In this edition of the Alligator Awards, we debate which UF senior was the best of the 2016-17 season. Sports writers Mari Faiello, Andrew Huang and Morgan McMullen join alligatorSports editors Dylan Dixon and Jake Dreilinger in a roundtable discussion to debate the five nominees. Debates will go in alphabetical order by the writer’s last name.
Dixon: Gourley was UF’s ace in the hole this season
It’s easy to overlook someone like Delanie Gourley.
She played alongside a teammate in Kelly Barnhill who was arguably the best player in all of college softball this year, leading the NCAA in both ERA and strikeouts per seven innings pitched.
But make no mistake about it, Gourley was as dominant as anyone in 2017.
The Lakeside, California, native’s statline featured a 0.71 ERA, a 22-4 record, 254 strikeouts, 17 complete games and two saves.
Hot damn. Those are video game numbers right there.
Gourley did everything for her team this season, mowing down batters left and right. Like Barnhill, she finished near the top of the nation in several statistical categories: hits allowed per seven innings pitched (third), ERA (fourth) and shutouts (fourth).
And as the stage got brighter, Gourley only got better. In 39.2 innings of work in the NCAA Tournament, the left-hander allowed just three earned runs and 16 hits while striking out a whopping 56 batters. Her strong postseason play helped lead Florida all the way to the Women’s College World Series Finals, where it eventually lost to the Oklahoma Sooners in two games.
Despite failing to finish her final season with a national championship, Gourley couldn’t have had a better year at UF. Hands down, she was the best senior in Gainesville during 2016-17.
Dreilinger: Woolcock served championship effort
I looked at every choice for Florida’s best senior of 2016-17 and only one stood out from the rest.
Only one had the honor of being named the top-female athlete in her sport. And only one was both a national champion and a runner-up in the ensuing individual singles tournament.
If you haven’t figured out who I’m talking about yet, you obviously weren’t actively following UF sports this summer.
The athlete I picked, the one who undoubtedly was Florida’s best senior this season, is none other than the women’s tennis player hailing from Melbourne, Australia: Belinda Woolcock.
The incredible season she had speaks for itself.
Woolcock was the Gators No.1 singles player in every match she competed in, meaning she was constantly matched up against some of the top players in the country. And she won most of them, boasting a 16-6 overall record.
And then, of course, there was helping her team win a national title, one of three Florida sports this year to do so. After that, she played in the NCAA Individual Singles Tournament, where she finished runner-up.
But what’s even more impressive is the fact that she played in 14 singles and doubles matches over an 11-day span in the postseason.
Find one athlete in this roundtable discussion that came even close to doing that.
To top everything off, Woolcock received the Honda Award, which is given to the best female college athlete in 12 different sports.
Again, name one other person in this roundtable that boasts that kind of resume.
I’ll wait.
Faiello: Holston killed her senior season in more ways than one
It’s tough being a senior athlete and having everyone look up to you, but it’s even harder when you’re the only one on the team. Alex Holston finished off her final season with the Gators taking away multiple honors and leaving a legacy.
The right side attacker from Olney, Maryland, started off her career back in 2013 and was recognized for her leadership on the court as a freshman when she received the SEC Freshman of the Week award twice.
Holston continued her hard work throughout the years and finished with a bang her senior season. Some of her accomplishments include leading the Gators in kills per set for the third straight year and posting double-digit kills in 23 matches.
One of her best matches this season was against Arkansas back in November. Holston notched a season high of 24 kills. Overall, she totaled 172 digs, 104 sets played, 402 kills and 69 block assists this season.
Holston leaves UF ranked ninth in program history in kills per set (3.40) fifth in kills (1506) and career points (1712.0). Some of her career highs include 29 kills at Texas (2014), .727 hitting percentage at Alabama (2013) and 15 digs against Florida State (2015).
In addition to her SEC honors during her freshman season, Holston acquired four AVCA All-American awards, four All-SEC awards, SEC Player of the Year (2014) and four AVCA All-Southeast Region awards.
While Holston’s volleyball career might have ended at UF, there’s no doubt that she helped the program in major ways over the past four years. Her senior season truly showed that she is the best senior of the 2016-17 season by her leadership and accomplishments.
Huang: Williams achieved greatness in her final campaign
It’s always a shame when great players are stuck on losing teams. We saw it this past season with Markelle Fultz in Washington, Carmelo Anthony in New York and Ronni Williams right here in Gainesville.
It can be hard to remain focused and motivated while being charged with carrying a team on your shoulders—but Ronni Williams, the superstar senior, did it anyways.
It’s hard to lead the conference in scoring—she did it anyways.
Statistically, there is less than a one percent chance that a women's college basketball player gets drafted into WNBA.
She did it anyways.
Williams, the 22nd pick in the 2017 WNBA Draft, saved her best for last.
In her final season, she set career highs in scoring, assists, field goal percentage, free throw percentage, minutes played, games started, and she tied her career rebounding average from her junior year.
Williams led the team in points, rebounds and games started and finished second in assists, free throw shooting and field goal percentage.
Without her across-the-board presence, it’s hard to imagine what this year's 2016-17 team would have looked like.
Despite missing the postseason, Williams was selected to the All-SEC First Team and was listed as an Honorable Mention for the 2017 WBCA All-America Team.
Efforts like her 43-point, 14-rebound takeover against Vanderbilt, her nine double-doubles, and leading Florida in scoring for the third consecutive season made up for disappointing team results.
The hard truth is that one player can only do so much in sports.
What Ronni Williams can do, however, is claim the title of Best Senior.
McMullen: Torres played to her full potential
When it comes to being a leader who has the most significant impact on your team, no other senior came close to Maria Torres.
Torres paced the Gators all year, coming in either first or second on the team in every tournament besides the NCAA Regionals, where she came in third. She had the most under-par rounds of any other golfer by far, and she did it on a team with three other Gators in the top 55 of the world amateur rankings.
Individually, nobody was able to compare to Torres in 2016-17. She led the team in top-10 finishes (7), individual wins (3) and stroke average (71.71). That average is the lowest in school history, breaking the record previously held by…Maria Torres in 2016.
Stats are great, but awards grant validation. And her trophy case is practically overflowing: 2017 First Team All-American, First Team All-SEC, three-time SEC Golfer of the Week, SEC Academic Honor Roll… what I’m getting at is that the lady can ball out.
Torres was the first UF player to win the Gator Invitational individual title in nine years, and she did so in stunning fashion. She shot a career- and event-best 4 under for the third round and an event-best 5 under for the tournament. Torres beat the then-No. 1-ranked amateur in the world, Leona Maguire of Duke, by two strokes. It would’ve been three if not for a birdie on 18 in the final round.
This woman deserves everything that comes her way as a result of her hard work. Next award on the mantle: Alligator Award for Best Senior. Make it happen, folks.
Who do you think was the best senior at UF in the 2016-17 season? Vote online at alligator.org/sports.
Ronni Williams prepares to shoot a free throw during Florida's 57-53 win against Arkansas on Feb. 9, 2017, at the O'Connell Center.
