Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University held its sixth annual WUSPYS Monday night at the Union County Agricultural Center. The idea of the WUSPYS was created by the Wingate University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Awards such as best breakthrough athlete, best championship team, best game, best championship performances and other categories were added in addition to the traditional male and female athlete of the year awards. Over 80 people voted on the WUSPYS, including head coaches, assistant coaches, athletic administrative staff members, sports medicine staff and members of the SAAC. In addition, team awards were handed out at the beginning of the show, with each team recognizing an MVP and then another award such as a Coaches Award or Newcomer of the Year. To learn more about the WUSPYS, follow @WUSPYS on Twitter or go to wingatebulldogs.com/wuspys.

Below is a breakdown, featuring the winner of each category along with the highlights of all the nominees in each category. The team awards are also listed at the bottom. 

Female Breakthrough Athlete - Caroline Averette, Women's Basketball

















After starting 4 games and averaging 9.5 points per game in 2016-17, Averette earned 2nd team All-SAC honors as a junior, starting all 32 games. She was 2nd on the team with 13.6 points per contest, hitting a team-best 49 threes on 45 percent shooting while ranking 2nd on the team with 88 assists and 47 steals. Increased her scoring by over 4 points per game while collecting 40 more assists and 20 more steals.

Other Nominees
Anna Holmquist, VB
Aubrey Reep, SB
Justice Reeves, WTRACK
Kendall Wells, WLAX

Male Breakthrough Athlete - BJ Muckelvene, Football
















BJ Muckelvene had 898 all-purpose yards as a freshman, including 291 receiving yards and 495 kick return yards while scoring two touchdowns. In 2017, the sophomore earned 2nd team All-American honors from the AFCA, piling up 1,269 all-purpose yards and 8 touchdowns. Muckelvene had 4 receiving TDs, 3 punt return touchdowns and a rushing TD. He led the SAC in punt return average, ranking second nationally with the 3 touchdowns. Muckelvene led the team with 394 rec. yards.

Other Nominees
Devarious Christian, MBB
Conor Gronbach, MLAX
McCann Mellett, BSB
Giacomo Viazzo, MSWIM

Female Freshman of the Year - Tamerah Sebree, Women's Track & Field
















Tamerah Sebree is now the school record holder in the women's 100m dash. She won the SAC Championship in the 100m with a NCAA Qualifying time of 11.92 seconds. She was also SAC runner-up in the 200m dash and an important leg on the current NCAA top-10 ranked and SAC Champion 4x100m dash team.

Other Nominees
Clementine Archinard, WXC/TRACK
Haley Cashwell, SB
Nina Cifolilli, WLAX
Chyi Lee, WTEN

Male Freshman of the Year - Josep Canyadell, Men's Tennis

















Josep Canyadell is the SAC Freshman of the Year and second team All-SAC singles honoree for the SAC regular season and tournament champion Bulldogs. He is 13-8 in singles play, picking up 8 wins at #2 singles and 4 victories at #3 singles. Canyadell went 8-2 against SAC opponents, while adding a 15-9 record in doubles play, going 7-3 in the SAC.

Other Nominees
Mattia Ditommaso, MSOC
Micah Kipchumba, MXC/TRACK
Lukas Kraft, MSWIM
Louis Rogers, FB

Geddings Award (Overall Student-Athlete) - Valerie Griesche

















Valerie Griesche was named the Cross Country SAC Scholar-Athlete in 2017. The three-time All-SAC honoree has a 4.0 GPA in Biology and was also named an Academic All-America honoree as a junior. Griesche is working with a doctor on a cancer research project. Using various experimental methods, she studied the role of the metabolic regulator AMPKa2 in cancer cells and its potential as a treatment method. Griesche presented the findings of her research on cancer cells during Wingate's Creative and Investigative Partnership Research Symposium. She has been working at the Academic Resource Center at Wingate to tutor various classes. During this year's summer break, Griesche promoted two charity organizations, UNICEF and DKHW, for 5 weeks. Griesche has participated in the United Way Day of Caring for 3 years. She helped with the Special Olympics during the spring of 2017. She visited a school in Florida through the school's Alternative Spring Break program in 2016. Griesche is also involved with Xcel 2 Fitness project.

Other Nominees
Damian Gaona, MSOC
Anna Holmquist, VB
Naomi Sapp, SB
Zack Singleton, FB

Female Athlete of the Year - Katie Bludau, Volleyball

















Katie Bludau earned SAC and Region Player of the Year honors, while becoming just the 2nd volleyball player in SAC history to earn AVCA 2nd team All-American accolades. 1st Team All-SAC and All-Region honoree led the league with a school-record 4.23 kills per set and ranked 6th in hitting percentage. She was one of only 2 players in the country to hit over .300 with at least 4.2 kills per set during the regular season.

Other Nominees
Alex Divelbiss, WSWIM
Diana McDonald, WGOLF
Marta Miscenko, WBB
Michela Verpelli, WTEN
Vanisha Wilshire, WTRACK

Male Athlete of the Year - Daniel Belsito, Men's Tennis

















Daniel Belsito was named the SAC Player of the Year, while also earning 1st team All-SAC singles and doubles honors. The sophomore is 19-2 at #1 singles, going 10-0 in league play while going 20-2 at #1 doubles, with a 10-0 SAC record. The nation's 22nd-ranked singles player, he and Josh DuToit are ranked 32nd in doubles. Has just one loss against Div. II opponents in singles and doubles play.

Other Nominees
Jon Ander, MSOC
Sebastian Holmberg, MSWIM
Zeriq Lolar, MBB
Nate Patterson, MTRACK
Lawrence Pittman, FB

Play of the Year - Women's Swimming 800 Free Relay National Championship

















The Bulldogs won the 800 Free Relay national championship for the second straight year in thrilling fashion, taking home the title as the 7 seed from lane one. Hanna Van Horen started it, followed by Abby Kosic, Maria Madsen and Alex Divelbiss.

Other Nominees
BSB: Forry walk-off homer
VB: Mather kill
FB: Bledsoe catch
WSOC: Leyble OT winner
WBB: Robinson buzzer-beater
MSOC: Ander goal
WTRACK: 4x400 SAC
SB: Swenson 3 homers
WGOLF: McDonald putt

Best Championship Performance - Vanisha Wilshire, Women's Track & Field (SAC Championships)
















All-American Vanisha Wilshire was huge in Wingate's 2nd straight SAC title, taking home 3 individual titles while being named the Field Athlete of the Year. The 2-time Southeast Region Athlete of the Year took home the title in the high jump, long jump and triple jump to lead the way for Wingate.

Other Nominees
Jon Ander, MSOC
Alex Divelbiss, WSWIM
Josh DuToit, MTEN
Sebastian Holmberg, MSWIM
Mind Puangcharoen, WGOLF

Newcomer of the Year - Michela Verpelli, Women's Tennis

















Michela Verpelli was named the SAC Player of the Year while earning first team All-SAC singles and doubles honors. She is 16-2 at #1 singles with a 10-0 record in league play. She also has 14 wins at #1 doubles, going 9-1 in league play. Verpelli is the 34th-ranked singles player in the nation, while her and Maria Garcia are the 25th-ranked doubles team.

Other Nominees
Filipe Checco, MSOC
Markus Furst, MSWIM
Marco Haskins, MBB
Mind Puangcharoen, WGOLF
Tyler Schneider, BSB

Game of the Year - Women's Track SAC Championship Meet

















The Bulldogs took home their 2nd SAC title in as many years, with the race coming down to the final event when Wingate's 4x400 relay team, seeded 7th entering the meet, won the race and clinched the title. Hannah Hinson, Clementine Archinard and Vanisha Wilshire won events on day one. Wilshire added wins in the high jump and triple jump day 2, while Wingate prevailed in the 4x100 in addition to the 4x400. Justice Reeves finished just ahead of Tamerah Sebree to win the 200m dash, while it was Sebree edging Reeves in the 100m dash. The Bulldogs added 4 more runner-up finishes on day 2 to claim the title.

Other Nominees
Football at Catawba
WSOC vs. Anderson (SAC)
MSOC vs. Queens (SAC)
WBB vs. CSU (NCAA)
WGOLF (SAC Tourney)
MTEN vs. Queens (SAC)
MLAX vs. Queens

Best Upset - Women's Basketball vs. #4 Carson-Newman

















Carson-Newman came into Cuddy Arena at 16-0 overall and ranked 4th in the country, but Wingate held one of the nation's best offenses in check in a 68-54 victory. The Eagles led 20-7 after the 1st quarter and held an 11-point halftime lead. CN led by 12 with 9 minutes left in the 4th, but the 'Dogs closed the game on a 33-7 run. A 9-0 run got WU within 3, while Caroline Averette's 3-point play tied it with 6 minutes left. Taylor Helms put the 'Dogs on top with a layup and a triple, while 4 Averette free throws made it a 10-point game with 34 seconds left. Averette scored 18 of her 23 points in the 4th quarter.

Other Nominees
MSOC vs. #21 C-N
MBB vs. #20 UNCP
BSB vs. #13 Mount Olive
WTEN vs. #13 Tusculum

Best Comeback - Volleyball vs. Carson-Newman (NCAA Tournament)

















Wingate dropped the first 2 sets in the opening round of the NCAA Tourney against Carson-Newman, trailing 2-0 before winning the 3rd and 4th set 25-20 to force a decisive 5th set. Kills from Katie Bludau and Anne Abernathy gave WU a 6-2 lead, while a Rachael Cecka kill stretched the lead to 12-5. Bludau finished the match with her career-best 21st kill of the day to send Wingate to the regional semis.

Other Nominees
MSOC vs. Clayton State
MBB at Tusculum
BSB vs. Mars Hill
MGOLF at Rendleman Inv.
SB vs. Anderson
MTEN vs. Tusculum

Women's Team of the Year - Women's Tennis

















Wingate won its 8th straight regular season SAC title while going undefeated in SAC play for the 6th straight year, pushing their historic SAC win streak to 69 matches. The 'Dogs (20-4 overall) are 2nd in the region and 12th nationally, with a chance of hosting this week's NCAA Tourney (announced Tuesday).

Other Nominees
Volleyball
Women's Basketball
Women's Swimming
Women's Golf
Women's Track & Field

Men's Team of the Year - Football

















Wingate took home its 2nd SAC title in program history in 2017, winning the 1st 9 games of the season while finishing the year 9-2 overall and 6-1 in the SAC. The Bulldogs earned their 2nd NCAA Division II playoff bid in program history, hosting a 1st-round game. WU was ranked as high as 12th nationally.

Other Nominees
Men's Soccer
Men's Swimming
Men's Tennis

Spirit Award - Hannah Givens, VB 

















Other Nominees
Ty Andrus, BSB
Arion Pierre, WLAX
Blake Hayes, FB
Marta Miscenko, WBB

Wounded Bulldog Award - Kerigan Farley, MBB 













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Other Nominees
Kori Adams, VB 
Lawrence Pittman, FB
Rachel Weidner, SB


TEAM AWARD WINNERS

Men's Cross Country
MVP: Micah Kipchumba                                                       
Find A Way Award: Nepolian Patel
 
Women's Cross Country
MVP: Madison Hiatt
MVP: Juliet Salgueiro 
 
Men's Soccer                                                                
MVP: Damian Gaona
MVP: Pablo Jara
 
Women's Soccer
Freshman of the Year: Kristen DeBiase
Teammate of the Year: Abbey Frail
 
Volleyball
MVP: Katie Bludau
Leadership Award: Kori Adams                       
 
Football
Offensive MVP: Blake Hayes
Defensive MVP: Robbie Wallace

Athletic Training
Best Overall Athletic Training Student: Danielle Wolfe
Best Academic Senior Athletic Trainer: Nate Hinderer
 
Cheerleading
MVP: Isaiah Lee                                                 
Most Dedicated Award: Donna Davis
 
Men's Swimming
MVP: Sebastian Holmberg                                                     
Scholar-Athlete Award: Giacomo Viazzo
 
Women's Swimming
MVP: Alexis Divelbiss                                                           
Bridget Beth Melvin Award: Charlotte Knippenberg
 
Men's Basketball
Offensive MVP: Zeriq Lolar
Defensive MVP: Devarious Christian
 
Women's Basketball
MVP: Marta Miscenko                                                 
Best All-Around Player: Caroline Averette
  
Baseball
MVP: Austin Turgeon
Coaches Award: Brett Branton                                   
 
Softball
MVP: Aubrey Reep
Freshman of the Year: Haley Cashwell
 
Men's Lacrosse
Offensive MVP: Conor Gronbach                                                                      
Defensive MVP: Wyatt Weiseman                               
 
Women's Lacrosse
MVP: Kendall Wells                                                     
Coaches Award: Nicole Hinkle
 
Men's Golf
MVP: Charles Joubert                                                  
Coaches Award: Philip Coles
 
Women's Golf
MVP: Diana McDonald
ACE Award: Laura Nunez Rodriguez
 
Men's Tennis               
MVP: Daniel Belsito                                                    
Coaches Award: Josh DuToit
 
Women's Tennis
MVP: Michela Verpelli                                                
Coaches Award: Marisa Ostoja      

Men's Track and Field          
Track Performer of the Year: Malcolm Reed
Field Performer of the Year: Nate Patterson
 
Women's Track and Field
Track Performer of the Year: Justice Reeves
Field Performer of the Year: Vanisha Wilshire

Athletic Media Relations
Athletic Media Relations MVP: Levi Cummings
Sports Network MVP: Megan Schildmeyer