Winners and Best Moments at the 2023 CATSPY Awards: A Celebration of UK Athletics

Last night, the University of Kentucky celebrated its student-athletes and their performances during the 2022-23 athletics calendar with the 21st annual CATSPY Awards. Held at the Central Bank Center in downtown Lexington, the 2023 CATSPYs honored last season’s Kentucky Wildcats, with 44 individual award-winners and eight teams recognized for their accomplishments.

Big winners include the six Teams of the Year: Volleyball, Rifle, Men’s Tennis, Men’s Soccer, Gymnastics, and Women’s Track & Field, for their achievements in their respective sports in 2022-23.

Top individual honors went to Abby Steiner and Liam Draxl, who were named Female Athlete of the Year and Male Athlete of the Year among their Wildcat peers. Steiner, a track superstar, is a two-time Female Athlete of the Year winner, sharing last year’s award with Rhyne Howard. Draxl was the No. 1 singles player for UK Men’s Tennis’ prolific season.

In memory of the late Bruno Agostinelli, Kentucky Football’s Eli Cox was named Mr. Wildcat, while Miss Wildcat went to Masai Russell (track), Kaitlynn Wheeler (swimming), Kayla Kowalik (softball), and Raena Worley (gymnastics).

Other memorable moments and award winners include:

Chris Oats received the Mike Lyden Courage Award

Not just for UK’s current competitors, one former Wildcat made a surprise appearance at last night’s CATSPYs. Kentucky linebacker Chris Oats joined Vince Marrow on stage to accept the Mike Lyden Courage Award, given annually in honor of Mike Lyden, the former UK dive coach (1993-2008) who passed away in 2008 after a long battle with cancer.

Tremendous perseverance and determination! The winner of the Mike Lyden Courage Award is @ChristopherOats pic.twitter.com/v6XWRN3sPR

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) April 25, 2023

Oats also received the Lyden Award in 2021 during the virtual, socially-distanced version of the CATSPYs.

WATCH: “CATSPYs Moments of the Year”

One of the best moments of the CATSPYs each year is the video montage to recap the year’s best moments in UK Athletics. The 2023 edition was no different, with memories of Barion Brown, Kentucky Baseball beating unbeatable Tennessee, another SEC Championship for Kentucky Volleyball, UK Men’s Soccer winning the conference, UK Gymnastics in the Final Four, and lots more.

You must watch this if you’re a Kentucky fan…

Full list of 2023 CATSPY Award Winners

Community Service Award
Kenneth Horsey, Football
Tori Orcutt, Women’s Swimming and Diving

Scholar-Athletes of the Year
Kaitlin DeGuzman, Gymnastics
Lauren Poole, Women’s Swimming and Diving
Caitlin Brooks, Women’s Swimming and Diving
Aaron Withrow, Men’s Cross Country

Academic Teams of the Year
Women’s Swimming and Diving
Men’s Golf

Bill Keightley Assist Award
JT Orem, Women’s Basketball
Clay Ferguson, Men’s Basketball (Athletic Training)
Callie Blandford, Swimming and Diving
Maigan Willams, Track and Field

Heart of a Wildcat
Wendell and Vickie Bell

Mike Lyden Courage Award
Chris Oats

Scratch Award
Ellie Eades, Women’s Tennis
Makenzie Wilson, Gymnastics
Heman Nama, Men’s Tennis

Supporting Role
Maddie Berezowitz, Volleyball
Antonio Reeves, Men’s Basketball
Marissa Wenzler, Women’s Golf
Alex Degen, Baseball

Female Newcomer of the Year
Sofia Ceccarello, Rifle

Male Newcomer of the Year
Casper Mols, Men’s Soccer
Levi Sandidge, Men’s Swimming and Diving
Jordan Anthony, Men’s Track and Field
Deone Walker, Football

Blue Heart Award
Blair Green, Women’s Basketball
Trevin Wallace, Football
Kaitlin DeGuzman, Gymnastics
Bailey Bunn, Gymnastics
CJ Fredrick, Men’s Basketball

Female Athlete of the Year
Abby Steiner, Women’s Track and Field

Male Athlete of the Year
Liam Draxl, Men’s Tennis

Elite Performance Award
Ellie Eades, women’s tennis – Clinching point in Kentucky’s upset vs. South Carolina, advancing UK to the quarterfinals of the SEC Women’s Tennis Tournament
Azhani Tealer, volleyball – Set new school record for blocks assists with 13 vs. South Carolina
Stephanie Schoonover, softball – No-hitter vs. top-25 ranked North Texas with a school-record 18 strikeouts
Raena Worley, gymnastics – Second-highest all-around score in school history at NCAA Regionals with a 39.775
Sofia Ceccarello, rifle – Won gold at GARC Championships with a career-high tying 599 in air rifle
Abby Steiner, women’s track and field – 2022 NCAA Outdoor Champion in 200-meter dash, holding collegiate record
Masai Russell, women’s track and field – Set collegiate record this season in 100-meter hurdles and finished second at NCAA Indoor Championships in 60-meter hurdles
Karimah Davis, Dajour Miles, Abby Steiner, Alexis Holmes, women’s track and field – Broke the collegiate record in 4X400 relay en route to SEC gold
Oscar Tshiebwe, men’s basketball – First Wildcat with 35-points, 20-rebound game since 1976 (37pts/24rebs vs. UGA)
Chris Rodriguez, Jr., football – 31 carries for 197 yards and two touchdowns in win over No. 16 Mississippi State
Taha Baadi, men’s tennis – Come-from-behind, third-set tiebreaking victory helped UK defeat No. 1 Virginia
Levi Sandidge, men’s swimming and diving – First UK swimmer since 2006 to earn gold at SEC Championships, winning 1650 freestyle
Keaton Daniel, men’s track and field – SEC outdoor pole vault champion in 2022 and indoor pole vault champion in 2023
Alex Goff, men’s golf – Finished second individually at the 2023 SEC Men’s Golf Championship

Teams of the Year
Men’s Tennis – NCAA National Runners-Up, SEC Tournament Champions
Gymnastics – NCAA National Semifinals, No. 6 Final Ranking
Rifle – Third Place, NCAA Championships, Great America Rifle Conference Regular-Season Champions
Men’s Soccer – Sun Belt Regular-Season and Tournament Champions, Undefeated Regular Season, NCAA Tournament Sweet 16
Women’s Track and Field – Third Place, NCAA Outdoor Championships
Volleyball – SEC Champion, sixth consecutive season; NCAA Tournament Sweet 16

Mr. Wildcat
Eli Cox, Football

Miss Wildcat
Kayla Kowalik, Softball
Masai Russell, Women’s Track and Field
Kaitlynn Wheeler, Women’s Swimming and Diving
Raena Worley, Gymnastics

Read more at UKAthletics.com.