All-Time Newcomer of the Year Award Winners | Female Finalists | Follow @IlliniAthletics

Seven men have been selected as finalists for the 2017 Fighting Illini Male Newcomer of the Year, presented annually by the University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics (DIA). The group was honored at the annual OSKEE Awards April 24 at State Farm Center. The winner will be voted on by Fighting Illini head coaches and a DIA awards committee and announced on Wednesday, June 14. 

Male Newcomer of the Year Finalists

Freshman Jon Davis – Track & Cross Country
Freshman Michael Feagles – Golf
Freshman Aleks Kovacevic – Tennis
Freshman Michael Massey – Baseball
Senior Hardy Nickerson – Football
Freshman Travis Piotrowski – Wrestling
Freshman Sebastian Quiana – Gymnastics

Finalist Bios

JON DAVIS | Track & Cross Country • Earned Second-Team All-America honors in the 5,000 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, placing 16th overall • First Illini freshman to qualify for nationals in the 5,000m since the Regional format was introduced in 2003 • Ran the second-fastest 5K in Illinois history during the outdoor season, clocking 13:49.55 at the Mt. SAC relays • Finished fifth in the 1,500 meters at the Big Ten Indoor Championships • Helped the Illini qualify for their first NCAA Cross Country Championships in 30 years, earning All-Midwest Region honors with a 17th place finish

MICHAEL FEAGLES | Golf • Big Ten Freshman of the Year • First-Team All-Big Ten selection • Made the Illini lineup in every tournament of the season, ranking fourth on the team with a 73.11 stroke average • Recorded 10 top-25 finishes in 13 tournaments, including four top-five individual finishes • Shot a career-best 54-hole tournament score of 10-under-par 206 to place fourth at the Lone Star Invitational

ALEKS KOVACEVIC | Tennis • Led all Illini freshmen with a 23-9 record in singles, including a 10-1 mark against Big Ten opponents • Went 14-12 in doubles play, playing primarily at No. 1 or 2 doubles • Recorded the clinching point in Illinois' 4-3 comeback win over No. 10 Oklahoma State in the NCAA Second Round • Clinched the Illini's win over Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinal • Earned first win over nationally ranked opponent, defeating No. 99 Michael Genender of Stanford, 6-3, 6-2 (March 27)

MICHAEL MASSEY | Baseball • Freshman All-America Team by Collegiate Baseball • Big Ten All-Freshman Team and Third-Team All-Big Ten selection • Top freshman in the Big Ten in hits (69), and led all conference second basemen in batting average during league play (.354) • Hit .330 on the season with 12 doubles, six home runs and 36 RBIs • Started all 51 games at second base, recording a .977 fielding percentage

HARDY NICKERSON | Football • Graduate transfer from the University of California • Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection • Started all 12 games at linebacker, leading the Illini with 107 tackles • Fourth in the Big Ten in tackles per game (8.9 avg.) during the regular season • Also recorded 5.5 TFLs, 2.0 QB sacks, 2 interceptions, 1 QB hurry and 1 fumble recovery

TRAVIS PIOTROWSKI | Wrestling • First Illini true freshman to qualify for the NCAA Championships since 2011 • Compiled a record of 19-15 on the season • Placed fourth at the Big Ten Championships at 125 pounds, going 4-2 despite entering the tournament unseeded • Went 1-2 at the NCAA Championships • Won four matches on the season against ranked opponents, including two at the Big Ten Championships

SEBASTIAN QUIANA | Gymnastics • Competed in floor exercise in every meet of the season, including the NCAA Championships • Placed fifth on floor at the Big Ten Championships • Posted season-high score of 14.950 to win floor title vs. Ohio State (March 24) • Big Ten Freshman of the Week (March 6) • Also competed on vault and parallel bars during the season