2020 Kaboom! Awards: Men's Team Performance of the Year

The nominees for the Kaboom! Award for Men's Team Performance of the Year come from Baseball, Men's Basketball, Men's Cross Country and Soccer

General 5/23/2020 11:00:00 AM

The 2020 Kaboom! Awards, presented by RE/MAX Traders Unlimited and supported by PNC, continues Saturday with the announcements of the Men's and Women's Team Performances of the Year, beginning this morning with the Men's award.

The four nominees for the 2019-20 Men's Team Performance of the Year are:

Baseball: The Braves began their season-ending series sweep at Tennessee Tech by taking both games of the Feb. 29 doubleheader, 6-3 and 11-6. Senior leftfielder Dan Bolt hit a home run in each game, while the trio of Nick King, Ryan Hodgett and Taylor Catton combined to strike out 17 Golden Eagles in the nightcap for the most strikeouts by Bradley pitchers against a NCAA Division I opponent in program history.

Men's Basketball: Bradley successfully defended its Missouri Valley Conference Men's Basketball Championship crown by dropping Southern Illinois, Drake and Valparaiso during the 2020 Arch Madness in St. Louis. The Braves earned consecutive Valley championships for the first time in program history and earned an invitation to consecutive NCAA Tournaments for the first time since 1954 and 1955.

Men's Cross Country: The Braves matched the Missouri Valley Conference record by winning their fifth consecutive league championship and did so in record-setting fashion by totaling an all-time low of 17 points to defend their title once again. Senior Jake Hoffert became the first runner in program history to win two Valley individual titles and all five of Bradley's scoring runners earned all-league honors: Jake Hoffert was followed by Luke Hoffert (second), Matthew Richtman (third), Ben Potrykus (fourth) and Jack Franklin (seventh).

Soccer: Bradley Soccer downed Evansville, 2-0, in the first round of the MVC Men's Soccer Championship to complete its first-ever 3-game season sweep of a single opponent in program history. Junior Gerit Wintermeyer scored both goals for the Braves and senior goalkeeper Nathan Wisbey stopped a penalty kick to help preserve the shutout, securing the 250th win in head coach Jim DeRose's career.

The 2020 Kaboom! Awards are celebrating the year in Bradley Athletics by transitioning to a virtual presentation throughout the month of May. Each year on the final night of spring semester classes, the Bradley Department of Athletics gathers at Renaissance Coliseum for the annual Kaboom! Awards, an event modeled after the popular awards shows in the entertainment industry (Oscars, Grammys, ESPYs) and recognizes all of the graduating seniors, spotlights the team and individual achievements from throughout the year. Traditionally preceded by a red-carpet reception, the awards show is filled with video and graphic tributes, which will be presented this year through the Bradley Athletics website, BradleyBraves.com, and the department's social media accounts -- culminating with the announcement of the 67th Charles Orsborn Award May 29 and viewing of the Moments of the Year May 30.

The 2020 Kaboom! Awards will continue Saturday afternoon (1 p.m.) by highlighting the finalists for the 2019-20 Women's Team Performance of the Year.

2020 Kaboom! Awards Presentation Schedule

Day, Date	Feature	Format
Monday, May 4	Men's Golf highlights	Video
Tuesday, May 5	Charles Orsborn Award candidates	Article
Wednesday, May 6	Women's Cross Country and Track	Video
Thursday, May 7	Charles Orsborn Award finalist #1 - Nate Kennell	Video
Friday, May 8	Softball highlights	Video
Saturday, May 9	Female Individual Performance of the Year	Video
	Male Individual Performance of the Year	Video
Monday, May 11	Soccer highlights	Video
Tuesday, May 12	Orsborn Award finalist #2 - Jake Hoffert	Video
Wednesday, May 13	Tennis highlights	Video
Thursday, May 14	Megan C. Fong Inspiration Award	Video
Friday, May 15	Baseball highlights	Video
Saturday, May 16	Graduating Class of 2020	Video
Monday, May 18	Volleyball highlights	Video
Tuesday, May 19	Orsborn Award finalist #3 - Chelsea Brackmann	Video
Wednesday, May 20	Men's Cross Country and Track highlights	Video
Thursday, May 21	Female Coach Joe Stowell Award	Video
	Male Coach Joe Stowell Award	Video
Friday, May 22	Women's Golf highlights	Video
	Cheerleading highlights	Video
Saturday, May 23	Men's Team Performance of the Year	Video
	Women's Team Performance of the Year	Video
Sunday, May 24	Women's Basketball highlights	Video
Tuesday, May 26	Orsborn Award finalist #4	Video
Wednesday, May 27	Men's Basketball highlights	Video
Thursday, May 28	Bradley Athletics community service	Video
	Carl Grose Service Award	Video
Friday, May 29	Charles Orsborn Award	Video
Saturday, May 30	Moments of the Year	Video