Photo by: Julia Kostopoulos
Hilley and Rettke nominees for 2021 Sullivan Award
September 20, 2021 | Volleyball
Badgers among 38 finalists for top amateur athlete honor
Voting for the award is open to the public by clicking here.
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MADISON, Wis. – Sydney Hilley and Dana Rettke from the second-ranked Wisconsin volleyball team have been selected as nominees for the 2021 Sullivan Award presented by the Amateur Athletic Union, the organization announced on Monday.
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Hilley is a 6-foot setter and has been named a four-time American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-American, including two first-team honors. She is also the two-time Big Ten Setter of the Year.
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The 6-foot-8 Rettke is the first four-time first-team All-American in Badger volleyball history and only the sixth ever in NCAA volleyball history. A four-time first-team All-Big Ten selection, the middle blocker was named the 2019 Big Ten Player of the Year and the 2019-20 Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year.
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Voting for the award is open to the public by clicking here.
This year's group of nominees includes:
• Aari McDonald, Women's Basketball, University of Arizona
• Allyson Felix, Track and Field, USA Track and Field
• Ariel Torres, Karate, USA Karate
• Athing Mu, Track and Field, USA Track and Field/Texas A&M
• Ayo Dosunmu, Basketball, University of Illinois
• Brad Snyder, Paralympic Swimming & Triathlon, US Naval Academy
• Caeleb Dressel, Swimming, USA Swimming
• Caitlin Clark, Women's Basketball, University of Iowa
• Dana Rettke, Volleyball, University of Wisconsin
• Dani Jones, Track and Field, University of Colorado Boulder
• David Taylor, Wrestling, USA Wrestling
• Drew Timme, Basketball, Gonzaga University
• Erriyon Knighton, Track and Field, USA Track and Field
• Evan Medell, Paralympic Taekwondo, USA Taekwondo
• Gable Steveson, Wrestling, University of Minnesota/USA Wrestling
• Grant Holloway, Track and Field, USA Track and Field
• Javonte Perkins, Basketball, Saint Louis University
• Jocelyn Alo, Softball, University of Oklahoma
• Julia Arciola, Baton Twirling, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Justin Fields, Football, Ohio State University
• Kevin Kopps, Baseball, University of Arkansas
• Logan Eggleston, Volleyball, University of Texas
• Luka Garza, Basketball, University of Iowa
• Lydia Jacoby, Swimming, USA Swimming
• Maddie Musselman, Water Polo, USA Water Polo
• Madison Lilley, Volleyball, University of Kentucky
• Michael Penix Jr, Football, Indiana University
• Nick Lee, Wrestling, Penn State University
• Nick Piccininni, Wrestling, Oklahoma State University
• Obi Toppin, Basketball, University of Dayton
• Paige Bueckers, Women's Basketball, University of Connecticut
• Ryan Crouser, Track and Field, USA Track and Field
• Sam Howell, Football, University of North Carolina
• Simone Biles, Gymnastics, USA Gymnastics
• Sunisa Lee, Gymnastics, USA Gymnastics
• Sydney Hilley, Volleyball, University of Wisconsin
• Sydney McLaughlin, Track and Field, USA Track and Field
• Tamyra Mensah Stock, Wrestling, USA Wrestling
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The AAU Sullivan Award has been presented annually since 1930 to the most outstanding athlete in the United States. Representatives from the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) created the Sullivan Award with the intent to recognize contributions and achievements from athletes across the country.Â
A list of world-renowned Sullivan Award recipients, includes 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).
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The finalist voting round is now open and closes at 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 27. The AAU James E. Sullivan Award presentation will be held at the Rosen Centre in Orlando, Fla. on Oct. 22 with a special recognition reception in conjunction with the Orlando Magic later that night.
Â
MADISON, Wis. – Sydney Hilley and Dana Rettke from the second-ranked Wisconsin volleyball team have been selected as nominees for the 2021 Sullivan Award presented by the Amateur Athletic Union, the organization announced on Monday.
Â
Hilley is a 6-foot setter and has been named a four-time American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-American, including two first-team honors. She is also the two-time Big Ten Setter of the Year.
Â
The 6-foot-8 Rettke is the first four-time first-team All-American in Badger volleyball history and only the sixth ever in NCAA volleyball history. A four-time first-team All-Big Ten selection, the middle blocker was named the 2019 Big Ten Player of the Year and the 2019-20 Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year.
Â
Voting for the award is open to the public by clicking here.
This year's group of nominees includes:
• Aari McDonald, Women's Basketball, University of Arizona
• Allyson Felix, Track and Field, USA Track and Field
• Ariel Torres, Karate, USA Karate
• Athing Mu, Track and Field, USA Track and Field/Texas A&M
• Ayo Dosunmu, Basketball, University of Illinois
• Brad Snyder, Paralympic Swimming & Triathlon, US Naval Academy
• Caeleb Dressel, Swimming, USA Swimming
• Caitlin Clark, Women's Basketball, University of Iowa
• Dana Rettke, Volleyball, University of Wisconsin
• Dani Jones, Track and Field, University of Colorado Boulder
• David Taylor, Wrestling, USA Wrestling
• Drew Timme, Basketball, Gonzaga University
• Erriyon Knighton, Track and Field, USA Track and Field
• Evan Medell, Paralympic Taekwondo, USA Taekwondo
• Gable Steveson, Wrestling, University of Minnesota/USA Wrestling
• Grant Holloway, Track and Field, USA Track and Field
• Javonte Perkins, Basketball, Saint Louis University
• Jocelyn Alo, Softball, University of Oklahoma
• Julia Arciola, Baton Twirling, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Justin Fields, Football, Ohio State University
• Kevin Kopps, Baseball, University of Arkansas
• Logan Eggleston, Volleyball, University of Texas
• Luka Garza, Basketball, University of Iowa
• Lydia Jacoby, Swimming, USA Swimming
• Maddie Musselman, Water Polo, USA Water Polo
• Madison Lilley, Volleyball, University of Kentucky
• Michael Penix Jr, Football, Indiana University
• Nick Lee, Wrestling, Penn State University
• Nick Piccininni, Wrestling, Oklahoma State University
• Obi Toppin, Basketball, University of Dayton
• Paige Bueckers, Women's Basketball, University of Connecticut
• Ryan Crouser, Track and Field, USA Track and Field
• Sam Howell, Football, University of North Carolina
• Simone Biles, Gymnastics, USA Gymnastics
• Sunisa Lee, Gymnastics, USA Gymnastics
• Sydney Hilley, Volleyball, University of Wisconsin
• Sydney McLaughlin, Track and Field, USA Track and Field
• Tamyra Mensah Stock, Wrestling, USA Wrestling
Â
The AAU Sullivan Award has been presented annually since 1930 to the most outstanding athlete in the United States. Representatives from the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) created the Sullivan Award with the intent to recognize contributions and achievements from athletes across the country.Â
A list of world-renowned Sullivan Award recipients, includes 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).
Â
The finalist voting round is now open and closes at 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 27. The AAU James E. Sullivan Award presentation will be held at the Rosen Centre in Orlando, Fla. on Oct. 22 with a special recognition reception in conjunction with the Orlando Magic later that night.
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