Photo by: Tom Lynn
Watch the 90th Annual AAU Sullivan Award presentation Wednesday
April 27, 2020 | Volleyball
Dana Rettke one of 10 finalists for the award
Watch the 90th AAU Sullivan Award Wednesday
MADISON, Wis. - The ceremony for the 90th AAU James E. Sullivan Award presented by Eastbay – originally scheduled to be held at the historic New York Athletic Club – will now take place virtually due to safety concerns related to COVID-19. The winner of the award will be announced on Wednesday, starting at 7 p.m. on Facebook.com/SportsStoriespodcast. Each athlete will have the opportunity to participate in a one-on-one interview with Sport Stories' host, Denny Lennon, before the winner is presented live on the podcast.
Dana Rettke, a junior on the Wisconsin volleyball team, is one of 10 finalists for the 90th AAU James E. Sullivan Award. She 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.
"We recognize the challenging times that we are living in, but we are looking forward to the collaboration with Sports Stories with Denny Lennon to present this prestigious award and to give hope to young athletes everywhere," said AAU President and CEO Dr. Roger J. Goudy. "The AAU's mission is to provide a venue for amateur athletes to promote good sportsmanship and good citizen no matter if they are on the court or not and in this unprecedented time that mission is now more important than ever."
The AAU James E. Sullivan Award, presented by Eastbay, has been presented annually since 1930 to the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States. Representatives from the AAU created the AAU Sullivan Award with the intent to recognize amateur contributions and achievements from non-professional athletes across the country, including famed Olympians Michelle Kwan (2001), Michael Phelps (2003), Paul Hamm (2004) and Shawn Johnson (2008); University of Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning (1997), Penn State guard John Urschel (2013); 200m backstroke world record holder Missy Franklin (2012) and University of Wisconsin setter Lauren Carlini (2016).
Top 10 Finalists
Evita Griskenas, Rhythmic Gymnastics, USA Rhythmic Gymnastics
Grant Holloway, Track and Field, University of Florida
Markus Howard, Men's Basketball, Marquette University
Sabrina Ionescu, Women's Basketball, University of Oregon
Trevor Lawrence, Football, Clemson University
Spencer Lee, Men's Wrestling, University of Iowa
Dana Rettke, Women's Volleyball, University of Wisconsin
Kyla Ross, Gymnastics, University of California Los Angeles
Megan Taylor, Women's Lacrosse, University of Maryland
Abbey Weitzeil, Women's Swimming, University of California
MADISON, Wis. - The ceremony for the 90th AAU James E. Sullivan Award presented by Eastbay – originally scheduled to be held at the historic New York Athletic Club – will now take place virtually due to safety concerns related to COVID-19. The winner of the award will be announced on Wednesday, starting at 7 p.m. on Facebook.com/SportsStoriespodcast. Each athlete will have the opportunity to participate in a one-on-one interview with Sport Stories' host, Denny Lennon, before the winner is presented live on the podcast.
Dana Rettke, a junior on the Wisconsin volleyball team, is one of 10 finalists for the 90th AAU James E. Sullivan Award. She 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.
"We recognize the challenging times that we are living in, but we are looking forward to the collaboration with Sports Stories with Denny Lennon to present this prestigious award and to give hope to young athletes everywhere," said AAU President and CEO Dr. Roger J. Goudy. "The AAU's mission is to provide a venue for amateur athletes to promote good sportsmanship and good citizen no matter if they are on the court or not and in this unprecedented time that mission is now more important than ever."
The AAU James E. Sullivan Award, presented by Eastbay, has been presented annually since 1930 to the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States. Representatives from the AAU created the AAU Sullivan Award with the intent to recognize amateur contributions and achievements from non-professional athletes across the country, including famed Olympians Michelle Kwan (2001), Michael Phelps (2003), Paul Hamm (2004) and Shawn Johnson (2008); University of Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning (1997), Penn State guard John Urschel (2013); 200m backstroke world record holder Missy Franklin (2012) and University of Wisconsin setter Lauren Carlini (2016).
Top 10 Finalists
Evita Griskenas, Rhythmic Gymnastics, USA Rhythmic Gymnastics
Grant Holloway, Track and Field, University of Florida
Markus Howard, Men's Basketball, Marquette University
Sabrina Ionescu, Women's Basketball, University of Oregon
Trevor Lawrence, Football, Clemson University
Spencer Lee, Men's Wrestling, University of Iowa
Dana Rettke, Women's Volleyball, University of Wisconsin
Kyla Ross, Gymnastics, University of California Los Angeles
Megan Taylor, Women's Lacrosse, University of Maryland
Abbey Weitzeil, Women's Swimming, University of California
Players Mentioned
MB
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