April 29, 2017

Five finalists named for Tech's 2017 Man of the Year Award

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It’s the highest honor a Tennessee Tech student-athlete can receive. A player who excels on the field, in the classroom and in the community. By the end of their collegiate career, they stand as a shining example of what a Golden Eagle is supposed to be.

By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It's the highest honor a Tennessee Tech student-athlete can receive. A player who excels on the field, in the classroom and in the community. By the end of their collegiate career, they stand as a shining example of what a Golden Eagle is supposed to be.

On Monday, as part of the annual Golden Wings Awards, Tennessee Tech will announce its 2016-17 winner of the Man of the Year Award.

To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be a senior or graduate student who has completed his athletic eligibility during the 2016-17 season. Criteria for selecting the award include both athletic and academic accomplishments, as well as additional areas such as community and campus involvement and public service activities.

The five finalists, in alphabetical order, include:

Alberto Esteban | Senior | Madrid, Spain | Tennis
On the court, Esteban was a solid competitor for the Tech tennis team, part of three Ohio Valley Conference regular-season and two tournament championship teams. He was a four-time All-OVC pick, including three first-team nods. In regular-season conference play this spring, he was 5-1 in singles play and 4-0 in doubles. In singles play, he ranks in the top 15 in program history in victories, and will get a chance to add a few more wins as the team makes its second-straight NCAA tournament appearance next month.

In the classroom, Esteban put together a 3.83 grade point average in mechanical engineering and earned spots on the Tech Athletic Director's Honor Roll every semester and the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll every year. He has been a two-time recipient of the President's Award and was awarded the OVC's Scholar Athlete Award, the highest honor earned by an OVC student-athlete. Esteban also won the ITA Scholar-Athlete Award and is also a member of the Pi Tau Sigma mechanical engineering honor society and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

As part of his Dynamics of Machinery class, his group created an app that emitted words and was controlled by an external joystick to aid an 8-year-old child who was neither able to speak nor move a majority of his body.

In his native Spain, Esteban also helped create an event called "Tennis para Todos (Tennis for everyone)" that invited children and teenagers with limited economic resources to receive a free racquet and lessons from instructors.

Matt Jones | Senior | Madison, Miss. | Baseball
On the field, Jones earned an OVC Player of the Week nod as he put together a .320 batting average for the season, with 27 runs scored, 48 hits, 14 doubles, six home runs and drove in 34 RBI. Jones also had a .533 slugging percentage, a .364 on-base percentage and a .979 fielding percentage.

In the classroom, Jones had a 3.13 grade point average while studying interdisciplinary studies and was on the Tech Athletic Director's Honor Roll for all three of his semesters at the university.

In the community, Jones led the middle school-level bible study at Life Church, as well as assisted in facilities and college life programs there, helping with the upkeep of the church and set up and clean up for the college life sessions, where college students eat lunch and hold bible study. He has also been involved with more than 70 hours of community service with the Tech baseball team, including more than 10 hours of high school and middle school camp work.

J.T. Rankin | Graduate | Maryville, Tenn. | Football
After completing his degree in May 2016, Rankin came back for another season with the Tennessee Tech football team as he worked on his graduate degree in elementary/middle school physical education.

Coming back from an injury-plagued season in 2015, Rankin stood in at center as he played in all 11 games and helped provide protection for a Tech offense that racked up 3,941 yards of offense last season.

Academically, Rankin held a 3.86 grade point average and was a regular on the Tech Athletic Director's Honor Roll and the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll.

In the community, Rankin took part in an initiative from new head coach Marcus Satterfield as the team participated in a cumulative 1,000 hours of community service in Cookeville and the Upper Cumberland.

Jordan Smith | Senior | LaVergne, Tenn. | Football
Smith was one of the weapons for the Tech receiving corps during the 2016 season as he caught 21 passes for 286 yards and three touchdowns.

Academically, Smith put together a 3.63 grade point average in EXPW and was selected to the College Sports Information Directors of America's Academic All-District team, the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame's Hampshire Honor Society and was a repeat presence on the TTU Athletic Director's Honor Roll and OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll.

In the community, Smith worked with Man Up, Mustard Seed Ranch, Little Hands Little Feet, as well as working with schools across Cookeville and the Upper Cumberland, including reading to students at Capshaw Elementary.

Daniel Williamson | Senior | Union City, Tenn. | Cross Country
Williamson was a four-year member of the men's cross country team, where he was selected a three-time team captain. He currently ranks as the sixth fastest individual in team history in the 8K and 10K races. He was honored by the team in 2013 as its Rookie of the Year, in 2015 as the Most Improved, and in 2014 and 2016 as the Most Dedicated.

Academically, Williamson was named seven times to the Dean's List and the Tech Athletic Director's Honor Roll, as well as twice to the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll. He was named to the USTFCCCA All-Region Academic team in 2016 and was the team rep for Tech's chapter of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for four years, serving as the chapter president in the 2016-17 academic year. He helped tutor students for the athletic department, was a member of the Exercise Science Major's Club from 2014-15 and 2016-17, and served on the TTU Academic Council in 2014-15.

In community service, Williamson volunteered at the Putnam County Archives office in 2013, then was a volunteer assistant cross country coach at Obion County Central High from 2013 to 2016, then became a volunteer assistant track coach at Cookeville High in January. He has also been a part of community service projects through SAAC, including a canned food drive, Hoops for Heroes for the Wounded Warrior Project, a T-shirt drive and a HeadStart Program money drive for Backpack Buddies. He also participated in a Run Through the Park event at Dogwood Park with the cross country team.

The Man of the Year Award was established in 1993, and 24 winners have been selected in that span. The previous winners are:

1993 – Ben Holt (Baseball)
1994 – Mike Kinney (Baseball)
1995 – Willie Queen (Football)
1996 – Gerald Bentley (Football)
1997 – Robert Taylor (Football)
1998 – Jeff Norman (Football)
1999 – T.J. Christian (Football)
2000 – Wes Gallagher (Football)
2001 – Larrie Smith (Basketball)
2002 – Grant Swallows (Football)
2003 – Brent Jolly (Basketball)
2004 – Luis Aquerrevere (Tennis)
2005 – Brett Vavra (Football)
2006 – David McMahan (Football)
2007 – Anthony Ash (Football)
2008 – Thomas Nelson (Baseball)
2009 – Bradley Thompson (Football)
2010 – Josh Simer (Golf)
2011 – Kelechi Ordu (Football)
2012 – Corey Watson (Football)
2013 – Tristan Archer (Baseball)
2014 – Dennis Ogbe (Basketball)
2015 – Marty Jones (Football)
2016 – Stephen Bush (Football)