March 8, 2016 – The Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission announced the official watch list for the 2016 Johnny Bench Award presented by BaseballSavings.com. Seventy-four catchers were nominated for the award by their coaches. Because the award is given annually to the top division one collegiate catcher, the list will be updated to include other candidates until May 3, 2016.
The watch list will be narrowed down to the semifinalists, whom will be announced May 18, 2016. Ballots will be sent to the national voting panel at the end of May for a vote to determine the three finalists. The finalists will be announced June 6, 2016. A final vote among the national committee will occur during the College World Series. All finalists will be brought to Wichita and the winner will be announced at the 19th Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on June 30, 2016.
“We are extremely appreciative to BaseballSavings.com and Mr. Johnny Bench for supporting this prestigious award,” stated Bob Hanson, President/CEO of the Sports Commission. “They are the ones who make all of this possible.”
2016 Johnny Bench Award presented by BaseballSavings.com Watch List
Riley Adams SO University of San Diego
Dylan Alexander JR Cal State Northridge
Bryndan Arredondo JR Lamar University
Danny Bermudez SR Western Carolina University
Ellis Bitar SO Cornell University
Ben Breazeale JR Wake Forest University
Cassidy Brown JR Loyola Marymount University
Carlos Diaz JR Jackson State University
Troy Dixon JR St. John’s University
Cody Freund SO Chicago State University
Cody Gaertner SR Ohio University
Jason Goldstein SR University of Illinois
Roger Gonzalez SR Winthrop University
Richard Greene SR Samford University
Mitchell Ho SR Western Michigan University
Chris Hudgins SO Cal State Fullerton
Lou Iannotti SR Quinnipiac University
Logan Ice JR Oregon State University
John Jennings SR University of Massachusetts
Hunter Kopycinski SR Rice University
Jake Kusz JR UNC Greensboro
Tyler Lawrence JR Murray State University
Ryan Lidge JR University of Notre Dame
Chase Livingston SR Rhode Island
Charlie Madden JR Mercer University
Elih Marrero FR Mississippi State University
Jeremy Martinez JR University of Southern California
Jon Mayer SR Bucknell University
Bryan McCafferty JR Longwood University
Matt Menard JR Baylor University
Dominic Miroglio JR University of San Francisco
Joey Morgan SO University of Washington
James Morisano SO Saint Louis University
Sean Murphy JR Wright State University
Nate Nolan JR Saint Mary’s College of California
Chris Okey JR Clemson University
Hagen Owenby SO East Tennessee State University
Arden Pabst JR Georgia Tech
Michael Papierski SO Louisiana State University
Cris Perez JR Duke University
Gunner Pollman JR Sacramento State University
Kevin Radziewicz SO Fairfield University
Cal Raleigh FR Florida State University
Jean Ramirez SR Illinois State University
Jarett Rindfleisch JR Ball State University
Joey Roach SR Georgia State University
Jake Rogers JR Tulane University
Erven Roper JR College of Charleston
Chad Roskelly SO Michigan State University
Bobby San Martin SR James Madison University
CJ Saylor JR San Diego State University
JJSchwarz SO University of Florida
Nick Sciortino JR Boston College
Hayden Senger FR Miami University
Brian Serven JR Arizona State University
Evan Skoug SO Texas Christian University
Will Smith JR University of Louisville
Deon Stafford, Jr. SO Saint Joseph’s University
Gavin Stupienski JR UNC Wilmington
Tim Susnara SO University of Oregon
Matt Thaiss JR University of Virginia
Nick Thurman SR UL Lafayette
Cameron Toole SR McNeese State University
Josh Treff SR Northeastern University
Gunnar Troutwine SO Wichita State University
Jessey Valdez SO University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Chucky Vazquez SR Lipscomb University
Woody Wallace SR University of Cincinnati
Carson Waln JR Wofford College
Jalen Washington JR Ohio State University
Travis Watkins JR East Carolina University
Harrison Wenson JR University of Michigan
Matt Whatley SO Oral Roberts University
Johnny Zubek SR Northern Illinois University
