology. Cooley has earned a spot on the FAU Dean's List (top 3% of college) and President's List (4.0 GPA) twice. In the community, Cooley has totaled over 30 community service hours, which is among the top of all student-athletes this year. In March, Cooley was named as a finalist for college baseball's Senior CLASS Award, awarded to the total student-athlete.
 
Athletically, Cooley was a Second Team All-Conference USA selection last season with his 3.54 ERA in league play marking the seventh lowest in C-USA. Also last season, Cooley wrapped up the year 8-4, which was the most wins on the team and tied for fourth among C-USA hurlers. Cooley has settled into a consistent role as the Owls' number one starter in 2022. He is 5-2 on the mound with 54 strikeouts, which is the fifth most in the league. Cooley was also voted by his teammates as one of two co-captains prior to the season's start.
 
The show ended with the presentation of the Owl Cup award, with beach volleyball claiming the trophy for the second consecutive year.
 

Gallery: (4-19-2022) 2022 Owlspys Awards Show

 
Owlspys Award Winners
All-Freshman Team (Female): Simona Henshaw (basketball), Marketa Svozilova (beach volleyball), Anna Claire Bridge (golf), Jodi Smith (soccer), Gabby Sacco (softball), Roberta Circi (swimming & diving), Millie-Mae Matthews (tennis), Erin Shannon (cross country), Alyssa Marshall (indoor track & field), Anna Cincotta (outdoor track & field), Katelynn Robine (volleyball), Valerie Huber (cheer), Jenna Spina (dance)
 
All-Freshman Team (Male): Jake Millan (baseball), Bogdan Zimonjic (basketball), Bodey Miller (cross country), Jaden Wheeler (football), Kaleb Palm (golf), Pontus Steffensen (soccer), Timo Paisley (swimming & diving)
 
Coach of the Year: Capri Grotowski (beach volleyball)
Female Sportsmanship Award: Jillienne Cangelosi (beach volleyball)
Male Sportsmanship Award: John Mitchell (football)
Best Performance of the Year: Beach volleyball winning the program's first ever conference championship at the 2021 CCSA Championship
 
Student-Athlete Choice Award: Andrew Coleman and Matt Thomas (Olympic strength & conditioning)
 
Funniest Action Shot of the Year: Emmanuel Abolo Carre (men's soccer)
Female Outstanding Academic Achievement Award: Lily Richman (beach volleyball)
Male Outstanding Academic Achievement Award: Jose Alastuey (men's soccer)
Female Community Service Award: Kirsten Hobson (women's swimming & diving)
Male Community Service Award: Nicholas Toney (baseball)
Team Community Service Award: Volleyball
Female OWLstanding Spirit Award: Kirsten Hobson (women's swimming & diving)
Male OWLstanding Spirit Award: Hunter Cooley (baseball)
Female Athlete of the Year: Mackenzie Morris (beach volleyball)
Male Athlete of the Year: Nolan Schanuel (baseball)
Female Student-Athlete of the Year: Mackenzie Morris (beach volleyball)
Male Student-Athlete of the Year: Hunter Cooley (baseball)
Owl Cup: Beach Volleyball