University of Delaware Athletics
Photo by: Mikey Reeves
Delaware Athletics Holds 2024 Hennies
5/15/2024 6:00:00 PM | Field Hockey, Football, Men's Basketball, Men's Swimming & Diving, Softball, Women's Golf, Women's Swimming & Diving, Women's Tennis, Volleyball, Delaware Athletics, SAAC
NEWARK, Del. – University of Delaware Athletics held its annual Hennies Awards event on Tuesday, May 14. The event, which is led by the department's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), highlights the achievements of all athletic and spirit programs, including honoring several student-athletes with awards.
Eliza Askarova and Christian Ray took home the night's highest honors as the Mary Ann Hitchens and Edgar Johnson award winners. The awards are presented to a graduating female and male senior letter-winner who have exhibited the qualities of hard work, dedication, leadership, fairness, and striving for excellence.
Mary Ann Hitchens was a pioneer for women's competitive athletics when she was a coach and administrator at UD for nearly 40 years. Hitchens was a student when competitive opportunities did not exist for women but made an impressive impact upon returning to UD as a professional and has been inducted into four halls of fame.
One of the most decorated players in program history, Eliza Askarova owns the program record for career doubles wins and ranks second in career singles wins. The Philadelphia, Pa. native also owns the single season mark for doubles wins as an individual and with a partner as she and Adel-Byanu Abidullina became the first-ever Blue Hens to qualify for the NCAA Tournament in 2022-23 and finished with a 29-2 record. The pair was ranked as high as third in the nation. Overall, Askarova boasts a 171-66 career record across doubles and singles.
Edgar Johnson spent over 50 years representing UD as a swimming student-athlete, a multi-sport coach, and eventually the Athletic Director for 25 years. Over a span of five decades, few individuals have devoted as much time and talent to University of Delaware Athletics as Edgar Johnson, and he continues to celebrate the department today as a Blue Hen fan.
A star both on and off the court, Christian Ray has surely made his mark on the men's basketball program. The first-ever Hens' hooper to earn the CAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, Ray boasts a near perfect GPA with only two collegiate semesters below a 4.0. In both of his years in Newark, Ray led UD in rebounding as a 6-6 guard while also sitting atop the CAA in rebounds, rebounds per game, and defensive rebounds per game in 2023-24. The future lawyer will graduate with a pair of degrees in accounting and finance.
Other awards included the Most Outstanding Male and Female Athletes of the Year, Chuck Hall Strength & Conditioning Awards, Individual and Team Performances of the Year, Team 302 Awards, The B+ Foundation Award, and the Blue Hen Service Award.
2023-24 Hennies Award Winners
Mary Ann Hitchens Award: Eliza Askarova, Women's Tennis
Most Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year: Toni Sabev, Men's Swimming
Chuck Hall Strength & Conditioning Award: Chase McGowan, Football
Eliza Askarova and Christian Ray took home the night's highest honors as the Mary Ann Hitchens and Edgar Johnson award winners. The awards are presented to a graduating female and male senior letter-winner who have exhibited the qualities of hard work, dedication, leadership, fairness, and striving for excellence.
Mary Ann Hitchens was a pioneer for women's competitive athletics when she was a coach and administrator at UD for nearly 40 years. Hitchens was a student when competitive opportunities did not exist for women but made an impressive impact upon returning to UD as a professional and has been inducted into four halls of fame.
One of the most decorated players in program history, Eliza Askarova owns the program record for career doubles wins and ranks second in career singles wins. The Philadelphia, Pa. native also owns the single season mark for doubles wins as an individual and with a partner as she and Adel-Byanu Abidullina became the first-ever Blue Hens to qualify for the NCAA Tournament in 2022-23 and finished with a 29-2 record. The pair was ranked as high as third in the nation. Overall, Askarova boasts a 171-66 career record across doubles and singles.
Edgar Johnson spent over 50 years representing UD as a swimming student-athlete, a multi-sport coach, and eventually the Athletic Director for 25 years. Over a span of five decades, few individuals have devoted as much time and talent to University of Delaware Athletics as Edgar Johnson, and he continues to celebrate the department today as a Blue Hen fan.
A star both on and off the court, Christian Ray has surely made his mark on the men's basketball program. The first-ever Hens' hooper to earn the CAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, Ray boasts a near perfect GPA with only two collegiate semesters below a 4.0. In both of his years in Newark, Ray led UD in rebounding as a 6-6 guard while also sitting atop the CAA in rebounds, rebounds per game, and defensive rebounds per game in 2023-24. The future lawyer will graduate with a pair of degrees in accounting and finance.
Other awards included the Most Outstanding Male and Female Athletes of the Year, Chuck Hall Strength & Conditioning Awards, Individual and Team Performances of the Year, Team 302 Awards, The B+ Foundation Award, and the Blue Hen Service Award.
2023-24 Hennies Award Winners
Mary Ann Hitchens Award: Eliza Askarova, Women's Tennis
- presented annually to a graduating female student-athlete who best exemplifies the characteristics of hard work, dedication, fairness, and striving for excellence - hallmarks of Mary Ann's career at UD
- presented annually to a graduating male student-athlete who best exemplifies the characteristics of hard work, dedication, fairness, and striving for excellence - hallmarks of Edgar's career at UD
Most Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year: Toni Sabev, Men's Swimming
- presented annually to one female and one male student-athlete who have demonstrated the highest level of athletic excellence throughout the course of their respective seasons and during this academic year
Chuck Hall Strength & Conditioning Award: Chase McGowan, Football
- presented annually to one female and one male student-athlete who not only displays maximum effort on and off the field of competition, but also brings out the best in his/her teammates through a positive attitude, relentless work ethic and consistent commitment to performance enhancement
- presented annually to an Individual, a Doubles Team or Relay Team with a striking performance which led to an outstanding victory.
- presented annually to a team with a striking performance which led to an outstanding victory
- presented annually to a student-athlete who has gone above and beyond in their effort and passion for the B-positive foundation every single day
- presented to a student-athlete who has made a positive difference in the community through participation in volunteer service opportunities
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
F
/ Field Hockey
/ Women's Golf
DE
/ Football
Free
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
G
/ Men's Basketball
Breast
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Team Rep
/ SAAC
P
/ SoftballHighlight: Softball Pre-CAA Hype
Wednesday, May 10
Highlight: MLAX vs. Stony Brook - 2023 CAA Championship
Tuesday, May 09
Highlight: MLAX vs. Towson - 2023 CAA Semi-Finals
Tuesday, May 09
Highlight: WLAX CAA Hype 2023
Monday, May 08
