Kaboom!, Dechter Receives 2017 Orsborn Award

Presentation of Bradley Athletics' most-prestigious award caps revamed Kaboom! Awards program

Ariel Dechter backhand vs Wichita State April 30, 2016

Wichita State Athletics

Watch 2017 Kaboom! Awards

Bobby Parker, Associate AD for Communications General 5/1/2017 9:00:00 PM

PEORIA, IL - Capping off a revamped program filled with new awards and a plethora of highlight videos, senior tennis player Ariel Dechter (Mundelein, IL/Mundelein H.S.) earned the most prestigious honor Bradley University bestows on a graduating student-athlete by claiming the 64th Charles Orsborn Award at the Kaboom! Awards Monday night at Renaissance Coliseum.

The winningest player in Bradley Tennis history, men or women, Dechter becomes just the second women's tennis player to earn the Charles Orsborn Award, joining 1998 co-winner Julie Erskine. Named in honor of former Bradley four-sport letterwinner, men's basketball head coach and athletics director Charles Orborn and formerly known as the Watonga Award, the Orsborn Award is the highest honor Bradley University bestows upon a graduating student-athlete and recognizes the ability of the winner to combine athletic and academic achievement with community service.

Dechter completed her collegiate tennis career Saturday at the Missouri Valley Conference Team Championship, where the Braves advanced to the semifinals for just the second time in program history. Dechter completed her career claiming outright or sharing 18 single-season and career program records, including the marks for career singles (82), doubles (69) and combined (151) wins. The 2014 MVC Freshman of the Year, Dechter is one of just three players in program history to earn a flight championship at the MVC Individual Championships (2015 Flight 3 Doubles) and she remains the only player in program history to earn all-conference honors as a 3-time selection by The Valley's head coaches for the MVC All-Select Team (2015, 2016, 2017).

In the classroom, Dechter is set to graduate next week with her degree in accounting. Boasting a 3.73 cumulative grade point average (4.0 scale), she is a 3-time Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete First Team selection and she has been nominated for CoSIDA Academic All-America honors this spring. She received the MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award in 2014 and 2015 and has qualified for the MVC Honor Roll and Bradley Athletic Director's Honor Roll at every available opportunity.

The Bradley University Intercollegiate Athletics Committee selected Dechter from a pool of four Orsborn Award finalists, which also included men's cross country/track runner Patrick Campbell (Wauwatosa, WI/Wauwatosa H.S.), softball pitcher Jaelen Hull (Clifton, IL/Bishop McNamara H.S.) and women's basketball player Leti Lerma (Muscatine, IA/Muscatine H.S.).

All of the other three Orsborn Award finalists earned recognition during Monday's ESPY-styled program:

Campbell was a member of the 2016 men's cross country team that claimed the Men's Team Peformance of the Year with its dominant showing to repeat as MVC men's cross country champion in October. The Braves won their second straight title by scoring just 24 points, the fewest points by a champion in 34 years and just one point shy of the best total in the previous 59 championships. Campbell, who finished fifth individually, was one of Bradley's five all-conference runners at the championship.
Hull received the 34th Carl Grose Service Award, which is presented annually to recognize a student-athlete who is committed to volunteerism on campus and in the local community.
Lerma received the women's Coach Joe Stowell Award, which has been presented annually since 2007 to recognize the male and female student-athletes who best exemplify Stowell's love for Bradley Athletics, as well as dedication to their teams and teammates; and the inaugural Women's Individual Performance of the Year in honor of her effort Jan. 29 versus Evansville, when she finished with 24 points, 17 rebounds, three steals, an assist, a blocked shot and a harassing defensive effort against the Purple Aces first-team all-conference player while leading the Braves to a 56-52 win.

While the 2016-17 Varsity Club Most Outstanding Athletes will not be determined until the conclusion of the competition season, the 2015-16 winners were recognized Monday. Former Bradley Baseball pitcher Cameron Roegner accepted the 2016 Varsity Club Most Outstanding Male Athlete Award via video, while Female winner Kristen Busch accepted her award on stage before helping to present the Orsborn Award with twin sister Caitlin as last year's co-winners.

2017 Kaboom! Awards
64th Charles Orsborn Award:  Ariel Dechter, Women's Tennis
17th Orville Nothdurft Lifetime Achievement Award:  Dr. Charlene Dewey '85, Women's Track
Highlight of the Year:  JoJo McGlaston, Men's Basketball (Blocked shot Jan. 29 vs. Wichita State)
Men's Team Performance of the Year:  Men's Cross Country (24 points to defend MVC Cross Country title)
Women's Team Performance of the Year:  Women's Golf (26-stroke victory for Bradley Invitational title April 1-2)
Bradley Athletics Special Recognition Award:  Gloria Arrington (retiring Bradley University General Services Supervisor)
15th Megan C. Fong Inspiration Award:  Caitlyn McCarron, Softball
Men's Individual Performance of the Year:  Michael Ward, Cross Country (Bradley Men's Cross Country's 1st NCAA Championship qualifier)
Women's Individual Performance of the Year:  Leti Lerma, Women's Basketball (24 points, 17 rebounds Jan. 29 vs. Evansville)
34th Carl Grose Service Award:  Jaelen Hull, Softball
11th Coach Joe Stowell Awards:  Bobby Jacobs, Men's Golf and Leti Lerma, Women's Basketball

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Players Mentioned

Ariel Dechter: 5' 5"; Senior

Players Mentioned

Ariel Dechter
: 5' 5"; Senior