Syracuse student-athletes, coaches and administrators gathered to celebrate the department's success in 2009-10 at the fourth annual 'Cuse Awards. The ceremony took place on Thursday, April 29 at the Landmark Theatre in downtown Syracuse.

The 2010 Soladay Awards were presented to volleyball student-athlete Sarah Morton and track & field student-athlete Curtis Bixler. Morton led the nation in solo and total blocks. During her senior season she became Syracuse's career leader in solo blocks, block assists and total blocks. Morton also holds the career record in blocks per set and the single-season record for total blocks (in 2007). She was a 2009 ESPN The Magazine /CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team selection. Bixler was named to the ESPN The Magazine / CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team his junior year, when he became an NCAA Regional, IC4A and BIG EAST qualifier in the steeplechase. In 2009, he crossed the line in 9:09.43 for 11th place at his first NCAA Regional. In the previous two indoor seasons, Bixler was an IC4A and BIG EAST qualifier in the indoor 5,000-meter run. This season, Bixler will compete in his fourth BIG EAST Championship, as he owns the seventh-fastest time in the league in the steeplechase (9:07.40). Bixler is a two-time BIG EAST Academic All-Star and has earned Athletic Director's Honor Roll status every semester.

Men's lacrosse standout Jeremy Thompson won the 2010 Courage Award, presented annually to a student-athlete who has overcome a socially, economically or otherwise disadvantaged background or serious injury and, in the opinion of his or her coaches and teammates, has demonstrated uncommon bravery or highly principled behavior in the face of adversity. Moreover it is awarded to that athlete, regardless of race, color or gender, whose actions, like the actions of the men in whose honor this award is being made, both reflect these values and a commitment to sportsmanship and academic achievement. In November, 2006, the University honored the Syracuse 8, who is a group of African-American student-athletes who had the courage to stand up for their convictions. To honor these brave men and the important contributions they made in the university quest to achieve diversity and understanding, the athletic department has created the award of courage.

The 2009 men's lacrosse squad earned the Team of the Year award after winning its second consecutive national championship in 2009 with a dramatic, come-from-behind victory against Cornell in the title game. The Orange tied the school record with 16 victories, concluding the season with nine consecutive wins.

Jim Boeheim earned the Coach of the Year award. He swept national Coach of the Year honors after leading the Orange to the BIG EAST regular-season championship, after being picked to finish sixth in the league prior to the start of the season. After winning a school-record 28 regular-season games, the team was named top seed in the West region of the NCAA Tournament where it advanced to the Sweet Sixteen.

Women's lacrosse senior Christina Dove won the Female Athlete of the Year Award, while junior men's basketball standout Wes Johnson earned the Male Athlete of the Year honor. An IWLCA second-team All-American the past two seasons, Dove became the 23rd player in Division I history to score 300 points. Syracuse's all-time leading goal scorer, Dove ranks 14th on the NCAA all-time goals scored list and 18th in career points. Johnson was a consensus first-team All-American and a finalist for three different Player of the Year awards. He was named the BIG EAST Conference Player of the Year after leading the team in scoring (16.5), rebounding (8.5) and minutes-played (35.0) averages while starting all 35 games.

Amy Kee of the field hockey squad and Brandon Triche from the men's basketball team were named the Female and Male Rookies of the Year. Kee was the ECAC Rookie of the Year and earned NFHCA second-team All-America honors. An All-BIG EAST First Team honoree, Kee recorded 34 points on 12 goals and 10 assists. Triche started every game at point guard for the BIG EAST champion Orange. A member of the BIG EAST Conference All-Rookie Team and a collegeinsider.com Freshman All American, Triche averaged 8.1. points-per-game.

Eight student-athletes were recognized for their All-America honors, including Johnson, men's lacrosse standouts Matt Abbott and Kenny Nims, track & field student-athletes Bernard Bush and Uhunoma Osazuwa, women's lacrosse student-athlete Katie Rowan and cross country student-athlete Tito Medrano. Rowan, football student-athlete Jim McKenzie and cross country student-athlete Jeff Scull were honored for their academic accomplishments. Rowan and McKenzie were members of the CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team, while Scull earned the NCAA Elite 88 award.

The volleyball and tennis teams won the Grade Point Average awards for the fall and spring semesters, respectively. The football squad won the 'Cuse Cares Award for its community engagement, while the tennis team won the Spirit Award. In addition, the men's lacrosse team was recognized for earning the most NACDA Cup points.

The ice hockey squad received the Most Improved Team award. In just its second season, the Orange achieved national prominence, earning a number 10 ranking. Syracuse doubled its number of wins from its inaugural season with 18 victories and won its first post-season playoff game in program history.

Osazuwa earned the Performance of the Year after earning All-America honors in the pentathlon at the 2010 NCAA Indoor Championship, and Nims diving goal to the national championship game with 4.5 seconds remaining was named the Play of the Year. Freshman Michelle Tumolo earned the Shot of the Year award after scoring on a behind-the-back shot in the women's lacrosse team's win against Stanford, and ice hockey goalie Lucy Schoedel earned the Defensive Play of the Year for her save against Robert Morris. Tim Desko's acrobatic goal against Princeton in the Big City Classic was named the Move of the Year.

A team 'Cuse Award was presented to a member of each of Syracuse's 22 varsity squads. The 'Cuse Award in each sport is given to the student-athlete who, in the opinion of his or her teammates, best represents a major contributor to the team, provides effective leadership, exhibits good sportsmanship, demonstrates commitment to academics, understands the importance of community service and demonstrates school spirit. The sport winners included Bush (men's track & field), Osazuwa (women's track & field), Schoedel (ice hockey), Katie Hursey (women's cross country), Pat Dupont (men's cross country), Lindsey Conrad (field hockey), Ryan Bartholomew (football), Andy Rautins (men's basketball), Tyson Bry (men's rowing), Chris Daniello (men's lacrosse), Pete Hill (men's soccer), Shanetha McLaurin (volleyball), Jenna Caira (softball), Zachary Otto (spirit squad), Stephanie Lefebre (women's swimming & diving), Jakub Kotynia (men's swimming & diving), Chelsea Jones (tennis), Jackie DePetris (women's lacrosse), Tessa MacDougall (women's soccer) and Sydney Axson (women's rowing).