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RUSTON, La. -- Louisiana Tech volleyball senior Jacie McClure and men's track and field senior Jordan Patrick were the recipients of the Presidential Awards while the Lady Techster softball team took home the Team of the Year Award at the 2018 Techspys held Wednesday night at Howard Auditorium.

The year-end "Academy Awards"-style show highlighted all the academic and athletic accomplishments of the Louisiana Tech student-athletes for the past year (the spring sports of baseball, softball, outdoor track and field, and the spring seasons for tennis and golf all fall under the 2017 season).

McClure and Patrick were honored with the Presidential Award by University President Les Guice, which is the highest honor bestowed upon a Tech student-athlete who best epitomizes what it means to be a role model Bulldog and Lady Techster. The duo were recognized for their hard work on the playing fields and in the classroom.

The Lady Techster Softball team was named the Team of the Year for their magical run to the Conference USA Tournament title and an NCAA Regional appearance last spring. Tech won 38 games and fought its way through the elimination bracket to capture the league title in Hattiesburg. A record six Lady Techsters earned all-conference honors while Mark Montgomery was named Louisiana State Coach of the Year.

The Team GPA Award went to the Lady Techster cross country team while the SAAC Award (Community Service) was awarded to the Lady Techster basketball team. The inaugural Tenets of Tech Award was given to the student-athletes in each program that best exemplify the 12 guiding principles that exemplify the qualities that Tech students should possess upon graduating from this institution.

The inaugural Tenets of Tech recipients were: Jonathan Barnes (Football), Jacobi Boykins (Men's Basketball), Sonia Chen (Tennis), Hayden Frederick (Golf), Monica Gebler (Soccer), Kent Hasler (Baseball), Kacie Kaufman (Women's T&F), Sarah McComic (Bowling), Alexus Malone (Women's Basketball), Marta Monne (Volleyball), Jordan Patrick (Men's T&F), Boston Scott (Football) and Katie Smith (Softball).

In the individual categories, Nate Harris (baseball) and Chloe Lautric (women's track and field) took home the Male and Female Athlete of the Year. Nate Harris (baseball) and Krystal De La Cruz (softball) earned the Male and Female Performance of the Year. Amik Robertson (football) and Kaitlyn Eder (bowling) were the recipients of the Male and Female Freshmen of the Year. Jaqwis Dancy (football) and Nomvula Kgoale (soccer) won the Male and Female Plays of the Year through a fan vote.

Bulldog basketball senior Joniah White was the recipient of the Courage Award. White missed the vast majority of the 2015-16 season after experiencing heart issues called tacachardia episodes. These ultimately led to a surgical procedure in May of 2016 to install an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (IC) as a precaution for his ventricular tachycardia diagnosis. After playing with this condition for a few seasons, White made the difficult decision to forgo the final few months of his career after an on-the-court episode in early February, citing his long-term health and future.

For than 40 student-athletes were also recognized for the Conference USA Academic Medal honors.

2018 TECHSPY AWARDS WINNERS

MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Nate Harris (Baseball) -- earned Conference USA Pitcher of the Year Award, first team all-Conference and was one of 25 semifinalists for the Golden Spikes Award after a season that saw him lead the league with 8 wins, 8 saves and a 1.75 earned run average.

FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Chloe Lautric (Track and Field) -- ended the track and field season with three first place finishes, while also finishing in the top five in all eight events she competed in during her junior season. She qualified for the NCAA regionals with a second place finish in the high jump at the C-USA Outdoor championships, earning all-Conference honors.

MALE PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR: Nate Harris (Baseball) -- tossed a complete-game shutout in a 6-0 victory over Conference USA rival Rice, allowing only three hits while striking out six batters.

FEMALE PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR: Krystal De La Cruz (Softball) -- pitched a complete-game two-hit shutout striking out five and leading the Lady Techsters to a 1-0 win over FIU in the championship game of the C-USA Tournament in Hattiesburg.

MALE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Amik Robertson (Football) -- earned Freshman All-American honors leading the Bulldogs with five interceptions, six pass break ups and was third on the team with 62 total tackles.

FEMALE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Kaitlyn Eder (Bowling) -- propelled the bowling team to its first ever national ranking, earning NTCA honorable mention All-American honors and the NTCA Rookie of the Year as well as a spot on the Team USA junior national team.

MALE PLAY OF THE YEAR (Fan Vote): Jaqwis Dancy (Football) -- scored on a 4-yard TD run against Northwestern State, completing his remarkable comeback from Stage 3 Hodgkens Lymphoma. The TD was the first of his career and came less than a year after being diagnosed with life threatening disease.

FEMALE PLAY OF THE YEAR (Fan Vote): Nomvula Kgoale (Soccer) -- Down 1-0 early to Middle Tennessee, senior Nomvula Kgoale stepped up in the 13th minute and took a free kick from 25 yards out, bending it perfectly over the wall and into the upper-left corner of the net to equalize.

COURAGE AWARD: Joniah White (Men's Basketball)

SAAC AWARD (Community Service): Women's Basketball

GPA AWARD: Women's Cross Country

PRESIDENTIAL AWARD (MALE): Jordan Patrick (Track and Field) -- Four-time C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll (2015-17), C-USA Academic Medalist (2015), C-USA Spirit of Service Award (2016)

PRESIDENTIAL AWARD (FEMALE): Jacie McClure (Volleyball) -- CoSIDA Academic All-America D1 Volleyball 1st Team, Conference USA Fall Spirit of Service Award winner, Three-time Conference USA All-Academic Team, Four-time C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll, Four-time C-USA Academic Medalist

TEAM OF THE YEAR: Softball - Won the programs first Conference USA championship and made its first NCAA Regional since 2008. Head coach Mark Montgomery and Co. captured the West Division title, and entered the CUSA Tournament as the 3 seed and fought its way through the elimination bracket to defeat FIU 1-0 in the title game. Tech traveled to Rhodes Stadium for the Tuscaloosa Regional, defeating Albany before falling twice to No. 1 ranked Minnesota, including an extra inning game. 38 wins and a program record six players earned all-conference. Mark Montgomery was State Coach of the Year.

TENETS OF TECH AWARD RECIPIENTS: Jonathan Barnes (Football), Jacobi Boykins (Men's Basketball), Sonia Chen (Tennis), Hayden Frederick (Golf), Monica Gebler (Soccer), Kent Hasler (Baseball), Kacie Kaufman (Women's T&F), Sarah McComic (Bowling), Alexus Malone (Women's Basketball), Marta Monne (Volleyball), Jordan Patrick (Men's T&F), Boston Scott (Football), Katie Smith (Softball)