LA JOLLA, Calif. – Following a successful season in which all 23 sports were able to participate in a Division I schedule, UC San Diego scholar-athletes were celebrated and recognized by the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics with the department's annual Triton Awards, revealed Thursday evening. For the first time since 2019, the event was held in person with this year's show taking place inside RIMAC Arena.

Triton scholar-athletes were recognized for their achievements during the 2021-22 academic year in athletic competitions, in the classroom, and in serving their community.

"How great it is to finally get together in person! It is with absolute pleasure we are able to be together to celebrate another incredible year," UC San Diego Director of Athletics Earl W. Edwards shared with the crowd. "You have demonstrated remarkable resiliency which is one of our key core values. It is simply incredible to think of all of the obstacles you've overcome to be here together tonight."

 Four UC San Diego teams finished in fifth place or better in the Big West Conference standings. 11 Tritons were named All-Region with seven more earning All-America honors. 73 Triton scholar-athletes earned All-Conference recognition.

The department also took time to honor four long-time staff members who will be retiring at the end of June: track and field head coaches Darcy Ahner and Tony Salerno, men's water polo head coach Denny Harper, and Deputy Athletic Director Wendy Taylor May.

Here are the 2022 Triton Awards honorees:

Outstanding Senior Scholar-Athletes
Ciara Franke, Women's Water Polo, Women's Swimming
Kyle McCauley, Men's Volleyball

Athletes of the Year
Jada Cecil, Softball
Shawn Kim, Fencing

All-Triton Scholar-Athlete Team
Stuart Boynton, Men's Rowing
Sydney Brown, Women's Basketball
Jada Cecil, Softball
Marc Filia, Baseball
Ciara Franke, Women's Water Polo, Women' s Swimming
Calder Hilde-Jones, Men's Water Polo
Shawn Kim, Fencing
Ivan Kurakin, Men's Swimming
Kyle McCauley, Men's Volleyball
Katja Pavicevic, Women's Swimming
Toni Rocak, Men's Basketball
Jake Selstad, Track & Field, Cross Country
Sarah Shen, Fencing

Mark Appelbaum Academic Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award
Berkeley Miesfeld, Men's Volleyball

All-Triton Academic Scholar-Athlete Team
Genevieve Cassidy, Women's Rowing
Mattie Cecilio, Track & Field
Jasmyn Cheng, Swimming & Diving
Brandon Chien, Fencing
Matt Gray, Men's Basketball
Emily Knepler, Women's Soccer
Holly Maine, Women's Water Polo
Syed Adam Emir Putra, Fencing
Delaney Whittet, Women's Soccer

Karen E. Reis Memorial Award
(leadership/campus and community service)
Bobbi Aguirre, Softball

Excellence in Coaching Award
Juan Ignacio Calderon, Fencing

Léon T. Roach Team Spirit Award
Women's Basketball

Triton Changemaker for Inclusion Award
Charity Anderson

Team GPA Award
(highest team GPA)
Women's Rowing

Meritorious Service Award
(Individuals who have made numerous and significant contributions to UC San Diego Athletics)
Wendy Taylor May

About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.