Iowa's wave tradition was one of many heartwarming stories to come out of the past year in sports.
Sure, game-winning plays and record-breaking performances are easy to remember. But there are plenty of moments that transcend the outcome on the playing field that are worth another look.
The 2017 calendar year was chock full of feel-good moments across college athletics. With 2018 just around the corner, it's time to revisit some of the most memorable examples that are sure to bring a smile to your face.
An emotional Senior Day for Drake's Jacob Enevold
Things got a little dusty in the Knapp Center for Senior Day as Jacob's parents surprised him by coming in from Denmark
— Drake Basketball (@DrakeBulldogsMB)
It's a long way from Lunderskov, Denmark to Des Moines, Iowa. But the parents of former Drake basketball player Jacob Enevold made the 4,300-mile trek for an unforgettable Senior Day surprise. As Enevold was being honored before Drake's home game on Feb. 25 of last season, the center's parents caught him off guard when they walked onto the court to join in the festivities. Enevold's reaction was priceless.
A sibling reunion at Sacred Heart
Surprise visits from family members are always special, as was the case in February when former Sacred Heart women's hockey player Teagan Ketchum was reunited with brother Trevor for the first time in 14 months due to his deployment. Lined up with her teammates before a game against Franklin Pierce, Teagan was shocked to see Trevor walk out of the tunnel to perform a ceremonial puck drop. It doesn't get better than this.
Eron Harris enters one last time for Sparty
What a beautiful moment as 's Eron Harris goes out the right way on senior day.
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports)
Michigan State's Eron Harris did not expect to see any game action for his Senior Day last Feb. 26, considering his season-ending knee injury left him in a bulky brace. But in the final minute of an 84-74 upset over Wisconsin, coach Tom Izzo called a timeout and inserted Harris into the game to a thunderous ovation from fans. As fans stood to acknowledge Harris' MSU career, he lowered himself down to the ground to kiss the half-court Spartans logo.
Karnowski gets to play in front of father at Final Four
Przemek Karnowski's father traveled 6,000 miles from Poland to watch his son's Gonzaga squad advance to title game:
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness)
One special figure was in attendance last April in Phoenix to see former Gonzaga star Przemek Karnowski celebrate a trip to the program's first national championship game. Bonifacy Karnowski, Przemek's father, traveled nearly 6,000 miles from Poland to Phoenix to see his son score 13 points as the Bulldogs put away South Carolina 77-73 in the semifinals. “I’m very happy. It’s a great moment for Gonzaga, for Przemek, for Polish supporters, because Polish television make a direct transmission from here. The whole country is watching. First time in history,” Bonifacy told our Mike Lopresti.
Ohio State superfan scores special TD in spring game
Attention, national writers looking for a best moment of spring football:
— Brent Yarina (@BTNBrentYarina)
It's this, courtesy of .
Ohio State fan Jacob Jarvis, 17, had the play of the day during the Buckeyes' spring game last April. Jarvis, who suffers from muscular dystrophy, has served as an inspiration to his beloved Buckeyes since 2014-15, the same season that OSU took home the CFP trophy. His involvement in the program was on full display in front of the 80,000 fans in attendance for Ohio State's 2017 spring game. For the final play of the day, Jarvis entered the game, received a handoff from J.T. Barrett and coasted into the end zone for a Scarlet touchdown. The whole team then rallied around him to celebrate for one of the top moments of the spring.
Nebraska spring game reunites family
After ten months away from home, welcome Home Staff Sergeant Hawke.
— Nebraska Football (@HuskerFBNation)
Spring game surprises did not end in Columbus. Over in Lincoln, Nebraska, the Cornhuskers took part in Staff sergeant Matthew Hawke's special reunion with his wife and kids after he served 10 months in Afghanistan. Hawke suited up in a Nebraska jersey, pads and helmet and walked to midfield to participate in the coin toss, where his family served as honorary officials. Hawke then took off his helmet and reconnected with his family in a touching moment.
An unforgettable first pitch for Arizona
.'s Ashleigh Hughes got an incredible surprise before her game in Tucson
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network)
Arizona softball player Ashleigh Hughes was treated with a similar surprise moments before an April 21 home game against Oregon. Her brother Raynard, a senior airman who Ashleigh hadn't seen in two years, walked onto the field to deliver the first pitch. The two embraced in the pitcher's circle before the Wildcats took the field in a 2-0 win. These types of moments never get old.
BC's Cortez wins it for her father
"She should be America's star." We agree, ! Tatiana Cortez made it to !
— BC Softball (@BC_Softball)
This story's straight out of a Hollywood script, or so it seems. Former BC softball player Tatiana Cortez closed out her Senior Day last May with a dramatic walk-off homer against NC State. Meanwhile, her father, a Houston police officer, was 1,600 miles away in a hospital recovering from a gunshot wound that he suffered two months prior. While Ronny, Tatiana's father, couldn't be in attendance, more than 100 Boston-area police officers showed up for support, along with her mother. "I don’t think I’ve ever given my mom a bigger hug. An emotional hug. I still get goosebumps thinking about it,” she told Lopresti.
Oklahoma rounds bases with moms after huge win
Steele Walker, JB Olson and Connor Berry round the bases with their moms following OU's walk-off win
— Ryan Aber (@ryaber)
Oklahoma baseball's Steele Walker, JB Olson and Connor Berry gave their mothers a very special Mother's Day present on May 14 following a big win over Big 12 rival TCU. The day started with Austin O'Brien securing a Sooners win with a game-winning single over the then-No. 6 Horned Frogs. To celebrate, the trio of Sooners invited their moms onto the field to round the bases with them. What a great gift.
Barnes fulfills promise to attend Ford's graduation
Rick Barnes came back to to watch TJ Ford graduate 15 years after he first stepped on campus. Watch this emotional exchange:
— Chris Tavarez (@ChrisTavarez)
Former Wooden Award winner T.J. Ford went down as a Longhorns legend for his two years in Austin. Now, he's officially a graduate from the University of Texas. Fourteen years after leaving early for the NBA, Ford walked at UT's 2017 graduation in May with a degree in applied learning and development. And former coach Rick Barnes, now coaching Tennessee, was in attendance. "I'm so happy for him. Proud is an understatement, but he deserves it more than anybody," said an emotional Barnes after the ceremony.
Gales walks for first time after being paralyzed in 2015
Im on the way!!
— devongales (@devongales)
Former Southern wide receiver Devon Gales' football career was ended abruptly in 2015 after a kickoff collision against Georgia left him paralyzed from the waist down. But this past May, Gales made a major step in his recovery when he posted a video of him walking for the first time since the hit. Gales has continued to progress, and in August, he released another video of him playing catch with a football.
IUPUI T&F star inspires at NCAA championships
Former IUPUI track & field runner Robert Murphy made program history at last year's outdoor championships, becoming its first-ever representative on the national stage. He finished the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 22nd (9 minutes, 10.92 seconds). But the results didn't matter as much as his journey to get there. Murphy, who was diagnosed with autism a three years old, soaked in every moment of his experience at Hayward Field last June. "The whole season I was just like, 'To make it here. To make it here. To make it here.' That's pretty much all that was going through my head," he told krikya18.com's Beth Maiman.
Uncle of CSUF's Richards snags CWS keepsake
That's a special ball for Timmy Richards... His Uncle Brett manages to get it for the trophy case!
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAACWS)
Thanks to his uncle Brett, former Cal State Fullerton shortstop Timmy Richards has a memento from his time in Omaha playing in the 2017 College World Series. In the very first inning of the first game of the CWS, Richards crushed a three-run homer against Oregon State, deep into the left field stands. Meanwhile, walking around the concourse, uncle Brett caught sight of the jumbotron, featuring the teenager who caught the souvenir. He tracked down the kid and negotiated for the ball — in exchange for $100 — which he said he planned on giving Timmy after the game. "He’s a senior, he’s been playing for four years, he’s a grinder, he’s been drafted in the major leagues three times now. It’s just a great memory. It’s a special moment,” he told Lopresti.
Colleges collaborate for Hurricane Harvey relief
Hundreds of schools provided support and supplies in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.
UAB's inspirational presentation in first game back
FIRST STEPS on Legion Field! Tim Alexander promised he would WALK out when returned
— UAB (@UABNews)
It was a successful first season back on the gridiron for UAB (8-4), whose football program was temporarily disbanded from 2015-16. But perhaps the best moment of the season came before the Blazers' opening kickoff of the season. Ahead of their season opener on Sept. 2, Timothy Alexander, a 2015 UAB grad who was paralyzed in a 2006 car accident, left his wheelchair to walk and present the game ball. Alexander was a key figure in gaining support for the program's return, and witnessed a 38-7 victory in UAB's triumphant return.
USC's Jake Olson enters game vs. WMU
This is anything but a regular PAT.
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network)
Jake Olson, blind since age 12, just snapped for the first time in a live game.
Redshirt sophomore Jake Olson has been involved with the USC football program since he was 12 years old. But in the Trojans' season-opening win against Western Michigan this year, he finally got the chance to enter a game. Olson, who lost his eyesight in 2009 due to cancer, received a warm ovation from the USC faithful as Clay Helton inserted him as the long snapper on a late PAT attempt. What followed was a perfect first snap of his career in an eventual 49-31 victory.
Iowa starts new tradition waving at children's hospital
Everyone knows about "The Wave" at Iowa football games by now. Starting this year, Hawkeye fans take a moment right after the first quarter ends to turn and wave toward the new children's hospital located right next to Kinnick Stadium. Here's to hoping this tradition lasts many more seasons in Iowa City.
Ex-UT star cycles 1,098 miles in honor of Pat Summitt
If you missed my live report from the ferry on Twitter, here are some pix
— Michelle Brooke-Marciniak (@mmarciniak3)
Former Tennessee women's basketball standout Michelle Brooke-Marciniak embarked on a 1,098-bicycle marathon from Knoxville, Tennessee to Marathon, Florida back in October to support Hall of Fame coach Pat Summitt in the "Pedal for Pat" project. The project's goal is to raise money and awareness for the fight against Alzheimer's disease, which Summitt suffered from before dying in 2016. The 1,098 miles represented each of Summitt's victories as head coach of the Lady Vols. "It was really just my desire to acknowledge and appreciate a woman who made a huge difference in the world of women's sports," said Gilder days before the trip.
Yale softball fans get special roster spots
Team IMPACT is an amazing program that gives children with serious illnesses opportunities to become official members of NCAA programs. One such example this year was when siblings Hailey (six) and Edwards Greist (seven) joined Yale softball in October. Both suffer from common variable immunodeficiency, an immune disorder where children are susceptible to infections due to low antibody levels. The Greists went through typical Team IMPACT procedures, including a Draft Day ceremony, and will be regulars at Yale's practices and games this upcoming season. "They are so full of life and love. They remind our team every day that sports are supposed to be about bringing people together and the family you create through them," Yale captain Allison Skinner said.
West Florida football's Cinderella run
