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Johnny Weeks and Franzi Weidner - Bonham Awardees 2018
Franziska Weidner and Johnny Weeks; 2018 Bonham Award Winners

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'H Awards' Honors Best of 2017-18; Weidner and Weeks Bonham Award Winners

HONOLULU –  On Monday night at the Stan Sheriff Center, University of Hawai'i student-athletes and program contributors were celebrated during another special evening at the Seventh Annual "H Awards".
 
The event, presented by Hawai'i Athletics, with support from Sodexo, provided recognition for the achievements – both athletically and academically – of UH's 21 sports teams during the 2017-18 academic year. In total, 36 awards were handed out to Hawai'i student-athletes at the primetime awards event.
 
The annual Jack Bonham Award was among the many awards presented and was given to women's swimmer Franziska Weidner and baseball player Johnny Weeks.
 
The Bonham Award is given annually to the top male and female senior student-athlete who "best exemplifies the ideals for which Jack Bonham stood for in the areas of athletic excellence, academic achievement, public service, leadership and character."
 
The women's Bonham Award winner, Weidner (Nurenberg, Germany) has proven a determined, dedicated and invested swimmer for the Rainbow Wahine, leading her to two NCAA Championships appearances and 2018 All-America accolades after finishing seventh in this year's 100 breaststroke. Weidner is the three-time Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Swimmer of the Year and has 20 MPSF event titles to her credit. She's also the holder of eight UH school records.
 
Goal-oriented, hard-working and focused, Weidner is a double major pursuing a B.S. in Health and Exercise Science and a B.A. in Psychology, racking up a 3.94 cumulative GPA. She is a seven-time Dean's List honoree, two-time MPSF All-Academic, 2017 Top 5 Student-Athlete Award winner and recipient of the Chancellor Virginia S. Hinshaw Athletics Scholarship. She was a team captain for two years and is also a public service leader for the swimming program.
 
"We are thrilled and proud that Franzi has been awarded this honor," swimming and diving head coach Dan Schemmel said. "She had an amazing year and is the epitome of an outstanding student-athlete."
 
The men's Bonham Award winner, Weeks (Long Beach, Calif.) came to UH as a true freshman walk-on. He has played four years as a starter for the Rainbow Warriors, taking up three different positions, which is a rarity in UH baseball. From his first days at UH, Weeks has worked non-stop at earning his starting position. He has been a major impact player and leads on and off the field.
 
Beginning his career in 2015 at UH, Weeks has played in 173 games and is hitting .283 for the Rainbow Warriors with the team's second-most RBI on the year. He's recorded 148 hits for 70 RBI and 78 runs, holding a .325 on-base percentage and a .958 fielding percentage while playing third base, second base and left field. Weeks recently set a new UH career sac bunts standard with 43 in his career. He's also on the verge of setting the season record with 19 in the 2018 campaign, leading the nation in the stat.
 
Off the field, Weeks has earned a 3.48 GPA in Economics with a Business minor. He's a four-time Dean's List honoree, four-time UH Scholar-Athlete and two-time Big West All-Academic.
 
"He is truly an amazing person and athlete. I love this kid," head baseball coach Mike Trapasso said. "He absolutely stands for everything the Jack Bonham represents."
 
Considered the most prestigious award in UH athletics, the Jack Bonham Award is named for the late assistant athletics director who was killed in 1974 in a plane crash in America Samoa. Bonham was returning to the islands from New Zealand where he was on a recruiting trip at the British Commonwealth Games.
 
A host of other awards were presented throughout the program, including: 
The Jenny Matsuda: Kira Makuta (WSWM), Felix Albert (MTEN), Genta Ito (FB)
Rainbow Wahine of the Year: Emily Maglio (WVB/BVB)
Rainbow Warrior of the Year: Stijn van Tilburg (MVB)
Pride: Noah Borden (FB), Taylor Donohue (WBB), Adam Kealiher (MSWM), Tahna Lindquist (WSWM), Lalelei Mata'afa (WWP), Payton Osborne (Cheer), Kelly Sojka (SAIL)
Top Academic Team: Women's Soccer 
Male Rookie of the Year: Maaki Yamazaki (BSB)
Female Rookie of the Year: Lea Monkhouse (BVB)
Perseverance: Raion Black (TF)
Jack Bonham Award (Female): Franziska Weidner (WSWM)
Jack Bonham Award (Male): Johnny Weeks (BSB)
Top Scholars for Each Team: Troy Kakugawa (BSB), Gibson Johnson (MBB), Julissa Tago (WBB), Morgan Martin (BVB), Ashley Gomez (Cheer), Maddie Fuhrman (XC/TF), Genta Ito (FB), Trevor Hirata (MGLF), Lauren Kirkwood (WGLF), Michael Pacholski (SAIL), Kellsie Gleason (SOC), Brittany Hitchcock (SB), Jonas Gutzat (MSWM), Kira Makuta (WSWM), Felix Albert (MTEN), Petra Melounova (WTEN), Dalton Solbrig (MVB), Clare-Marie Anderson (WVB), Erika Pauley (WWP).
 
Previous Bonham Award Winners
 	Male                            Female
2017    Kupono Fey, men's volleyball    Cole Brauer, sailing
2016    Kacy Johnson, swimming          Katie Spieler, beach volleyball
2015    Taylor Averill, volleyball      Genevieve Bradley, diving
                                        Shawna-Lei Kuehu, basketball
2014    Davis Rozitis, basketball       Emily Hartong, volleyball
2013    Pi'ikea Kitamura, baseball      Kelly Majam-Elms, softball,
                                        Stephanie Ricketts, basketball/softball
2012	Matt Sisto, baseball	        Kanani Danielson, volleyball
2011	Kealoha Pilares, football	Emma Friesen, diving
2010	Andreas "Andy" Weber, tennis	Aneli Cubi-Otineru, volleyball
2009	Solomon Elimimian, football	Annett Wichmann, track and field
2008	Colt Brennan, football 	        Kate Robinson, softball
2007	Mark Rodrigues, baseball	Kanoe Kamana'o, volleyball,
			                Brittany Grice, basketball
2006	Alfred Reft, volleyball		Allie Rowe, golf
2005	Chad Owens, football		Jennifer Warnock, sailing
2004	Michael Kuebler, basketball	Melissa Villaroman, volleyball
2003	Costas Theocharidis, volleyball	Kate Judd, softball
2002	Predrag Savovic, basketball	Molly O'Bryan, sailing
2001	Nerijus Puida, basketball	Andrea Nishioka, water polo
2000	Dan Robinson, football		Raylene Howard, basketball
1999	Michael Dartt, baseball		B.J. Itoman, basketball
1998	Naveh Milo, volleyball		Nani Cockett, basketball
1997	Carlton Oswalt, football	Angelica Ljungquist, volleyball
1996	Clint Kuboyama, football	Tania Brunton, basketball
1995	Jason Olive, volleyball		Brandi Brooks, volleyball
1994	Jarinn Akana, basketball	Melanie Azama, basketball
1993	Travis Sims, football		Daniele Haia, softball
1992	Shawn Ching, football		Heidi McElhanney, swimming
1991	Dane McArthur, football		Patti Su'a, softball
1990	Jeff Ball, baseball		Judy Mosley, basketball
1989	Amosa Amosa, football		Sandra Budd, swimming
1988	Guy Farrow, swimming		Reydan Ahuna, volleyball
1987	None		                Susan McDaniel, diving
1986	Michael Beazley, football	Susan Hlavenka, volleyball
1985	Joe Lileikis, swimming		Andrea Hawcridge, swimming
1984	None		                Rose Thomas, tennis
1983	Larry Goeas, football		Joy Minaai, tennis
1982	Brandan Kop, golf		Gillian Cooper, tennis
1981	Blane Gaison, football		None
1980	Dean Dunn-Rankin, tennis	Bonnie Gouveia, volleyball
1979	Ron Nomura, baseball		Jane Zukaitis, tennis
1978		Harris Matsushima, football
1977		Gerald Ako, baseball; Alex Kaloi, football
1976		Marilyn Moniz, women's volleyball
1975		Gene Caranza, men's gymnastics
1974		Joey Estrella, baseball
 
Note: Only one award given the first five years
 
#HawaiiAthletics

 
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Players Mentioned

Katie Spieler

#5 Katie Spieler

5' 5"
Senior
Cole  Brauer

Cole Brauer

5' 2"
Senior
Kupono Fey

#21 Kupono Fey

OH
6' 5"
Senior
Kellsie Gleason

#28 Kellsie Gleason

F
6' 0"
Senior
Gibson Johnson

#21 Gibson Johnson

F
6' 8"
Senior
Taylor Donohue

#33 Taylor Donohue

C
6' 3"
Sophomore
Julissa Tago

#0 Julissa Tago

G
5' 9"
Sophomore
Jonas Gutzat

Jonas Gutzat

FR
6' 1"
Senior
Adam Kealiher

Adam Kealiher

FR
6' 1"
Senior
Tahna Lindquist

Tahna Lindquist

BK/IM
5' 4"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Katie Spieler

#5 Katie Spieler

5' 5"
Senior
Cole  Brauer

Cole Brauer

5' 2"
Senior
Kupono Fey

#21 Kupono Fey

6' 5"
Senior
OH
Kellsie Gleason

#28 Kellsie Gleason

6' 0"
Senior
F
Gibson Johnson

#21 Gibson Johnson

6' 8"
Senior
F
Taylor Donohue

#33 Taylor Donohue

6' 3"
Sophomore
C
Julissa Tago

#0 Julissa Tago

5' 9"
Sophomore
G
Jonas Gutzat

Jonas Gutzat

6' 1"
Senior
FR
Adam Kealiher

Adam Kealiher

6' 1"
Senior
FR
Tahna Lindquist

Tahna Lindquist

5' 4"
Junior
BK/IM