MANKATO, Minn. --- Following a vote by Minnesota State coaches and staff members, senior
Sam Morton has received the Don Buchanan Award as Minnesota State's most well-rounded senior male athlete.
Morton is the seventh Maverick men's hockey player to receive the award joining Shane Joseph (2003-04), Steven Johns (2004-05), Rylan Galiardi (2010-11), Joe Schiller (2011-12), Dylan Margonari (2015-16) and
Brendan Furry (2022-23).
Hailing from Lafayette, Colo., Morton boasted a 3.79 GPA as an undergrad majoring in psychology. He also owns a 4.0 GPA as he is working towards his master's degree in industrial/organizational psychology. Morton has been named to the CCHA All-Academic Team twice and a CCHA Scholar Athlete twice. He is also a three-time Krampade All-American Scholar.
In total, Morton played in 102 games for the Mavericks during his four seasons. He tallied 44 goals and 32 assists for 76 career points. As a sophomore he was named to the NCAA Frozen Four Team and scored a goal in the NCAA Championship game vs. Denver. Morton has also been named the CCHA Forward of the Week three times in his career.
As a senior, Morton was named a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. He was also named the CCHA Forward of the Year and the CCHA Player of the Year as he led the team and CCHA in goals with 24 and points with 34.
Others nominated for the award include
Carter Aguilera (Men's Track & Field),
Jacob Daulton (Football),
Ben Laffen (Men's Golf),
Tanner Maier (Men's Cross Country),
Max Schwabe (Wrestling) and
Ryan Wickman (Baseball).
| Don Buchanan Award |
|
|
| Year |
Recipient |
Sport(s) |
|
| 1996-97 |
David Kruse |
Basketball |
|
| 1997-98 |
Joey Keillor |
Cross Country/Track & field |
| 1998-99 |
Travis Shives |
Wrestling |
|
| 1999-00 |
Eric Van Kley |
Wrestling |
|
| 2000-01 |
Dewey Reilly |
Football |
|
| 2001-02 |
Jay Larson |
Basketball |
|
| 2002-03 |
Chris Murphy |
Wrestling |
|
| 2003-04 |
Jon Dierks |
Wrestling |
|
| 2003-04 |
Shane Joseph |
Hockey |
|
| 2004-05 |
Steven Johns |
Hockey |
|
| 2005-06 |
Mathias Bitz |
Wrestling |
|
| 2005-06 |
Scott Fikstal |
Cross country/Track & Field |
| 2006-07 |
Luke Anderson |
Basketball |
|
| 2007-08 |
Jason Rhoten |
Wrestling |
|
| 2008-09 |
John Putman |
Wrestling |
|
| 2009-10 |
Brady Wilson |
Wrestling |
|
| 2010-11 |
Rylan Galiardi |
Hockey |
|
| 2011-12 |
Joe Schiller |
Hockey |
|
| 2012-13 |
Ben Keller |
Baseball |
|
| 2013-14 |
Sam Brockshus |
Football |
|
| 2014-15 |
Josh Meeker |
Football |
|
| 2015-16 |
Dylan Margonari |
Hockey |
|
| 2016-17 |
Adam Cooling |
Wrestling |
|
| 2017-18 |
Jake Porter |
Football |
|
| 2018-19 |
John Schuster |
Track & Field |
|
|
| 2021-22 |
Trevor Turriff |
Wrestling |
|
| 2022-23 |
Brendan Furry |
Hockey |
|
| 2023-24 |
Sam Morton |
Hockey |
