Spitulski Named Giant Steps Award Finalist

Giant Steps Finalist Release

TROY, Ala. – Troy redshirt freshman Bobby Spitulski has been tabbed as a finalist for the 2019 Giant Steps Award for Courageous Student-Athletes, the Institute for Sport Social Justice announced this week.

Spitulski and his family were severely injured in a car accident last January – Bobby the worst of the group with traumatic head injuries. The doctors were unsure whether Spitulski would make it through the countless surgeries to reduce the swelling on his brain. Bobby had other plans, though, as he was able to walk out of the hospital on his own power exactly one month after the accident, defying any odds placed against him.

One battle was won for Bobby, but his journey wasn't going to stop there. He had to get back to the thing he loves most in the world – baseball. Every day for the next few months, Spitulski could be seen hitting soft-toss into a net, throwing the ball with former high school teammates or just casually exercising. Unintentionally, he was giving more and more motivation to his teammates back in Troy, that donned green "#SpitStrong" armbands all the way to the 2018 NCAA Regional.

This past fall, Bobby was able to rejoin the Troy baseball team, and made big strides through fall and spring practices. If you ask him how he's doing on any given day, whether rain, sleet, snow or hail, he'll give you the same answer – "I'm here, so I can't complain."

Giant Steps Awards are given in conjunction with National STUDENT-Athlete Day (NSAD). While we honors thousands of student-athletes for their outstanding achievements nationwide, we also recognize individuals from the world of sport on a national level.

Each year, Giant Steps Awards are given to a diverse group of individuals who have shown courage, heroism, triumph in the midst of adversity, and community activism through the power of sport. These honorees are chosen from nominations received from around the country.

This year's finalists include the following individuals:

COURAGEOUS STUDENT-ATHLETES (male):
Alex Findura – Bloomsburg University
Jake Olson – University of Southern California
Kyle Richard – SUNY Cortland
Bobby Spitulski – Troy University

Troy University Athletics

Spitulski Named Giant Steps Award Finalist

Players Mentioned

Bobby Spitulski

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