Huntingdon Athletics Celebrates Annual Athletic Awards Presentation
MONTGOMERY,Ala.- On April 17th, 2024, Huntingdon's Athletic Department hosted their annual Athletic Awards Presentation. Hosted by the college's SAAC(Student Athlete Advisory Committee), this presentation serves to recognize our student athletes and coaches for all of their hard work throughout the school year.
The night began with Director of Athletics Eric Levanda introducing the two emcees for the night, Seth Killam and Cam Reed. Seth is a senior on the Hawks baseball team and Cam is a senior in the men's tennis program.
The two emcees kicked off the awards with the announcement of the inaugural Esports award winners.
The Esports Individual Performance of the year winner went to: Keylan Dellsperger(not pictured)
The Esports Team Performance of the year went to: Valorant against Arkansas State- Mountain Home (not pictured)
The Esports Scholar athlete of the year went to: Trey Reeser
The Esports Team of the year award went to: Rocket League A(not pictured)
The Esports Athlete of the year award went to: Reagan Dorsey(not pictured)
Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Performance Charlie Goodyear followed next with his awards recognizing his hard working students and interns.
On behalf of the Sports Medicine Department, Physical Therapist Dustin Watson presented the male and female comeback player of the year awards following Coach Goodyear.
The female comeback player of the year award winner was: Brooke Cooper of the softball program.
The Male comeback player of the year award was presented to Casey Peppers of the football team
Next, the Department recognized two of the graduating members of the Presidential Scholars Sports Media and Marketing program for their dedication to Huntingdon Athletics, Thomas Gibbons and Sam Moore(not pictured).
Associate Director of Athletics Courtney Harville followed with the presentation of the SAAC Outstanding Male and Female Senior Awards.
The Outstanding Female Senior Award winner was: Caroline Foote- Beach Volleyball
The Outstanding Male Senior Award winner was: Seth Killam- Baseball
After Harville's presentation, the emcees turned it over to student presenters for the 18 Department voted on awards. The award winners and nominees are below.
Female Sport Good Works Team Award
Award Winner: Softball
The team volunteered with the Montgomery Humane Shelter 4 times, the Montgomery Boys and Girls Club, Habitat for Humanity, Montgomery Food Bank, laid pine straw on the campus, and welcomed elementary students back to school on the first day at Garrett Elementary
Other nominees: Basketball
Male Sport Good Works Team Award
Award Winner: Basketball
The team, led by coach Zac Richards, launched "Let's read with Coach Z", encouraging students from Bear Exploration Center, Chisholm Elementary, Blount Elementary, Baldwin Arts and Academic Magnet School, Wares Ferry Road Elementary School, and Brewbaker School to achieve their reading goals.
Other nominees: Football
Megan Cooke Sportsmanship Award
Award Winner: Caroline Culbertson- golf
The junior won the award after being named to the USA South All-Sportsmanship team and serving as the team captain. Other coaches complement her character and describe her as being a great golfer to be paired with
Other nominees:
Cassidy Campbell- basketball
Caroline Foote- beach volleyball
Emma Thomas- wrestling
Joslyn Dahlberg- soccer
Eva Ellenburg- indoor volleyball
John McWilliams Sportsmanship Award
Award Winner: Christion Curry- wrestling
Christion won the award after being a practice partner for four years and only competing with the team this past season. He has never missed a practice, lift, or class.
Other nominees:
Austin Linville- basketball
Kelcey Marston- Lacrosse
Lane Young- tennis
Braden Ross- soccer
Female Newcomer of the year
Award winner: Allie Roberts-softball
Allie won the award as she currently is 15-3 in the circle for the Hawks, ranking in the top three in the CCS and NCAA in strikeouts
Other nominees:
Molly Wilson- indoor volleyball
Anaely Almeida- soccer
Shelby Fugate- wrestling
Briana Stuckey- basketball
Mary Charles Davis- golf
Taji Williams- tennis
Trinity Treadway- track and field
Raya Carpenter- wrestling
Lydia Hitchcock- beach volleyball
Male Newcomer of the year
Award Winner: BJ Brown- basketball
BJ won rookie of the year this past season in the CCS, finishing third in DIII in assists
Other nominees:
Rory Gilroy- track and field
Lawson Pearson- tennis
Cole Humphrey- golf
Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Award Winners: Bea Lindquist- Beach volleyball and Brooke Stefankiewicz- softball
Both seniors, Bea holds a 3.96 GPA as an exercise science major while Brooke holds a 3.97 GPA as a communications major
Other nominees:
Cassidy Campbell
Eva Ellenburg
Male Scholar-Athlete of the year
Award Winner: Nate Johns- basketball
Nate holds a 4.0 GPA majoring in Biochemistry
Other nominees:
Jack Burr- golf
Tyler England- football
Jack Haury- wrestling
Lane Young- tennis
Carter Wysong- soccer
Mac Brooks- XC and track and field
Female Student-Athlete of the year
Award winner: Jordan Holman- softball
Jordan won the award being nationally ranked in RBI's, doubles, and hits while being named to the NFCA player of the year watchlist
Other nominees:
Shelby Fugate- wrestling
Kate Smith- XC and track and field
Briana McGruder- basketball
Raya Carpenter- wrestling
Madison Tryon- soccer
Ashlen Janowski- indoor and beach volleyball
Male Student-Athlete of the Year
Award Winner: Jack Haury-wrestling
Jack became the first wrestler in program history to break 100 wins for their career and has placed twice at regionals
Other nominees:
Jack Burr- golf
Max Gardner- basketball
Casey Peppers- football
Caden Howard- track and field
Female Single game performance of the year
Award winner: Allie Roberts- softball
In a 5-2 win against Denison, Allie threw 17 strikeouts against 32 batters in seven innings
Other nominees:
Libby Williams- soccer
Eva Ellenburg- volleyball
Briana McGruder- basketball
Mary Charles Davis- golf
Kate Smith- cross country
Male Single Game performance of the year
Award Winners: BJ Brown-basketball and Zackery Coker- golf
BJ earned a triple double with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in a road win against Piedmont while Zackery shot 11 under par to win the Savannah Invitational against seven top-10 teams
Other nominees:
Mac Brooks- cross country
Cody Hall- soccer
Zach Cox- tennis
Jacob Clark-wrestling
Kelcey Marston- lacrosse
Female sport Play of the year
Award winner: Briana McGruder- basketball
Bri got an offensive rebound with three seconds left and got fouled in a home game against Piedmont. She made one of two free throws to put Huntingdon ahead 57-56 and secured the defensive rebound on the other end to close the game
Other nominees:
Jordan Holman- softball
Male Sport play of the year
Award Winner: Zack Coker- golf
At the Jekyll Island Invitational, Zack got a hole-in-one on the 15th hole in the third round
Other nominees:
Tate Reynolds and Varian Carty- soccer
Tyler England- football
Myles Johnson- basketball
Female Sport win of the year
Award Winner: Cross Country
The Hawks won their first meet in program history at the Hawk 5k Invitational against multiple NAIA and JUCO teams
Other nominees:
Softball at #6 Berry
Golf at the Chick-Fil-A Invitational
Basketball at Maryville
Soccer at Birmingham-Southern
Male Sport Win of the Year
Award Winner: Golf
The Hawks won the Tiger Invitational in Pinehurst, North Carolina, defeating five top-10 teams, including the #1 team in the country
Other nominees:
Basketball at Belhaven
Wrestling against #18 Milikin
Football vs Birmingham-Southern
Soccer vs Warren Wilson
Female Coach of the year
Award Winner: Casey Chrietzberg-softball
Softball is 30-4 overall and is ranked #9 in the nation, the highest in program history
Other nominees:
Ashley Crane- golf
Lillian Humphries- wrestling
Charlie Lane Coach of the Year
Award Winner: Dave Schreyer- golf (not pictured)
Huntingdon golf is ranked #6 in the nation and has had three individual victories at tournaments this season.
Huntingdon Athletics would like to thank all of our student-athletes for their hard work this year.