Baylor Athletics hosted the inaugural Golden Bruiser Awards Show this April as a new take on the annual end of the year awards banquet. The awards were structured like a major awards show and spotlighted Baylor’s best and brightest and even included the student-athletes as presenters and ESPN basketball analyst, Fran Fraschilla, as the emcee.

The awards featured a mix of academic and athletic achievements, including the John Westbrook Award for Courage and Perseverance. The “B” Association established the award in 2009 in honor of John Hill Westbrook, who made history in 1966 when he broke the color barrier, becoming the first African-American to play in a Southwest Conference football game despite the racial challenges that existed during that time. The award is presented annually to one male and one female Baylor student-athlete who has overcome great personal, academic and/or emotional challenges to achieve academic success while making positive contributions to their respective teams, families, and communities.

The John Westbrook Award winners were Sahara Reiz from equestrian and King McClure from men’s basketball.

After falling off a horse, Reiz suffered a severe concussion and memory loss but went on to earn Dean’s List and APHA Honor Roll honors. “I just want to thank my teammates, coaches and athletic staff who helped me through my injury and turned it into a blessing, an opportunity to spend another year here,” she said.

Initially told that his basketball career was over when he was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a condition that affects the muscle of the heart, McClure rebounded to play the last three seasons and lead the Bears to two NCAA tournaments and this year’s NIT. He thanked God, “first and foremost,” and also to Scott Drew and the coaching staff for “everything y’all did for me. A lot of people would have given up on me and not give me this opportunity. I love y’all.”

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