Senior hockey defenseman Joey LaLeggia was voted Denver University’s male athlete of the year and redshirt-junior women's gymnast Nina McGee captured the female athlete of the year honors as the 80th annual student-athlete awards banquet on Monday night in Hamilton Gymnasium.
The celebration, which was organized and hosted by the Denver Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC), honored each of Denver's 17 NCAA Division I intercollegiate sports programs, and also included awards for Pioneer Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year, and Strength and Conditioning Student-Athlete of the Year. In addition, the Gold Vest Award was given to an outstanding Pioneer team for excellence in community service, academics, spirit, leadership and athletic performance. For the second year in a row, this award was won by the men's soccer team.
McGee, 21, was a first team All-American and runner-up at the NCAA championships on floor this season, while also capturing gymnast of the year honors. The Cincinnati, Ohio native placed first in the all-around (39.600), first on beam (9.900), first on floor (9.950), tied for second on bars (9.900) and tied for fourth on vault (9.850) at the championships. McGee will return in 2016 for a fifth year of NCAA eligibility.
LaLeggia, 22, was a Hobey Baker Award finalist and first team (West) All-American in 2014-15, while also earning National Collegiate Hockey Conference Player of the Year, Defenseman of the Year and Offensive Defenseman of the Year honors. Currently a member of the American Hockey League's Oklahoma City Barons, LaLeggia finished his university career ranked third all-time in scoring by a defenseman with 132 career points (49G-89A) after tallying a career-high 40 points (15G-25A) as a senior.
