OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (June 15, 2018) – Kentucky first baseman/catcher Troy Squires has been selected as the 2018 Senior CLASS Award® winner in baseball. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
“It’s an honor to receive the Senior CLASS Award,” said Squires, who is Kentucky’s first-ever Senior CLASS Award winner in any sport. “It may be cliché to say, but it took hard work and a lot of patience. Going from not really playing much my first years in the program to playing every day doesn’t happen overnight, and I hope young kids and prospects see that patience is key. I was fortunate enough to wear the letter of my home state across my chest during my college career, and being a kid growing up in Kentucky, that’s all you ever really want. I can’t express the amount of love and thankfulness I have toward my family for allowing me to live a dream.”
Starting all 56 games this season, Squires arrived at UK as a walk-on infielder before switching positions to catcher, remaining a walk-on throughout his career at UK. This season—his second as the team’s starting catcher—he earned National and SEC Player of the Week honors in March for his performance in a week that culminated in a series win over No. 3 Texas Tech. Selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 23rd round of the 2018 MLB Draft, Squires turned in a number of career performances this season, including knocking in five RBI in a win over South Carolina on April 7 and tying that total again on April 28 against Missouri. As a junior in 2017, he earned the attention of coaches from across the SEC, earning a spot on the All-SEC Second Team after hitting above .300 while throwing out 40 percent of base stealing attempts.
“I couldn’t think of a person more deserving of this award than Troy. The example he has set in our program won’t soon be forgotten, and we are thrilled for him and his family and proud of how he will represent the Senior CLASS Award program,” said Kentucky Head Coach Nick Mingione. “Troy embodies everything you look for in a student-athlete. He earned his undergraduate degree in four years and is on target to get his master’s. He has dedicated countless hours to serving the community. He arrived as an infielder and turned himself into an all-conference catcher through hard work and commitment. It speaks to his character, perseverance and servant’s heart.”
As dedicated as he was to making an impact on the field throughout his time at Kentucky, Squires also displayed a drive for excellence in both the classroom and community. A three-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll, Squires completed his undergraduate degree in communications and is currently pursuing a master’s in sports leadership. Widely viewed as the team leader due to his steady nature, quiet work ethic and rapport with teammates and coaches, Squires also played a positive role in the UK and Lexington communities, participating in community service programs with the UK Children’s Hospital, Bluegrass Miracle League, Hope Center, Salvation Army, Louisiana Flood Relief and more.
“We’re very pleased that Troy Squires was voted as our baseball Senior CLASS Award this season,” said Erik Miner, executive director for the Senior CLASS Award. “He has worked hard for the success he has earned, and his dedication to being a well-rounded student-athlete will continue to take him far in whatever path he chooses. Our congratulations to Troy, his team and to the University of Kentucky.”
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Senior CLASS Award First-Team All-Americans
Stephen Born, Navy
Nick Horvath, Florida
Kyle Kasser, Oregon
Troy Squires, Kentucky
Brooks Wilson, Stetson
Senior CLASS Award Second-Team All-Americans
Seth Kinker, Ohio State
Mark Osis, George Washington
Jordan Powell, Rhode Island
Scott Schreiber, Nebraska
John Valente, St. John’s
