What are your thoughts on the Catspys?

[flacat22]

Its slow now that the silly portal season is over so I noticed this yesterday and found it interesting for discussion's sake. Not to be the "get off of my lawn" guy but UK Athletics has been sending out the Catspy results on X and it seems that many of the individual awards are going to multiple winners. Does that diminish the winning part by giving it to multiple athletes? For instance, the Mr. And Miss Wildcat awards, Eli Cox (FB), Devin Burkes (Ba) and Lamont Butler (MBB). Female athlete of the year, Georgia Amoore, Women’s Basketball and Brooklyn DeLeye, Volleyball
While I am proud to recognize all of our Wildcats it seems kinda participation trophy-y to me, what are your thoughts? Poll up top.

2025 CATSPY AWARD WINNERS
Female Newcomer of the Year
Clara Strack, Women’s Basketball

Male Newcomer of the Year
Collins Kiprop Kipngok, Men’s Track & Field

Male Supporting Role
Octavious Oxendine, Football

Female Supporting Role
Annie Riegert, Gymnastics
Marta López Echevarría, Women’s Golf

Scratch Award
Logan Dorsey, Men’s Soccer
Sharon Lee, Gymnastics
Evan Byers, Baseball

Male Athlete of the Year
Ryan Waldschmidt, Baseball

Female Athlete of the Year
Georgia Amoore, Women’s Basketball
Brooklyn DeLeye, Volleyball

Academic Teams of the Year
Men’s Cross Country
Women’s Golf

Blue Heart Award
Kate Powers, Women’s Track & Field
Eli Stephenson, Men’s Tennis

Community Service Award
Ella Emmert, Softball
Lily DeLong, Women’s Swimming & Diving
Josh Kattus, Football
Jackson Watts, Men’s Track & Field/Cross Country
Teagan Wright , STUNT

Keightley Assist Award
Bronson Sullivan, Athletic Training
Sara Zawadzki, Softball
Marc Shewmaker, Baseball
Julia Durant, Volleyball
Zach Brangers, Sports Video

Mr. Wildcat
Devin Burkes, Baseball
Eli Cox, Football
Lamont Butler, Men’s Basketball

Miss Wildcat
Isabella Magnelli, Gymnastics
Brooklyn DeLeye, Volleyball
Emma Grome, Volleyball

Heart of a Wildcat
Dr. Eli Capilouto

Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Patrick Herrera, Baseball
Grant Darbyshire, Men’s Basketball
Alex Justus, Men’s Track & Field/Cross Country
Evan Byers, Baseball
Kaelan Daly, Women’s Swimming & Diving
Ainsley Edwards, Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country
Phoebe McCowan, Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country

Team of the Year
Baseball
Rifle
Volleyball

 

[know1]

My thoughts are that I was surprised they came and went with so little fanfare.

And yes - In general, I think it cheapens awards to give them to multiple recipients no matter what the award is.

 

[PopesReignOverCardinals]

 

[drew_ukfan]

I’ve heard of two of the people you listed

 

[PopesReignOverCardinals]

Its slow now that the silly portal season is over so I noticed this yesterday and found it interesting for discussion's sake. Not to be the "get off of my lawn" guy but UK Athletics has been sending out the Catspy results on X and it seems that many of the individual awards are going to multiple winners. Does that diminish the winning part by giving it to multiple athletes?

Heart of a Wildcat
Dr. Eli Capilouto

Who won the Buttkiss Award for giving an award to Eli Capilouto?

That alone diminishes the whole thing.

 

[flacat22]

It’s hard for me to wrap my head around multiple Heisman or Naismith award winners. I do get them trying to spread the love but still.

 

[catben]

It’s a UK event, so why not spread the love to as many kids as possible.

No problem from me.

 

[know1]

It’s a UK event, so why not spread the love to as many kids as possible.

No problem from me.

The more people you give an award that is supposed to be for one person, the worse it is for the people who DON'T get the award. They are trying to be more inclusive, but like most endeavors like that, they end up being more exclusive instead.

 

[blue cincy]

Have never paid any attention to the post season awards for UK or any of the actually. Have never watched the heismen or any other post season award show.

 

[flacat22]

My thoughts are that I was surprised they came and went with so little fanfare.

And yes - In general, I think it cheapens awards to give them to multiple recipients no matter what the award is.

Had I not followed UKAthletics on Twitter years ago I’d have never known they were held this week.

 

[the nail at the foul line]

Heart of a Wildcat
Dr. Eli Capilouto

 

[jr40831]

Catspy's are a bit silly.

 

[TucsonCat]

Yeah, instead of listing two exceptional athletes out of a thousand, they listed three exceptional athletes. How participatory can you get, am I right?

It's not a competition. They exist for the athletes to have a good time, build community within the group, and recognize people. Mission accomplished.

 

[KY Long Rifle]

I’m not going to cast a vote, because, honestly, I didn’t know the award existed until about two hours ago when someone I know was talking about it.

 

[CaptainBoogerBuns]

Rifle!

 

[Cat06]

Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Patrick Herrera, Baseball
Grant Darbyshire, Men’s Basketball
Alex Justus, Men’s Track & Field/Cross Country
Evan Byers, Baseball
Kaelan Daly, Women’s Swimming & Diving
Ainsley Edwards, Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country
Phoebe McCowan, Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country

Two award winners for the same trophy from the same sport? Invalidates and makes a Sham of the entire process. Pick a winner. Tie GPA, take the athlete with the best competitive record.

 

[Cat06]

It's not a competition. They exist for the athletes to have a good time, build community within the group, and recognize people. Mission accomplished.

No, it IS a competition. Name the winner, not all the participants.

 

[know1]

It's not a competition. They exist for the athletes to have a good time, build community within the group, and recognize people. Mission accomplished.

Actually, it is a competition. It's not really an award if everybody gets one, right?

 

[chroix]

You need an LOL option on that poll. Does anyone really put any thought into the Catspys? This is the most I’ve ever thought about them and… what a rush!

 

[Fox2monk]

Its slow now that the silly portal season is over so I noticed this yesterday and found it interesting for discussion's sake. Not to be the "get off of my lawn" guy but UK Athletics has been sending out the Catspy results on X and it seems that many of the individual awards are going to multiple winners. Does that diminish the winning part by giving it to multiple athletes? For instance, the Mr. And Miss Wildcat awards, Eli Cox (FB), Devin Burkes (Ba) and Lamont Butler (MBB). Female athlete of the year, Georgia Amoore, Women’s Basketball and Brooklyn DeLeye, Volleyball
While I am proud to recognize all of our Wildcats it seems kinda participation trophy-y to me, what are your thoughts? Poll up top.

2025 CATSPY AWARD WINNERS
Female Newcomer of the Year
Clara Strack, Women’s Basketball

Male Newcomer of the Year
Collins Kiprop Kipngok, Men’s Track & Field

Male Supporting Role
Octavious Oxendine, Football

Female Supporting Role
Annie Riegert, Gymnastics
Marta López Echevarría, Women’s Golf

Scratch Award
Logan Dorsey, Men’s Soccer
Sharon Lee, Gymnastics
Evan Byers, Baseball

Male Athlete of the Year
Ryan Waldschmidt, Baseball

Female Athlete of the Year
Georgia Amoore, Women’s Basketball
Brooklyn DeLeye, Volleyball

Academic Teams of the Year
Men’s Cross Country
Women’s Golf

Blue Heart Award
Kate Powers, Women’s Track & Field
Eli Stephenson, Men’s Tennis

Community Service Award
Ella Emmert, Softball
Lily DeLong, Women’s Swimming & Diving
Josh Kattus, Football
Jackson Watts, Men’s Track & Field/Cross Country
Teagan Wright , STUNT

Keightley Assist Award
Bronson Sullivan, Athletic Training
Sara Zawadzki, Softball
Marc Shewmaker, Baseball
Julia Durant, Volleyball
Zach Brangers, Sports Video

Mr. Wildcat
Devin Burkes, Baseball
Eli Cox, Football
Lamont Butler, Men’s Basketball

Miss Wildcat
Isabella Magnelli, Gymnastics
Brooklyn DeLeye, Volleyball
Emma Grome, Volleyball

Heart of a Wildcat
Dr. Eli Capilouto

Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Patrick Herrera, Baseball
Grant Darbyshire, Men’s Basketball
Alex Justus, Men’s Track & Field/Cross Country
Evan Byers, Baseball
Kaelan Daly, Women’s Swimming & Diving
Ainsley Edwards, Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country
Phoebe McCowan, Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country

Team of the Year
Baseball
Rifle
Volleyball

So typical of the generation. We have to award everyone something lest someone get their feelings hurt. What it do not take into account is even giving it to 3 people still leaves almost everyone else out of it. That said Lamont Butler deserved every award he won! There should be an Aaron Harrison award for big huge 🏀’s and he should win that too.

 

[Fox2monk]

Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Patrick Herrera, Baseball
Grant Darbyshire, Men’s Basketball
Alex Justus, Men’s Track & Field/Cross Country
Evan Byers, Baseball
Kaelan Daly, Women’s Swimming & Diving
Ainsley Edwards, Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country
Phoebe McCowan, Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country

Two award winners for the same trophy from the same sport? Invalidates and makes a Sham of the entire process. Pick a winner. Tie GPA, take the athlete with the best competitive record.

Truth

 

[Kuhldaddy]

Collins Kiprop Kipngok?
That name alone deserves an award

 

[UKWildcats1987]

You need an LOL option on that poll. Does anyone really put any thought into the Catspys? This is the most I’ve ever thought about them and… what a rush!

This. I didn't even know this was a thing.

 

[maysvilleky]

It’s for the athletes anyways. It really doesn’t cheapen anything. Other than athletes and family, no one probably will ever see the award. It’s just a feel good thing.

My daughter’s school does the same thing. She’s won a few of the awards but it’s not even something that goes on her resume.

 

[TCurtis75]

These awards mean nothing. It is just a reason for the athletic department to get all the teams together to celebrate as a whole. It allows all programs/athletes to get recognition. Otherwise, only Mens and Womens basketball, football, baseball, and volleyball would be the only teams with any sort of recognition since they are the most visible and prominent on campus. These awards allow for the other teams to have a little spotlight on them.