Sullivan Award: UW volleyball star Carlini honored.
UW star wins Sullivan Award
NEW YORK - Lauren Carlini, the only four-time All-American in University of Wisconsin volleyball history, was named the 2017 AAU James E. Sullivan Award winner on Tuesday night at the New York Athletic Club.
The award is given to the most outstanding U.S. amateur athlete who also demonstrates premier leadership, character and sportsmanship. She is the first UW student-athlete to win the prestigious award as well as the first volleyball player, male or female.
“I’m honored to be a part of this group,” Carlini said of her fellow finalists during her acceptance speech. “Everyone knows them as amazing athletes, but they are even more amazing people.
“I’m honored to be the first volleyball player to win this award. I hope that this starts gaining popularity for the sport. Volleyball’s growing and gaining popularity, so I hope this kind of keeps it going.
“I hope in three years that I get what every single one of these guys (the other finalists) have, an Olympic gold medal.”
In addition to Carlini, the other finalists this year were: Kayla Harrison, judo; Laurie Hernandez, gymnastics; Ashleigh Johnson, water polo; Kyle Snyder, wrestling; Aly Raisman, gymnastics; and Ginny Thrasher, target shooting.
The Sullivan Award has been presented annually since 1930 to the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States. World renowned golfer Bobby Jones, co-founder of The Masters, received the inaugural award, and swimmer Anne Curtis became the first female winner in 1944.
Other past winners include: Dick Button – figure skating (1949), Wilma Rudolph – running (1961), Mark Spitz – swimming (1971), Bill Walton – basketball (1973), Bruce Jenner – decathlon (1976), Eric Heiden – speed skating (1980), Carl Lewis – running (1981), Jackie JoynerKersee – running (1986), Janet Evans – swimming (1989), Bonnie Blair – speedskating (1992), Dan Jansen – speedskating (1994), Peyton Manning – football (1997), Michael Phelps – swimming (2003), Tim Tebow – football (2007) and Missy Franklin – swimming (2012).
Carlini, a 6-foot-2 setter from Aurora, Ill., earned four All-America honors during her career, including three first-team accolades. She was named the 2014 Big Ten player of the year and earned four firstteam all-conference awards.
Carlini was a four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and earned Academic All-America honors in 2016.