MACOMB, Ill. - Reflecting on a year filled with notable accomplishments, Western Illinois Athletics took time to honor its teams and student-athletes through the department's annual WESPYS awards ceremony on Monday (June 14).Â
Displaying a different look this year, the 2021 WESPYS occurred via the Leathernecks' social media accounts: Twitter - @WIUAthletics, Facebook - Western Illinois Athletics.
Track and field took home the most awards this year, with WIU's men and women's teams combining for six total on the day. Seniors Ackeen Colley and Amelia Peterson respectively landed top honors for Male and Female Athlete of the Year.Â
Another pair of Western vets, Connor Sampson and Grace Gilmore, were chosen for Male and Female Senior Athlete of the Year picks. Additional accolades were handed out for recognized academic excellence, community service, and outstanding performances.
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Male Athlete of the Year - Ackeen Colley (Men's Track & Field)
Throughout his first year at Western, Colley accomplished incredible feats as one of the Summit League's top newcomers. His 2020-21 resume includes being named the league's Most Outstanding Championship Performer (indoor), an NCAA Track & Field Championships first-team All-American (indoor); and All-Summit League for both indoor and outdoor.Â
The St. Lucea, Jamaica native, stands as a program record holder in the 800-meter race for both indoor and outdoor, as he swept both events at the Summit League Championships. Colley also played a role in the Leathernecks' record-setting 4x400 (indoor) and 4x800 (outdoor) relays. Already, he has four league medals (three of which are gold), broke four school records, and notched a pair of No. 2 all-time marks (DMR; 1,5000m run).
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Female Athlete of the Year - Amelia Peterson (Women's Track & Field)
Peterson saved her best for last as a Leatherneck, taking a big step as a jumper. Her events - long jump, triple jump, 60m, 100m, 200m - each saw career bests within the indoor and outdoor seasons. At the indoor league championships, Peterson ended as a silver medalist in the triple jump (12.06m) and moved to third all-time on the WIU list. She doubled down on silver medals at the outdoor championships on May 16, the same day of her senior graduation.
Likewise to Western's indoor list, Peterson sits at third all-time for outdoor triple jump. Her year-long efforts led to All-Summit League nods for both indoor and outdoor.
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Male Senior Athlete of the Year - Connor Sampson (Football)
Suiting up for the Leathernecks again at quarterback, Sampson started all six of WIU football's games during the 2021 spring season. The second-year captain ultimately led the Missouri Valley Football Conference in passing yards per game (290.7) and total offense (289.2). His 29.8 completions per game (29.8) and 1,744 passing yards ranked fifth and ninth in the nation, respectively.
Against nationally-ranked South Dakota State (March 6), Sampson went for the second-longest completion of his career: a 62-yard throw. Three weeks later, he broke the school record for most completions in a game (40) on Hanson Field versus Northern Iowa on March 27.
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Female Senior Athlete of the Year - Grace Gilmore (Women's Basketball)
Gilmore took her game to an even higher level during 2020-21, starting in every WIU women's basketball game for the third consecutive season. An All-Summit League second-team selection, she became a team leader in points (330), points per game (13.8), assists (88), assists per game (3.7), and free throws (118). Her scoring total was good for ninth-best in the league, as seven straight double-digit performances rounded out the year.Â
One of Gilmore's most memorable moments happened on Feb. 6 when she poured in an eye-popping 46 points at Omaha. The mark is both a single-game scoring record and ties for highest in Summit history. Gilmore also tallied 13 games of four assists or more.
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Complete list of WESPYS winners:
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Team Performance of the Year - Baseball's 8-3 win over #4 nationally-ranked Louisville on Feb. 26.
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Female Rookie of the Year - Riley Hansen (Women's Golf)
Male Rookie of the Year - Richard Brown (Men's Track & Field)
Female Highlight of the Year - Grace Gilmore's 46-point performance at Omaha on Feb. 6.
Male Highlight of the Year - Ackeen Colley placing sixth in the country in the 800m at the 2021 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships on March 13.
Female Athlete of the Year - Amelia Peterson (Women's Track & Field)
Male Athlete of the Year - Ackeen Colley (Men's Track & Field)
Highest Team GPAs - Men's Soccer and Women's Tennis
Community Service Award - Volleyball
Female Unsung Hero of the Year - Ami Ill (Softball)
Male Unsung Hero of the Year - Logan Lommel (Men's Soccer/Track & Field)
Cheerleader of the Year - Katie Noyd
HypeWoman of the Year - Piper Foote (Softball)
HypeMan of the Year - Braden Lamar (Men's Basketball)
Female Comeback of the Year - Carla Flores (Women's Basketball)
Male Comeback of the Year - Tony Tate (Football)
Female Leatherneck of the Year - Amelia Peterson (Women's Track & Field)
Male Leatherneck of the Year - DeShon Gavin (Football)
Female Senior Athlete of the Year - Grace Gilmore (Women's Basketball)
Male Senior Athlete of the Year - Connor Sampson (Football)
#MarchOn
