COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Track & Field freshmen Justyn Loper and Faith Novess have been tabbed the 2019-20 UCCS Department of Athletics Male and Female Freshman of the Year.  The award is given to the top male and female freshman student-athletes who have made a significant impact for their program.  This week, the UCCS Department of Athletics announced all five major awards for 2019-20 (see below for the complete list). 
 
From Debeque, Colo., Faith Novess made a splash for the Mountain Lions in her first indoor track and field season.  She recorded personal best marks in her final meet of the season, winning the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference High Jump title with a jump of 1.72m (5-7.75) and taking sixth overall in the Pentathlon with 3,177 points.  Her 13 team points helped UCCS win their second RMAC Indoor Track & Field Championship in three years.  Novess' first place mark in the High Jump earned her 2020 All-RMAC First Team, United States Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Top Regional Performer, and 2020 USTFCCCA All-South Central Region honors while qualifying her for the 2020 NCAA Division II Championship meet.  In seven meets this season, Novess finished in the Top 10 six times.
 
A native of Fayetteville, Ga., Justyn Loper quickly put his name in the UCCS record book.  In just his fifth meet in a Mountain Lions uniform, Loper broke the school record in the Weight Throw, recording a NCAA provisional toss of 18.77m (61-7), marking the 24^th best throw in Division II.  One week later at the RMAC Indoor Track & Field Championship meet, Loper won the Weight Throw event after heaving a throw 18.09 meters (59-4.25) to earn All-RMAC First Team accolades and 10 points.  He added two more points after finishing seventh in the Shot Put with a personal best mark of 14.91m (48-11).  Loper's 12 points went toward the Mountain Lions 157.66 team points and the programs first ever RMAC Track & Field Championship title.  UCCS won the title by more than 50 points.  A 2020 USTFCCCA All-South Central Region selection in the Weight Throw, Loper won three events this past season and finished in the top 10 in nine events.
 
McLaughlin Award – Monday, April 20
Male: Matt Clarke, Baseball
Female: Alessa Muir, Soccer
 
Athlete of the Year – Tuesday, April 21
Male: Padiet Wang, Basketball
Female: Hannah Meek, Track & Field
 
Student-Athlete of the Year - Wednesday, April 22
Male: Will Ross, Track & Field
Female: Maia Austin, Track & Field
 
AD Award – Thursday, April 23
Male: Deshon Elcock, Track & Field & Daniel Silva, Baseball
Female: Alex Cook, Softball & Madison Ellis, Lacrosse
 
Freshmen of the Year – Friday, April 24
Male: Justyn Loper, Track & Field
Female: Faith Novess, Track & Field