University of Oklahoma Athletics
Oklahoma Athletics Recognized Nationally for Excellence in Creative Work
July 23, 2025 | Athletics
NORMAN — The University of Oklahoma Athletics Department earned more than 60 honors during the 2024-25 academic year for excellence in broadcast, communications, graphic design, marketing, photography and video content.
Recognitions came from top industry organizations, including College Sports Communicators (CSC), the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA), the Information Display and Entertainment Association (IDEA), the Heartland Emmys, the Shorty Awards, the Broadcast Education Association (BEA) and the Telly Awards.
Oklahoma led all schools in the CSC Creative & Digital Design Contest with 45 awards — nearly doubling its 2023-24 total. OU entries won seven categories and placed in the top three in 14 others. Awards spanned across graphic design (19), SoonerVision (15), photography (7) and communications (4).
The marketing and SoonerVision teams were also recognized by NACMA, IDEA and others. OU earned NACMA gold medals in the Sponsorship Campaign and Branded Dynamic Collateral categories. SoonerVision brought home more than 25 honors across multiple contests, including the IDEA Golden Matrix Award for Best Overall Production among all universities nationwide.
A gallery of the award-winning photos, graphics and posters can be found online.
Below is a full list of OU's award winners:
Photographer of the Year – College Sports Communicators
2nd – Morgan Givens
3rd – Brendall Vargas
Photo of the Year – College Sports Communicators
3rd – Morgan Givens (Softball WCWS: Riley Boone and Jayda Coleman)
7th – Brendall Vargas (Women's Gymnastics National Champions)
8th – Morgan Givens (Men's Basketball: Jalon Moore reaction)
9th – Morgan Givens (Women's Gymnastics: Audrey Davis balance beam)
14th – Brendall Vargas (Men's Basketball: Red River Tipoff)
Video of the Year – College Sports Communicators
4th – Michael Meek, Mizuki Sugito and Jacob Potter (SEC Schooner Roadshow)
Hype/Pre-Game Videos – College Sports Communicators
1st – Max Toperzer, Megan Byle and Theron Smith (Football intro)
2nd – Max Toperzer, Megan Byle and Luke Booker (Men's Gymnastics intro)
5th – Luke Booker (Football: Tennessee stadium intro)
6th – Luke Booker, Megan Byle and Max Toperzer (Softball intro)
7th – Luke Booker, Megan Byle, Max Toperzer and Theron Smith (Wrestling intro)
10th – Theron Smith (Football: Tennessee trailer)
13th – Theron Smith and Luke Booker (Football: Temple trailer)
Long-Form Videos/Recaps/Features – College Sports Communicators
1st – Luke Booker (Softball: South Carolina series recap)
4th – Theron Smith (Football: Auburn recap)
Short-Form Videos/Reels – College Sports Communicators
7th – Theron Smith (Men's Tennis: Arkansas recap)
8th – Michael Meek (Men's Golf: Jase Summy NCAA recap)
10th – Michael Meek (Baseball: 2024 regional win)
13th – Theron Smith (Football: R Mason Thomas mix)
Game Day Graphics – College Sports Communicators
1st – Johnny Smiley (Women's Basketball vs. DePaul)
3rd – Connor Spensley (Men's Wrestling: NCAA Championship)
5th – Johnny Smiley (Men's Basketball vs. Kentucky, SEC Tournament)
12th – Johnny Smiley (Men's Basketball vs. Georgia Tech, SEC/ACC Challenge)
Individual Awards, Milestone and Record Graphics – College Sports Communicators
15th – Sarah Yermalovich (Baseball: Kyson Witherspoon, SEC Pitcher of the Week)
18th – Johnny Smiley (Men's Basketball: Jeremiah Fears, Freshman All-SEC)
20th – Sarah Yermalovich (Volleyball: Callie Kemohah, All-Time Digs Leader)
20th – Sarah Yermalovich (Women's Gymnastics: Jordan Bowers, Honda Award Finalist)
Major Awards and Championship Graphics – College Sports Communicators
1st – Sarah Klopfer (Softball: Four-peat national champions)
Game Notes – College Sports Communicators
6th – Mike Houck, Eric Hollier and Patrick Dunn (Football)
Media Guides – College Sports Communicators
1st – Mike Houck, Eric Hollier and Sarah Klopfer (Football) – won first in four of last eight years
3rd – Brent Beerends and Johnny Smiley (Men's Basketball)
8th – Josh Poteet and Johnny Smiley (Women's Basketball)
Posters – College Sports Communicators
1st – Sarah Yermalovich (Volleyball schedule)
2nd – Sarah Klopfer (Football: Spring giveaway 2025 schedule)
4th – Sarah Klopfer (Football: 2024 schedule)
8th – Connor Spensley (Men's Gymnastics schedule)
9th – Sarah Yermalovich (Baseball schedule)
Signing Day Package – College Sports Communicators
1st – Johnny Smiley (Women's Basketball)
Special Projects – College Sports Communicators
7th – Johnny Smiley (Football: NFL contracts graphic)
10th – Johnny Smiley (Men's Basketball: Battle 4 Atlantis)
11th – Sarah Yermalovich (Baseball: SEC opening weekend)
12th – Luke Booker (Softball: Signing day motion graphic)
18th – Johnny Smiley (Women's Basketball: Jumpman Invitational)
National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators
Gold – Sponsorship Campaign: WanderFolk Spirits x OU Athletics
Gold – Branded Dynamic Collateral: SEC Schooner Roadshow
Shorty Awards
Finalist in Education and Sports – SEC Schooner Roadshow
Heartland Emmys
SEC Schooner Roadshow – Leah Beasley, Ryan Majercik, Becca Opheim, Jansen Jessop, Sellers McDaniel, Phil O'Neill, Keegan Hubbard, Tonya Gralla, Sarah Klopfer, Theron Smith, Luke Booker, Madison Plummer, Michael Meek, Mizuki Sugito, Mark Chaney, Max Toperzer, Davis Kuck, Jacob Potter, Ruf/Neks & Lil' Sis
Editor – Derek Cody
Broadcast Education Association
2nd – Carson Klingman (Sports Promotional Video: Ain't No Love in Oklahoma)
3rd – Ele Kuehn (Sports Story/Feature: OU Volleyball Recap vs Texas)
Telly Awards
Gold – Men's Gymnastics Intro Video
Gold – Unhitch the Wagon
Silver – Women's Basketball: 50th Anniversary Promo
Silver – Men's Basketball: Bedlam Recap
Silver – Volleyball Recap vs Texas
Bronze – Baseball: BYU Series Sweep
Bronze – Football 2024 Season Trailer
Information Display and Entertainment Awards
Golden Matrix Award – Best Overall In-Venue Production
Recognitions came from top industry organizations, including College Sports Communicators (CSC), the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA), the Information Display and Entertainment Association (IDEA), the Heartland Emmys, the Shorty Awards, the Broadcast Education Association (BEA) and the Telly Awards.
Oklahoma led all schools in the CSC Creative & Digital Design Contest with 45 awards — nearly doubling its 2023-24 total. OU entries won seven categories and placed in the top three in 14 others. Awards spanned across graphic design (19), SoonerVision (15), photography (7) and communications (4).
The marketing and SoonerVision teams were also recognized by NACMA, IDEA and others. OU earned NACMA gold medals in the Sponsorship Campaign and Branded Dynamic Collateral categories. SoonerVision brought home more than 25 honors across multiple contests, including the IDEA Golden Matrix Award for Best Overall Production among all universities nationwide.
A gallery of the award-winning photos, graphics and posters can be found online.
Below is a full list of OU's award winners:
Photographer of the Year – College Sports Communicators
2nd – Morgan Givens
3rd – Brendall Vargas
Photo of the Year – College Sports Communicators
3rd – Morgan Givens (Softball WCWS: Riley Boone and Jayda Coleman)
7th – Brendall Vargas (Women's Gymnastics National Champions)
8th – Morgan Givens (Men's Basketball: Jalon Moore reaction)
9th – Morgan Givens (Women's Gymnastics: Audrey Davis balance beam)
14th – Brendall Vargas (Men's Basketball: Red River Tipoff)
Video of the Year – College Sports Communicators
4th – Michael Meek, Mizuki Sugito and Jacob Potter (SEC Schooner Roadshow)
Hype/Pre-Game Videos – College Sports Communicators
1st – Max Toperzer, Megan Byle and Theron Smith (Football intro)
2nd – Max Toperzer, Megan Byle and Luke Booker (Men's Gymnastics intro)
5th – Luke Booker (Football: Tennessee stadium intro)
6th – Luke Booker, Megan Byle and Max Toperzer (Softball intro)
7th – Luke Booker, Megan Byle, Max Toperzer and Theron Smith (Wrestling intro)
10th – Theron Smith (Football: Tennessee trailer)
13th – Theron Smith and Luke Booker (Football: Temple trailer)
Long-Form Videos/Recaps/Features – College Sports Communicators
1st – Luke Booker (Softball: South Carolina series recap)
4th – Theron Smith (Football: Auburn recap)
Short-Form Videos/Reels – College Sports Communicators
7th – Theron Smith (Men's Tennis: Arkansas recap)
8th – Michael Meek (Men's Golf: Jase Summy NCAA recap)
10th – Michael Meek (Baseball: 2024 regional win)
13th – Theron Smith (Football: R Mason Thomas mix)
Game Day Graphics – College Sports Communicators
1st – Johnny Smiley (Women's Basketball vs. DePaul)
3rd – Connor Spensley (Men's Wrestling: NCAA Championship)
5th – Johnny Smiley (Men's Basketball vs. Kentucky, SEC Tournament)
12th – Johnny Smiley (Men's Basketball vs. Georgia Tech, SEC/ACC Challenge)
Individual Awards, Milestone and Record Graphics – College Sports Communicators
15th – Sarah Yermalovich (Baseball: Kyson Witherspoon, SEC Pitcher of the Week)
18th – Johnny Smiley (Men's Basketball: Jeremiah Fears, Freshman All-SEC)
20th – Sarah Yermalovich (Volleyball: Callie Kemohah, All-Time Digs Leader)
20th – Sarah Yermalovich (Women's Gymnastics: Jordan Bowers, Honda Award Finalist)
Major Awards and Championship Graphics – College Sports Communicators
1st – Sarah Klopfer (Softball: Four-peat national champions)
Game Notes – College Sports Communicators
6th – Mike Houck, Eric Hollier and Patrick Dunn (Football)
Media Guides – College Sports Communicators
1st – Mike Houck, Eric Hollier and Sarah Klopfer (Football) – won first in four of last eight years
3rd – Brent Beerends and Johnny Smiley (Men's Basketball)
8th – Josh Poteet and Johnny Smiley (Women's Basketball)
Posters – College Sports Communicators
1st – Sarah Yermalovich (Volleyball schedule)
2nd – Sarah Klopfer (Football: Spring giveaway 2025 schedule)
4th – Sarah Klopfer (Football: 2024 schedule)
8th – Connor Spensley (Men's Gymnastics schedule)
9th – Sarah Yermalovich (Baseball schedule)
Signing Day Package – College Sports Communicators
1st – Johnny Smiley (Women's Basketball)
Special Projects – College Sports Communicators
7th – Johnny Smiley (Football: NFL contracts graphic)
10th – Johnny Smiley (Men's Basketball: Battle 4 Atlantis)
11th – Sarah Yermalovich (Baseball: SEC opening weekend)
12th – Luke Booker (Softball: Signing day motion graphic)
18th – Johnny Smiley (Women's Basketball: Jumpman Invitational)
National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators
Gold – Sponsorship Campaign: WanderFolk Spirits x OU Athletics
Gold – Branded Dynamic Collateral: SEC Schooner Roadshow
Shorty Awards
Finalist in Education and Sports – SEC Schooner Roadshow
Heartland Emmys
SEC Schooner Roadshow – Leah Beasley, Ryan Majercik, Becca Opheim, Jansen Jessop, Sellers McDaniel, Phil O'Neill, Keegan Hubbard, Tonya Gralla, Sarah Klopfer, Theron Smith, Luke Booker, Madison Plummer, Michael Meek, Mizuki Sugito, Mark Chaney, Max Toperzer, Davis Kuck, Jacob Potter, Ruf/Neks & Lil' Sis
Editor – Derek Cody
Broadcast Education Association
2nd – Carson Klingman (Sports Promotional Video: Ain't No Love in Oklahoma)
3rd – Ele Kuehn (Sports Story/Feature: OU Volleyball Recap vs Texas)
Telly Awards
Gold – Men's Gymnastics Intro Video
Gold – Unhitch the Wagon
Silver – Women's Basketball: 50th Anniversary Promo
Silver – Men's Basketball: Bedlam Recap
Silver – Volleyball Recap vs Texas
Bronze – Baseball: BYU Series Sweep
Bronze – Football 2024 Season Trailer
Information Display and Entertainment Awards
Golden Matrix Award – Best Overall In-Venue Production
Sooner Sports Talk - 9/1/25
Monday, September 01
The Huddle - 9/1/25
Monday, September 01
The Huddle - 8/25/25
Monday, August 25
Joe Castiglione Press Conference
Tuesday, July 08
