Lights.

Camera.

ESPEAYS.

Gone were the round tables, pallid decor and interminable staging of previous end-of-year awards banquets at Austin Peay State University. In their stead was a whole new look to honor the best and brightest at Austin Peay as its athletics department hosted the Inaugural ESPEAY Awards.

As our countdown rolls on, we'll recognize many of the standout student-athletes honored on this historic night, which brought to the forefront not only our athletic achievements but those who went above and beyond outside the field of competition as well. Austin Peay athletics owes a huge debt of gratitude to the family of Joe and Cathi Maynard, who helped make this night possible.

Highlights included:

• Emcee Brian Rives' imitation of Chris Laskowski.
• Carpool Karaoke.
• The first AP Govs Cup, awarded to Austin Peay soccer, for their combination of athletic and academic achievement, community service and attendance at Austin Peay sporting events.
• Brady Dorris, who earned the inaugural Governors Spirit Award.
• The top academic honors were bestowed on women's tennis player Brittney Covington (Female Scholar Athlete of the Year), men's cross country runner Martin Rejman (Male Scholar Athlete of the Year), women's distance runner Unjala Lester (Perkins Freeman Academic Achievement Award) and women's basketball player Falon Baker (Perkins Freeman Academic Achievement Scholarship).

2016-17 Top 10

No. 10 – Austin Peay claims OVC Institutional Sportsmanship Honor