Video | Pros vs. Joes (MBB/MSOC)
Video | Pros vs. Joes (WTEN/Softball)
Video | Pros vs. Joes (Swim/Football)
Video | Pros vs. Joes (WLAX/WGOLF)
Video | Taste Buds (Volleyball)
Video | Taste Buds (WBB)
Video | Taste Buds (Track & Field)
Video | Taste Buds (Tennis)
Video | Wingate War
Video | Red Carpet Show
Gallery | Red Carpet & Winners
Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University held its seventh 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 100 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.
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 – Hannah Givens, Volleyball
After collecting 97 kills in her first three seasons, Givens piled up 304 kills as a senior. She earned All-SAC and All-Region honors, finishing second on the team and fifth in the SAC with 3.01 kills per set. She led all outside hitters in the league in hitting percentage, while also earning a spot on the All-Region Tournament team, helping the 'Dogs win their fifth region championship in nine years.
Other Nominees
Jordan Floyd, SB
Sophie Jendrzejczyk, WSOC
Teliyah Jeter, WBB
Male Breakthrough Athlete – Jed Bryant, Baseball
After hitting .227 with two homers and three RBI in his freshman season, Bryant has piled up 18 homers and 53 RBI as a sophomore. The first team All-SAC honoree leads the league and ranks fourth in the nation in homers, while ranking second in the conference in RBI, third in total bases and sixth in slugging percentage.
Other Nominees
Nate Evans, MSOC
Dominic Piazza, MLAX
JT Stokes, FB
Female Freshman of the Year – Camilla Ciaccia, Women's Tennis
Ciaccia has a team-best 18 singles victories for the SAC champion Bulldogs. She is 18-1 overall, going 10-0 in league play while picking up wins at three, four, five and six singles. Ciaccia has played a huge role on the top-ranked team in the region and 10
th-ranked team in the nation. Ciaccia has lost just one set in singles play this year, while adding an 11-3 record in doubles play.
Other Nominees
McKenna DeLong, WSOC
Sammi Jo Loney, SB
Anna Miram, WSWIM
Becca Ruiz, WLAX
Male Freshman of the Year – Nijere Peoples, Football
Peoples was named the SAC Offensive Freshman of the year, while earning first team All-SAC honors. The All-Region selection led the SAC with 14 rushing touchdowns, ranking second in the league with 100.3 rushing yards per game. Peoples had five games of over 130 rushing yards, while going for 239 yards and five touchdowns in the victory at Limestone.
Other Nominees
Alex Cordero, MLAX
Jarren Cottingham, MBB
Tolunay Sumer, MTEN
Adam Tulloch, BSB
Darius Weathers, MTF
Newcomer of the Year - Frankie Johnson, Men's Basketball
Johnson earned honorable mention All-SAC honors in his first season at Wingate. He led the SAC in steals per game and assist-turnover ratio, while ranking second in the league in assists. Johnson was third on the team with 11.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per contest. His 11-point, 14-rebound, 11-assist game against Mars Hill was the first triple-double in the Brian Good era.
Other Nominees
Yannick Koehnen, MGOLF
Alisa Rudenko, WTEN
Alexa Sells, SB
Best Championship Performance - Isaiah Kyle, Men's Track & Field
Kyle won the first national title in the history of Wingate Track and Field. The senior won the national championship at the 2019 NCAA Division II Indoor championships. He cleared both 2.15 and 2.18 meters in his first attempt to clinch the title. The senior earned All-American honors for the seventh time in his career.
Other Nominees
Daniel Belsito, MTEN
Phoebe Havenaar, VB
Diana McDonald, WGOLF
Michela Verpelli, WTEN
Vanisha Wilshire, WTRACK
Geddings Award (Best Overall Student-Athlete) - Anna Holmquist, Volleyball / Sydney Homan, Women's Tennis
Holmquist was named the 2018 SAC Scholar-Athlete and earned second team Academic All-America honors. She was a third team AVCA All-American in 2017, while also earning the SAC Elite 20 Award. The senior earned the Fulbright Scholarship in April, while also earning a $10,000 postgraduate scholarship. An All-SAC and All-Region middle blocker in her career, Holmquist broke the SAC record in hitting percentage as a junior. She has a 3.94 GPA, majoring in Political Science. Holmquist is a part of the Wingate Honors Program and earned the Outstanding Student in Political Science Award. An academic tutor and research assistant with a political science professor, Holmquist was also a volunteer at the health/civic awareness festival with the Inspector General of Child Welfare of Nebraska. She is a peer mentor for Gateway 101 and a volunteer at Lincoln Lighthouse.
Homan earned second team Academic All-American honors in 2018 and was the national winner of the prestigious ITA Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award in 2018. The 2018 SAC Elite 20 Award winner, Homan is a three-time ITA Scholar-Athlete honoree. She is 54-12 in her singles career, going 28-3 in league play. Homan also has 54 career doubles victories. She has a 4.0 GPA, majoring in Exercise Science. The Alpha Xi Delta Slaymaker Kinsey Award winner for highest cumulative GPA, Homan went on a mission trip to Haiti last summer. She volunteers at tennis clinics and wheelchair basketball programs. She also volunteers at nursing homes and has worked with the Autism Speaks fundraiser.
Other Nominees
Chris Birozes, FB
Niklas Martin, MSWIM
Female Athlete of the Year - Rachel Alles, Volleyball
Alles was named the SAC Player of the Year in 2018, while also earning Region Player of the Year accolades from the AVCA and D2CCA. An AVCA second team All-American, Alles led the SAC and region in assists per set, finishing second on the team in digs and blocks. She ran a Wingate offense that ranked fourth in the nation in kills and assists, while also leading the SAC and region in hitting percentage.
Other Nominees
Mind Puangcharoen, WGOLF
Aubrey Reep, SB
Michela Verpelli, WTEN
Kendall Wells, WLAX
Vanisha Wilshire, WTF
Male Athlete of the Year - Cardell Rawlings, Football
Rawlings was named the 2018 SAC Defensive Player of the Year. The senior was also the consensus Region 2 Defensive Player of the Year. Rawlings earned first team All-American honors from four publications, while becoming the first Bulldog ever to earn All-American accolades from five publications. He ranked fourth in the nation with a school-record 18 sacks, while ranking eighth nationally with 23 tackles for loss.
Other Nominees
Daniel Belsito, MTEN
Marco Haskins, MBB
Isaiah Kyle, MTF
Alex Llerandi, MLAX
Giacomo Viazzo, MSWIM
Play of the Year - Charlie Hovasse game-winner at LMU (SAC Tournament)
With the SAC Tournament quarterfinals tied in the final seconds, Wingate and Lincoln Memorial were tied. Marco Haskins found Charlie Hovasse cutting to the basket, where he converted the game-winning layup in the final second to knock out the defending champs.
Other Nominees
Cordero save/ Moran goal (MLAX)
Zanardi goal against Concord (WSOC)
Swenson walk-off homer (SB)
Evans OT game-winner (MSOC)
Louallen punt block & TD (FB)
McNeely walk-off 2-run single (BSB)
Holmquist kill vs. USC Aiken (VB)
Game of the Year - Volleyball vs. USC Aiken (NCAA Region Title Match)
Wingate swept past USC Aiken in the region title match in front of a packed house in Cuddy Arena, winning its fifth region championship in nine years. Back-to-back Sophie Schaff kills gave the 'Dogs the 25-23 set one win. Wingate used a late 6-2 run to pull away for a 25-20 win in set two. The back-and-forth 3rd set ended with a Hannah Givens kill & USCA error giving WU the 27-25 win.
Other Nominees
Men's Basketball vs. LMU
Women's Basketball vs. Clayton State
Men's Tennis vs. #19 Queens
Women's Tennis vs. #17 Tusculum
Men's Lacrosse at #14 Queens
Best Upset - Football at #10 West Georgia (NCAA Play-Offs)
Wingate started the playoffs with a 41-31 victory at #10 West Georgia, handing the Wolves just their second loss of the season. The second play-off win in program history was the first over a ranked team. It was also Wingate's first victory over a top-10 team since 2004. Shaw Crocker hit Jalen Brooks for a 40-yard touchdown to give the Bulldogs a 27-17 lead in the third quarter. West Georgia got back within three in the fourth, but Dom McNeill scored from 20 yards out with 4:44 to go to put the 'Dogs on top by 10.
Other Nominees
Women's Basketball vs. #11 C-N
Men's Tennis vs. #5 Lander
Baseball at #5 Catawba
Women's Tennis vs. #6 Columbus State
Best Comeback - Women's Basketball vs. Tusculum (SAC Tournament Quarterfinals)
Wingate trailed 41-33 with seven minutes left in the SAC Tournament quarterfinals, but closed the game on a 20-6 run. Caroline Averette's bucket with 4:46 left got Wingate within two, while a pair of Teliyah Jeter blocks kept the Pioneers scoreless. Jeter scored with 3:17 left to tie it, while back-to-back threes gave Wingate a 47-44 advantage. Averette, Robinson and Jordan Quick went 6-6 at the free throw line in the final 30 seconds to ice it.
Other Nominees
Volleyball at Mars Hill
Baseball vs. Erskine
Women's Team of the Year - Volleyball
The Bulldogs won the SAC regular season and tournament titles. Wingate went on to win the region championship for the fifth time in nine years, advancing to the NCAA national quarterfinals. The Bulldogs went 32-2 overall and 19-1 in the SAC, leading the nation in winning percentage. Wingate had five All-SAC players, four All-Region honorees, a pair of All-Americans and the SAC and Region Player of the Year.
Other Nominees
Women's Basketball
Women's Swimming
Women's Tennis
Men's Team of the Year - Tennis
The Bulldogs are 19-4 on the year, going 19-2 in league play. Wingate won the SAC regular season and tournament titles for the second straight year, ranking as high as fifth in the nation, the highest in program history. The 'Dogs have eight victories over ranked opponents. All six starters earned All-SAC honors, adding the SAC Freshman of the Year and Coach of the Year. The Daniel Belsito/Josep Canyadell doubles team is ranked third in the nation.
Other Nominees
Football
Men's Swimming
Men's Lacrosse
Spirit Award - Arion Pierre, Women's Lacrosse
The spirit award recognizes an athlete that has dedicated at least three years of excellent service to the institution, community and the athletic department. Their spirit for Wingate is seen on and off the field. Nominees for this award show outstanding passion for Wingate athletics, are visible all over campus at sporting events and represent the Bulldog blue & gold with heart and pride.
Wounded Bulldog Award - Johnathon Black, Football
Other Nominees
Sam Hogan, Softball
Stefanie Guizar Diaz, Women's Golf
Wyatt Weiseman, Men's Lacrosse
TEAM AWARD WINNERS
Men's Cross Country
MVP: Micah Kipchumba
Find A Way Award: Justin Todd
Women's Cross Country
MVP: Lauryn Tumey
Find A Way Award: Abby Jeske
Men's Soccer
Offensive MVP: Nate Evans
Defensive MVP: Pablo Jara
Women's Soccer
MVP: Chandler Hendrix
Team Player Award: Morgan Whitesides
Volleyball
MVP: Kori Adams
Coaches Award: Sophie Schaff
Football
Offensive MVP: J.T. Stokes
Defensive MVP: Cardell Rawlings
Athletic Training
Best Overall Athletic Training Student: Avery Baker
Best Academic Senior Athletic Trainer: Kimmi Moore
Cheerleading
MVP: Jamiah Nash
Most Dedicated Award: Kali Snell
Men's Swimming
Norman Family Most Valuable Swimmer: Giacomo Viazzo
Kevin Polansky Live Life, Love Life Award: Daniel Brisuda
Women's Swimming
Norman Family Most Valuable Swimmer: Anna Miram
Bridget Beth Melvin Award: Charlotte Knippenberg
Men's Basketball
Offensive MVP: Marco Haskins
Defensive MVP: Frankie Johnson
Women's Basketball
Most Outstanding Player: Caroline Averette
Every Day, Everywhere Award: Taylor Helms
Baseball
Pitcher of the Year: Austin Turgeon
Player of the Year: Jed Bryant
Softball
Player of the Year: Aubrey Reep
Pitcher of the Year: Rachel Weidner
Men's Lacrosse
Offensive MVP: Alex Llerandi
Defensive MVP: Sean Moran
Women's Lacrosse
Offensive MVP: Kendall Wells
Defensive MVP: Arion Pierre
Men's Golf
MVP: Tim Bombosch
Coaches Award: Yannick Koehnen
Women's Golf
MVP: Mind Puangcharoen
ACE Award: Sam Fritzinger
Men's Tennis
MVP: Daniel Belsito
Coaches Award: Christian Della Cioppa
Women's Tennis
MVP: Claudia De Andreis
Coaches Award: Sydney Homan
Men's Track and Field
Field Performer of the Year: Isaiah Kyle
Field Performer of the Year: Elliot Zirwas
Women's Track and Field
Track Performer of the Year: Justice Reeves
Field Performer of the Year: Vanisha Wilshire
Athletic Communications
Athletic Communications MVP: Ally Quesinberry
Sports Network MVP: Kyle Brodt
