The Lander Athletics Department held its annual banquet on Monday evening, April 15, at Finis Horne Arena. The event honored the University's student-athletes for their 2023-24 school year accomplishments. Student-athletes, administrators, coaches, and special guests attended the event, which featured a special awards ceremony with presentations, and video features.
Jackson Bryant, a graduate baseball player from Anderson, S.C., received the Dr. Boyce M. Grier Award as the Lander student-athlete who best exemplifies sportsmanship, integrity, pride in the University, and a positive attitude. Bryant has been a five-year member of the baseball team and a Graduate Assistant for the Athletic Communications department.
David Hunsberger, a sophomore from Duncan, S.C., received the M.V. Wells Award given annually to the Lander Male Athlete of the Year. Hunsberger finished the season 33-1, becoming a two-time All-American and winning the program's second individual National Championship.
WyKira Johnson-Kelly, a graduate women's basketball player from Franklinville, N.J., received the Dr. Samuel C. Hodges Award as the Female Athlete of the Year. Johnson-Kelly was named the Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year, led the conference in scoring with 17.6 points per game, and ended the season just six points shy of 500. She was also fourth in the conference in assists (3.7) and second in steals with 2.5. She did all of this playing the most minutes of any player in the PBC with 946. She was also in the top ten in the region in PPG and steals.
The men's soccer team received the Bell/Williams Award, given annually to the team with the overall highest ranking based on team winning percentage, grade point average, and campus and community involvement. The award was established in 2007 to honor two long-serving University employees, Cheryl Bell, former women's tennis coach, and former Associate Athletic Director/SWA, and Betty Williams, former Faculty Athletic Representative.
Team Awards:
|
Sport |
MVP |
Academic |
Sportsmanship |
|
Women's Soccer |
Kara Yandle |
Kaitlyn Quinn |
Korina Byland |
|
Men's Soccer |
Christian Hatley |
Robert Dymond |
Julien Sagnol |
|
Women's Cross Country |
Madeline Beal |
Katie Lea |
|
|
Men's Cross Country |
Zander Allen |
Ethan Waites |
Ethan Waites |
|
Volleyball |
Katie Miller |
Ellyn Adams |
Kamaria Curry |
|
Men's Basketball |
Inady Legiste |
Jaylen Dibble |
Connor McKay |
|
Women's Basketball |
WyKira Johnson-Kelly |
Cory Santoro |
Quadaija Langley |
|
Women's Golf |
Kajsa Lindqvust |
Elizabeth Bradley |
Ella Nilsson |
|
Men's Golf |
Linus Jonsson |
Linus Jonsson |
Gaston Edberg |
|
Women's Tennis |
Hannah Panchal |
Hannah Panchal |
Shea Connelly |
|
Men's Tennis |
Hugo Regner |
Ishmail ElShafei |
Ludvig Danielsson |
|
Softball |
Abbie Behe |
Olivia Veidt |
Rylee Omahen |
|
Baseball |
Ethan Wilder |
Joshua Grant |
Chris Manriquez |
|
Cheer |
Morgan Davis |
Mary Young |
Kristen Davis |
|
Dance |
Lillie McCloy |
Lauren Guthrie |
Lauren Guthrie |
|
Men's Rugby |
Bradford McCaslan |
Rolland Muzeyal |
Asher Johnson |
|
Women's Rugby |
Bailey Burt |
Kaylynn Hambry |
Alli Davis |
|
Acrobatics and Tumbling |
Ryann Swope |
Rhianna Philcox |
Laney Carrell |
|
Men's Lacrosse |
Nolan Oakey |
Nicholas Paige |
Carter Wilcox |
|
Women's Lacrosse |
Izzy Olson |
Jenna Paolozzi |
Gabby Cantarella |
|
Wrestling |
David Hunsberger |
Randall Meyers |
Jack Tangen |
|
Bass Fishing |
Anderson Jones |
Parker Lambert |
Andrew Blanton |
|
E-Sports |
Joseph Skapin |
Daniel Kitts |
Daniel Kitts |
|
Women's Track & Field |
Angellyn Hyde |
Angellyn Hyde |
Kadence Livingston |
|
Men's Track & Field |
Payton Brock |
Matthew Peach |
Aljalon Jackson |
|
Equestrian |
Laci Newsom |
Audrey Poltorak |
Maddison Mullaney |
|
Field Hockey |
Isabel Elenga |
Isaebl Elenga |
Victoria Hulst |
Special Awards
Play of the Year: Field Hockey's goal with :01 left to defeat UMO in the semifinals
Performance of the Year: Ella Nilsson's Hole in One at UNG Tournament
Best Celebration: Women's basketball vs GSW half court buzzer beater
Male Freshman of the Year: Juan Carlos Rodriguez - Men's Soccer
Female Freshman of the Year: Lauren Dow - Volleyball
Male Breakout Athlete of the Year: Juan Edmond Holmes - Wrestling
Female Breakout Athlete of the Year: Olivia Dow - Volleyball
Iron Bearcat Female: Anna Beth Baker - Women's Lacrosse
Iron Bearcat Male: Ethan Richardson - Men's Rugby
Iron Bearcat Team: Baseball