Holmes, Kocian Named Tom Hansen Medal Winners
June 11, 2020 | Football, Gymnastics, Bruin Athletics
SAN FRANCISCO โ Darnay Holmes and Madison Kocian of UCLA have been named 2019-20 Pac-12 Tom Hansen Conference Medal recipients, the conference announced Thursday.
A Conference Medal is awarded annually to each member institution's outstanding senior male and female student-athlete based on the exhibition of the greatest combination of performance and achievement in scholarship, athletics and leadership.
Holmes was a stalwart in the football program's defensive backfield, starting 33 of his 35 games played over three seasons. He led the team in interceptions at the end of each campaign, totaling eight. Holmes twice returned interceptions for touchdowns and added a kickoff-return score. He earned Honorable Mention acclaim from the Pac-12 in 2018 and 2019. Holmes was selected by the New York Giants in the fourth round of April's NFL draft.
Off the field, the African American studies major has qualified for the UCLA Athletic Director's Honor Roll four times (Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Fall 2019 and Winter 2020). Holmes, a native of Pasadena, Calif. and graduate of Calabasas HS, has also given back to the communities that helped shape him. The Darnay Holmes Mentorship Program, part of The Future Elite Academy in Westlake Village, Calif., helps guide young people through obstacles on their athletic journeys. He was also fundamental in bringing the Pasadena Giants youth football program to his hometown.
Kocian became just the second female gymnast to win NCAA, World and Olympic championships when the Bruins captured the team title during her sophomore season. Individually, Kocian achieved All-American status seven times. She was a standout on uneven bars, where she turned in two career perfect 10s and registered a 9.9375 to aid her team's dramatic comeback at the 2018 NCAA championships.
The psychology major has also garnered a plethora of academic awards, capped by her selection as Pac-12 Gymnastics Scholar-Athlete of the Year in March. Kocian has earned Scholastic All-America accolades three times from the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association and also collected three Pac-12 All-Academic honors. The UCLA Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year boasts a 3.846 GPA and has qualified for the AD's Honor Roll each quarter since she enrolled. Kocian also served as the team representative in the UCLA Student-Athlete Mentor program and expanded her influence as a NEGU All-Star Ambassador and member of the Positive Coaching Alliance.
Conference medal winners have been named every year since the 1960-61 academic year. In 2009, the Pac 12 renamed the award the Tom Hansen Conference Medal in honor of Hansen, who retired at the end of June 2009 after serving for 26 years as Commissioner of the Pac-10.
2019-20 PAC-12 TOM HANSEN CONFERENCE MEDAL WINNERS
Arizona โ Stone Gettings, Basketball; Tatum Waggoner, Track & Field
Arizona State โ Tanner Hall, Wrestling; Robbi Ryan, Basketball
California โ Simon Lekressner, Soccer; Abbey Weitzell, Swimming & Diving
Colorado โ Joe Klecker, Cross Country & Track; Jalen (J.J.) Tompkins, Soccer
Oregon โ Justin Herbert, Football; Satou Sabally, Basketball
Oregon State โ Tres Tinkle, Basketball; Mikayla Pivec, Basketball
Stanford โ Tanner Beason, Soccer; Morgan Hentz, Volleyball
UCLA โ Darnay Holmes, Football; Madison Kocian, Gymnastics
USC โ Henry Fusaro, Swimming & Diving; Louise Hansson, Swimming
Utah โ Terrell Burgess, Football; Guro Jordheim, Skiing
Washington โ Kasey French, Soccer; Kara Bajema, Volleyball & Beach Volleyball
Washington State โ Anthony Gordon, Football; Morgan Weaver, Soccer
Players Mentioned
