Toledo, Ohio -   The University of Toledo Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) handed out awards for the 2016-17 season at its second annual Rocket Senior Banquet at Libbey Hall on April 24. Men's golfer Colin Joseph, women's swimmer Madeline Grubbe and men's cross country runner Josh Oeters served as emcees. UT's head coaches introduced their seniors and highlighted their accomplishments.

            Logan Woodside (Frankfort, Ky.), a junior quarterback on the football team who is currently pursuing his MBA, was honored as the Men's Most Valuable Player. Senior softball player Chandler Rice (Louisville, Ohio) was named the Women's MVP.

            The award for Sportswoman of the Year was given to senior women's basketball player Sophie Reecher (Byron, Ill.). Senior baseball player Caleb Schillace (LaGrange, Ohio) was named Sportsman of the Year. These awards are given to the senior who exhibited the highest degree of excellence in athletics, academics and community service.

            Awards were also given out to the seniors with the top grade point averages. The top GPA for women's student-athlete was senior track & field jumper Madeline Pacella (Kingston, N.Y.) who has a 4.00 GPA in criminal justice, while baseball player Josh Cales (Waseon, Ohio) topped the men with a 3.941 in finance. The highest team GPA went to women's golf (3.642) and men's golf (3.632).

            The Women's Team of the Year award went to women's basketball, which finished 25-9 and won the MAC Championship for the first time in 16 years. Football, which went 9-4 and earned a berth in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl, won the Men's Team of the Year award.

            "We are very proud to honor this wonderful group of seniors," said UT vice president and athletic director Mike O'Brien. "It's a privilege to have known and been associated with such outstanding student-athletes. We know that they will go on to achieve success in their chosen fields and continue to make us proud of them."

2016-17 SAAC Awards Banquet Honorees

Men's Team of the Year: Football
Women's Team of the Year: Women's Basketball
Men's Team – highest GPA: Men's Golf (3.632)
Women's Team – highest GPA: Women's Golf (3.642)
Men's MVP: Logan Woodside, Football
Women's MVP: Chandler Rice, Softball
Sportsman of the Year: Caleb Schillace, Baseball
Sportswoman of the Year: Sophie Reecher, Women's Basketball
Men's Top Senior GPA: Caleb Schillace, Baseball (3.941 GPA)
Women's Top Senior GPA: Madeline Pacella, Women's Track & Field (4.00 GPA)