ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – University of Alaska Anchorage men's basketball player Tyson Gilbert was named the Bill MacKay Athlete of the Year recipient for the 2023-24 season, receiving the honor at UAA's Seawolf Awards Show at the Wendy Williamson Auditorium Sunday evening.
Gilbert, a senior from Highlands Ranch, Colo., is the 10th men's basketball player to earn the department's top athletic honor.
Gilbert collected First Team All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference honors, helping the Seawolves to a 22-11 record, GNAC Tournament finals and NCAA Tournament bid. He ranked seventh in GNAC in scoring (15.3 ppg), third in steals (1.8 spg), second in 3FGs per game (2.5), fourth in assist-turnover ratio (2.7), 12th in FT% (.783), 13th in 3FG% (.382), 18th in assists (2.1 apg) and ninth in minutes (32.2 mpg).
During four years at UAA, Gilbert completed one undergraduate degree and started another while compiling a 3.58 cumulative GPA, and he logged nearly 500 hours of community service.
Faculty Athletic Representative Dr. Debbie Narang handed out the department's top academic honor, the Dresser Cup, to a record five individuals this year, Tuva Bygrave (skiing), Montana Fairbairn (gymnastics), Connor Marritt (hockey), Cole Nash (XC/TF) and Max Osborne (hockey).
The sixth annual GCI Born & Raised Award went to men's basketball player Jaron Williams. An Anchorage native, who graduated from Bettye Davis East High School, played two seasons at Spokane Community College before returning to the Last Frontier and lacing up for the Seawolves. Williams scored 488 points, grabbed 200 rebounds and dished out 136 assists in 59 games during his two seasons with the Green and Gold. He helped the Seawolves to a runner-up finish in the GNAC Tournament and a birth in the NCAA Tournament. The award goes to an academic senior who made outstanding athletic contributions to his or her team. Candidates must have lived in Alaska more than half of their lives and have graduated from an Alaska high school.
A complete list of this year's award winners is below.
Bill MacKay Athlete of the Year – Tyson Gilbert (Men's Basketball)
Dresser Cup - Tuva Bygrave (skiing), Montana Fairbairn (gymnastics), Connor Marritt (hockey), Cole Nash (XC/TF) and Max Osborne (hockey)
GCI Born & Raised – Jaron Williams (Men's Basketball)
Performance of the Year – Joshua Caleb (Track and Field)
Upset of the Year – Hockey defeats #6 Wisconsin
Breakout Athlete of the Year – Jared Whale (Hockey)
Comeback of the Year – Vishe' Rabb (Women's Basketball)
Golden Dumbbell – Bella Burney (Volleyball) & Conor Cole (Hockey)
Most Likely to Win the Hunger Games – Makena Eleneki (Volleyball)
Sunshine Award – Marlie Molinaro (Ski)
Dawg Award – Sloan Lentfer (Men's Basketball)
Best Dressed – Jada Niles (Gymnastics)
Best Hair – Nicole Blue (Volleyball)
Team Scholars - Jack Chlumak (MBB, 3.60, Management), Tressa Wood (WXC, 3.84, Art), Blanca De Arvizu Sarrias (WTF, 3.92, Civil Engineering), Kate Robertson (WBB, 3.93, Health Sciences), Tuva Bygrave (WSKI, 4.00, Management), Caeden Carruthers (MSK, 4.00, Management) William Cashmore (MSK, 4.00, Mechanical Engineering), Montana Fairbairn WGY, 4.00, Kinesiology), Madison Galloway (WVB, 4.00, Psychology), Alyssa Hill (WSKI, 4.00, Anthropology), Matthew Johnson (MIH, 4.00, Finance), Connor Marritt, (MIH, 4.00, Management), Cole Nash (XC/TF, 4.00, Economics & Management), Carmen Nielssen (WSKI, 4.00, Finance), Max Osborne (MIH, 4.00, Mechanical Engineering), Michael Zapherson (XC/TF, 4.00, Management)
