SEWARD, Neb. – As voted upon at Tuesday (Feb. 5)’s Bulldog Athletic Association Member luncheon, senior Taylor Grove of the track and field program and junior Brevin Sloup of the men’s basketball program have been named the Bulldog Athletic Association Athletes of the Month of January 2019. Nominees for the monthly award are comprised of the Bulldog Athletic Association Athletes of the Week throughout that month. Recipients of the monthly awards will receive plaques from the athletic department.
Starting with the 2017-18 academic year, the Bulldog Athletic Association began naming male and female athletes of the month. Grove and Sloup are both first-time recipients of the monthly honor.
Grove, a native of Billings, Mont., has established herself as one of the GPAC’s top distance runners. A fourth-place finisher at the conference cross country championships and a national qualifier this past fall, Grove is a perfect 4-for-4 in her races this indoor track season. In other words, Grove has taken first place every time she has stepped on the track. On the current GPAC performances lists, she ranks first in both the 3,000 meters (10:48.52) and 5,000 meters (18:41.87) and third in the mile (5:29.13). Grove is the defending GPAC outdoor 10,000 meter champion and has qualified for the NAIA outdoor national championships in the marathon for the second year in a row. She was named the GPAC Track Athlete of the Week on Jan. 30. Grove and the women’s indoor track and field team are currently ranked No. 2 in the NAIA.
Sloup, a hometown Seward native, has flourished in his first season in a starting role for head coach Ben Limback’s squad. Sloup enjoyed a particularly impressive month of January that saw him average 18.2 points, 3.9 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game while posting shooting percentages of 45.8 from the field, 43.1 from 3-point range and 84.0 from the free throw line. The signature performance of the Seward High School product’s career so far came in an upset of then seventh-ranked Briar Cliff when he totaled 33 points and five assists on Jan. 12. Sloup was subsequently named the GPAC Player of the Week. During the month, he was also tabbed as a Concordia Invitational All-Tournament selection. On the season, Sloup is averaging 16.9 points and 3.4 assists while leading the GPAC in free throw percentage (.871). The Bulldog men’s basketball team owns a record of 14-13 overall.
Bulldog Athletic Association Athletes of the Month of January 2019
Male: Brevin Sloup, Basketball | Seward, Neb. | Jr.
Female: Taylor Grove, Track & Field |Billings, Mont. | Sr.
Other nominees
Male – Zack Moistner, wrestling; Michael Stann, wrestling; Mario Ybarra, wrestling
Female – Mackenzie Koepke, basketball; Leah Larson, track & field; Addie Shawn, track & field
Bulldog Athletic Association Athletes of the Month of December 2018
Male: Tanner Shuck, Basketball | Grand Island, Neb. | Jr.
Female: Philly Lammers, Basketball | Omaha, Neb. | Jr.
Other nominees
Male – Deandre Chery, wrestling; Brevin Sloup, basketball; Michael Stann, wrestling
Female – Taylor Cockerill, basketball; Taylor Grove, track & field
Bulldog Athletic Association Athletes of the Month of November 2018
Male: Alberto Garcia, Wrestling | Escondido, Calif. | Jr.
Female: Quinn Wragge, Basketball | Crofton, Neb. | Sr.
Other nominees
Male – Jack Bennett, soccer; Zac Walter, football
Female – Grace Barry, basketball; Tori Cera, soccer; Taylor Grove, track & field
Bulldog Athletic Association Athletes of the Month of October 2018
Male: Carlos Ferrer, Soccer | Tijuana, Mexico | Jr.
Female: Maria Deeter, Soccer | Seward, Neb. | Sr.
Other nominees
Male – Kordell Glause, football; Josiah McAllister, cross country; Zac Walter, football
Female – Taylor Cockerill, basketball; Jenna Habegger, volleyball; Brynn Suddeth, soccer
Bulldog Athletic Association Athletes of the Month of September 2018
Male: Ryan Durdon, Football | Decatur, Texas | Jr.
Female: Emmie Noyd, Volleyball | Shelby, Neb. | Jr.
Other nominees
Male – Roger de la Villa, soccer; Lane Napier, football; Garrett Perry, soccer; JP Verissimo, soccer.
Female – Jenna Habegger, volleyball; Marissa Hoerman, volleyball; Erin Lokke, shooting sports; Lauren Martin, soccer