Dana Rettke named finalist for Sullivan Award
March 23, 2020 | Volleyball
Badger one of 10 finalists for top amateur athlete award
MADISON, Wis. – Dana Rettke, a junior on the Wisconsin volleyball team, has been selected as one of 10 finalists for the 90th AAU James E. Sullivan Award, the AAU announced on Monday.
"It is such a honor to be up for this award along side so many other talented athletes," said Rettke. "Knowing the history of this award and being on the same stage as those who have won it in the past is so humbling. I love how this award brings athletes from all different sports together to celebrate everyones amazing accomplishments! I cannot thank everyone, especially my teammates and coaches, at Wisconsin enough to get me where I am today. On, Wisconsin"
Voting for the award is open to the public at www.aausullivan.org. The finalist round is open now and closes at 10:59 p.m. on Monday, March 30.
Fans can vote once per day for a Badger here.
Rettke was the youngest member of the 2019 U.S. National Team that won the Volleyball Nations League and earned a berth in the 2020 Olympics. The 6-foot-8 middle blocker is a three-time first-team All-American for the Badgers and was also named the 2019 Big Ten Conference Player of the Year and the 2019 American Volleyball Coaches Association Northeast Regional Player of the Year. Over her career, Rettke has earned three first-team All-Big Ten honors, two Academic All-Big Ten awards, and is an eight-time Big Ten Player of the Week. She was also a 2019-20 Honda Award finalist in volleyball.Rettke has aided Wisconsin to three NCAA tournament appearances, including a national runner-up finish in 2019. She has the UW career record holder in hitting percentage and ranks among the top Badger players in kills, kills per set, total blocks, blocks per set, points and points per set.
About the Award
The AAU Sullivan Award has been given out since 1930 to the nation's best amateur athlete. Only one finalist will join the illustrious list of previous winners which include: Bobby Jones (1930), Doc Blanchard (1945), Wilma Rudolph (1961), Bill Bradley (1965), Mark Spitz (1970), Bill Walton (1973), Bruce Jenner (1976), Carl Lewis (1981), Joan Benoit (1985), Janet Evans (1989), Peyton Manning (1997), Michael Phelps (2003), Tim Tebow (2007), Shawn Johnson (2008), Missy Franklin (2012), and Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott (2014) and the first volleyball player to win the award, Wisconsin's own Lauren Carlini (2016).
Top 10 Finalists
- Â Â Evita Griskenas, Rhythmic Gymnastics, USA Rhythmic Gymnastics
- Â Â Grant Holloway, Track and Field, University of Florida
- Â Â Â Markus Howard, Men's Basketball, Marquette University
- Â Â Â Sabrina Ionescu, Women's Basketball, University of Oregon
- Â Â Â Trevor Lawrence, Football, Clemson University
- Â Â Â Spencer Lee, Men's Wrestling, University of Iowa
- Â Â Â Dana Rettke, Women's Volleyball, University of Wisconsin
- Â Â Â Kyla Ross, Gymnastics, University of California Los Angeles
- Â Â Â Megan Taylor, Women's Lacrosse, University of Maryland
- Â Â Â Abbey Weitzeil, Women's Swimming, University of California
