Albuquerque, N.M. — Hugh Greenwood of the men’s basketball team and Natasha Smith of the women’s tennis team have been named the winners of the 2013-14 Tow Diehm/Leslie Self Inspiration Awards. The awards will be presented on Saturday prior to the men’s basketball games to Hugh’s family, as Hugh will not be available prior to the game. Smith will be presented her award at a later date due to an away tennis match.
Started in 1997-98, this is the 17th year the awards have been presented to a UNM male and female student-athlete based on leadership, character, determination and commitment to team. The awards are for the 2013-14 academic year. Normally announced and presented in December or January, the awards are being presented later in the year to allow Hugh’s family to accept on his behalf.
Greenwood (Hobart, Tasmania, Australia), who during the 2014-15 season started the Pink Pack to help raise awareness and monies for breast cancer research for UNM Hospitals, began raising awareness for breast cancer research during the 2013-14 season by announcing that he was growing his hair out to raise awareness for breast cancer research. He was soon joined by his teammate Cullen Neal and his head coach Craig Neal. Greenwood hasn’t cut his hair yet, keeping it long to continue to raise awareness for the Pink Pack, which has raised over $50,000 to date.
While Greenwood was beginning his quest to raise awareness, he was helping the Lobos to their third consecutive Mountain West Tournament, becoming the first player in Mountain West history to win his first nine conference tournament games.
Smith (Long Beach, California) is a transfer from the University of Utah that joined the Lobo squad last year as a junior and was thrust into a leadership role. She became a leader despite that fact that she was new to the program and was coming off a difficult sophomore year in which she won only one of her last 13 matches. As was one of two upperclassmen on a team of 10, she helped lead the young Lobo squad to the Mountain West championship game.
She served as the team captain despite being new to the squad and earned Mountain West Player of the Week honors and was regionally ranked No. 9 in doubles. Smith overcame many trills as a young teenager, but has overcome those trials to lead the Lobo tennis team and be on track to graduate.
About Tow Diehm
L.F. “Tow” Diehm served the University of New Mexico for 40 years, most of that time spent as the head athletics trainer. He was also an athletics administrator and a lobbyist for the department to the New Mexico state legislature. Tow passed away on May 1, 1998.
About Leslie Self
Leslie Self was the wife of Randy Self, who is the former President of the Lobo Club. Leslie also passed away in 1998 after a long battle with cancer.
Previous Award Winners
Tow Diehm Award
1997-98 Pepe Caballero – tennis
1998-99 Marcos White – basketball
1999-00 Daniel Reyes – football
2000-01 Brian Smith – basketball
2001-02 Jarrod Baxter – football
2002-03 Dusty Young – baseball
2003-04 Divan Coetzee – tennis
2004-05 Nick Speegle – football
2005-06 Chris Carlson – baseball; Lars Loseth – skiing/soccer
2006-07 Robb Bierbaum – golf
2007-08 Jeremy Johnson – cross country/track and field; John Sullivan – football
2008-09 Johnny Parkes – tennis
2009-10 Simon Ejdemyr – soccer; Roman Martinez – basketball
2010-11 Tor-Hakon Hellebostad – skiing
2011-12 Chris Acosta – skiing
2012-13 Mitch Garver – baseball
2013-14 Hugh Greenwood – basketball
Leslie Self Award
1997-98 Tamika Stukes – basketball
1998-99 Aimee Hites – tennis
1999-00 Nikki Heckroth – basketball
2000-01 Quinn Michie – swimming
2001-02 Kristi Larsen – golf
2002-03 Jennifer Delich – skiing
2003-04 Amanda Barnes – track and field; Cassie Chavez – softball; Nicole Overeem – swimming
2004-05 Kristen Winters – soccer
2005-06 Maja Kovacek – tennis
2006-07 Terryn Granados – soccer; Jen Hale – swimming
2007-08 Katie Coronado – track and field; Tori Clarridge – swimming
2008-09 Sarah Kwasigroch – volleyball
2009-10 Polina Ermoshina – skiing; Nanette Wittenberg – swimming
2010-11 Kelly Williamson – volleyball
2011-12 Jael Clark – soccer
2012-13 Sara Halasz – basketball
2013-14 Natasha Smith – tennis