Merrill and DeHarde named Male and Female Athlete of the Year

LOGAN, Utah – Utah State men’s basketball senior Sam Merrill and gymnastics junior Autumn DeHarde were named the Male and Female Athlete of the Year, respectively, at the annual Robins Awards, taking place via an online stream on Saturday, April 11.

Merrill led the Utah State men’s basketball team to its second consecutive Mountain West Tournament Championship, sealing the victory with one of the most iconic shots in USU basketball history. Merrill earned first-team all-Mountain West honors during the regular season and earned his second-straight Mountain West Tournament MVP award, becoming the first player in conference history to earn back-to-back tournament MVP honors. Merrill led the Aggies in scoring and assists during the year, averaging 19.7 points and 3.9 assists per game. He finished his career as the second-leading scorer in school history with 2,197 career points and also second in the record books in career assists with 477.

Other nominees for Male Athlete of the Year included track & field junior Josh Barclay, tennis senior Sergiu Bucur, football senior Dominik Eberle, cross country/track & field graduate Dallin Farnsworth and golf senior Chase Lansford.

DeHarde earned several individual honors during the 2020 season, being named the 2020 Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference Gymnast of the Year, Co-Beam Specialist of the Year and Co-Floor Specialist of the Year. Additionally, DeHarde earned first-team all-MRGC honors on beam and floor after leading the conference on both events during the year. DeHarde averaged a school-record 9.889 on beam during the year and captured more individual titles than any other Aggie during the 2020 season.

Other nominees for Female Athlete of the Year included basketball senior Hailey Bassett, volleyball junior Bailey Downing, track & field sophomore Audrey Garrett, tennis senior Lucy Octave, softball junior Stephanie Reed and cross country/track & field junior Katie Struthers-Haviland.

Finalists for the Athlete of the Year were selected by members of the athletics department. A selection committee over these categories then selected the winners. The awards were just two of 20 honors extended by the University during the event, with students, faculty and staff all receiving recognition to their individual contributions to Utah State.

Soccer senior Mealii Enos also represented the Aggies as she was a nominee for the Scholar of the Year. Enos was a three-time academic all-district honoree and earned academic all-Mountain West accolades all four years. Enos maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA throughout her academic career and will graduate with a degree in special education, communication disorders and deaf education.

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1 Comment

  • Steve Baugh April 14, 2020 at 8:30 pm Reply

    Both Men’s Basketball and Gymnastics had great years. Outstanding Finishes in both Sports.
    Just at a point both sports were peaking this Virus shut life down for 2 USU Outstanding Teams
    as well as Tennis and Track at USU.
    Congratulations to these two outstanding athletes!

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