Northwestern University Athletics

Alex Olah Pound the Rock Award

Wildcats Hand Out Summer Workout Awards

7/31/2015 10:07:00 AM | Men's Basketball

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern wrapped up summer workouts on Friday, July 31 with a spirited session at Welsh-Ryan Arena. After spending time on the floor, the Wildcats shared a meal together in the Stadium Club and the coaching staff handed out end-of-summer awards.

Northwestern Assistant Director for Sports Performance Mike Schweigert introduced the morning's first award, the coveted Swolly Grail. In its third year, the Swolly Grail is bestowed upon the men's basketball player who accomplishes big things in the Sports Performance area. Demps exhibited the talent and fortitude throughout the spring and summer to claim the Swolly Grail. 

Director of Player Development Ryan Humphrey handed out the second award of the morning, the IGB belt. I.G.B. stands for `I Get Buckets' and the winner was decided by an on-going shooting competition throughout summer workouts. After a final test that was judged by the coaching staff, Demps took home his second award of the morning as the winner of the IGB Belt. By winning the award, Demps became the first player to earn all three program awards introduced by Coach Collins as he was awarded the "Pound the Rock" award last summer.

Since Collins arrived in April 2013, the Wildcats have adopted the mantra of "Pound The Rock." The Wildcats have a rock in the locker room, and beneath it a quote from Jacob A. Riis. The quote reads, "When nothing seems to help, I go look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that blow that did it, but all that had gone before."

Head Coach Chris Collins presented Friday's final honor: the Pound The Rock award. The winner of this award is someone who embodies that mantra day in and day out, both on and off the court. The winner of the second Pound the Rock award was rising senior Alex Olah.

Click here to see a photo gallery from Friday's workout and presentation of awards. 
 

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