Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Athletic Department announced the winners of 16 WUSPYS categories Tuesday afternoon, with 17 different winners.
Nominees were announced last week and over 100 voters helped decide the winners. Voters included Wingate coaches, athletic administration and members of the WU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. For the second straight year the event was not allowed to take place in person, so winners were announced Tuesday on the WUSPYS Twitter feed, which included highlights of every nominee in every category, along with an acceptance speech from each winner. All of those videos are available below. In addition, each team has their two award winners listed at the bottom of the story. To learn more about the WUSPYS, follow
@WUSPYS on Twitter or go to
wingatebulldogs.com/wuspys.
Male Breakthrough Athlete - Adam Vodovnik, Men's Lacrosse
Adam Vodovnik
- Scored 14 goals in 2020 after scoring 4 goals in the 2019 season
- Led the nation with 61 goals in 2021, adding 14 assists for 75 points
- Had 5 more goals than any player in the nation, breaking the single-season SAC record
- All-SAC/All-Region, USA Lacrosse Magazine 3rd Team all-American; USILA Hon. Mention All-American
Other Nominees
Michael Dansky, Baseball
Andreas Wilson, Men's Basketball
Female Breakthrough Athlete - Reese Blackley, Volleyball
Reese Blackley, Volleyball
- Averaged 1.67 kills per set with a .112 hitting percentage in the 2019 season
- Led the Bulldogs with 3.14 kills per set in the 2020-21 season, hitting .226
- Earned 2nd Team All-SAC honors, leading the SAC champion Bulldogs with 110 total kills
- Had at least 8 kills in 9 of Wingate's 12 matches; double-digit kills 5 times
Other Nominees
Kayleigh Hiles, Women's Lacrosse
Jaia Wilson, Women's Basketball
Best Upset - Men's Lacrosse wins at #4 Lenoir-Rhyne
Men's Lacrosse at #4 Lenoir-Rhyne
- The 'Dogs handed the 4th-ranked Bears their only loss of the regular season, winning 16-15 in Hickory
- Wingate raced out to a 10-6 halftime lead and led 16-10 heading to the final frame
- Bobby Padden piled up 6 goals & an assist; Willie Grieco had 3 goals & 2 assists
- KC Carlson had 14 saves on the night; LR would go on to play in the NCAA D2 national title game
Other Nominees
Men's Basketball at #10 Queens
Men's Soccer at #7 Lenoir-Rhyne (SAC Title Match)
Softball at #7 Lincoln Memorial
Volleyball vs. #3 Hillsdale (AVCA Tournament)
Newcomer of the Year (Non-Freshman) - Tai Smith, Track & Field
Tai Smith, Men's Track & Field
- Smith earned 2 school records during outdoor season in the 5000 & 10,000 meters
- Earned All-SAC in the same two events, posting times of 14:28.17 (5000) and 31:36.60 (10,000)
- Helped the Bulldogs finish 2nd in the SAC Championships
- Earned USTFCCCA All-Region accolades in the 5000 & 10,000 meters
Other Nominees
Haleigh Hatfield, Women's Basketball
George Barfoot, Men's Tennis
Quin Sutphin, Volleyball
Georgina Wood, Women's Tennis
Play of the Year - Hunter Dula, Baseball
Hunter Dula walk-off RBI single on day 6 of World Series
- Facing elimination for the 3rd straight day, WU & Angelo State were tied 4-4 in the bottom of the 9th
- Wingate loaded the bases and Dula came to the plate and worked a 2-2 count with 2 outs
- The rain became too heavy to continue, causing a 3 ½ hour rain delay
- On the 1st pitch after the delay, Dula ripped the game-winning single through the right side
Other Nominees
Kendrick Tucker game-winning 3 vs. Anderson with 1 second left
Danny Riley game-winner sends WU to Final Four
Soren Nygaard game-winning goal in double overtime vs. Coker
Charles Joubert caps record week by winning in playoff
Laney McLaurin 3-run homer vs. Mars Hill in the 6th inning
Game of the Year - Wingate Baseball National Championship Game
Baseball wins 5-3 over #2 Central Missouri (National Championship Game)
- Wingate staved off elimination for the 5th time in 5 days to capture the national title
- The 'Dogs scored twice in the 3rd, but the Mules scored 3 times in the 4th to take a 3-2 lead
- RBI singles from McNeely & Christopher gave WU a 4-3 lead in the 5th; Chapman added an RBI double
- Broderson tossed 5 no-hit innings in relief, ending the game with a strikeout, leading to a dogpile
Other Nominees
Men's Lacrosse downs UIndy 10-9 to advance to Final Four
Women's Golf opens season with win at Spring Kickoff
Men's Soccer wins 2-0 at #14 Carson-Newman (SAC Tourney Semifinals)
Volleyball SAC Championship Match 5-set win over Anderson
Men's Team of the Year - Baseball
Baseball
- National champions ended season ranked #1
- Won SAC & Region Tourney title
- Finished season 39-13
- 1st baseball national title in school & SAC history
Other Nominees
Men's Lacrosse
Men's Soccer
Men's Swimming
Men's Tennis
Men's Track & Field
Women's Team of the Year - Women's Tennis
Women's Tennis
- The Bulldogs won the SAC regular season and tournament championships in 2021
- WU won their 9th regular season title in 10 years & 6th tourney championship in the same span
- Wingate went 16-2 overall and 11-0 in the SAC, moving to 103-2 in league play the last decade
- The 'Dogs finished the season ranked 13th in the final ITA poll
Women's Golf
Women's Swimming
Women's Track & Field
Volleyball
Best Championship Performance - Logan McNeely at NCAA World Series
Logan McNeely – Baseball (D2 World Series MVP)
- The catcher led all players with 12 hits in Wingate's six games
- McNeely hit .461 for the week, with at least one hit in every game and 3 multi-hit games
- He drove in 6 runs including 2 in the semifinal win and 2 more in the title game
- McNeely had 4 hits in the semis, while scoring 4 runs on the week and catching every inning
Other Nominees
Iran Almeida – Men's Swimming (5 All-American swims at NCAA Championships)
Sara Aringsmann – Women's Swimming (5 All-American swims at NCAA Championships)
Nick Bennett – Men's Soccer (SAC Tournament MVP)
Shannon Kasprak – Volleyball (SAC Tournament MVP)
Hailey McLaughlin – Women's Golf (SAC Tournament Champion)
Vanisha Wilshire – Women's Track & Field (SAC Championship Meet: 2 wins & a 3rd-place finish)
Georgina Wood – Women's Tennis (SAC Tournament MVP)
Geddings Award (Best Overall Student-Athlete) - Roy Stepanov, Men's Tennis
Roy Stepanov – Men's Tennis
- 2021 SAC Scholar-Athlete, earning 2nd Team All-SAC singles honors for SAC champs
- 4.000 GPA, majoring in Finance – WU President's List all 5 semesters at Wingate
- ITA Scholar-Athlete and 2021 SAC Elite 20 Award winner
- Went 10-3 in singles play in 2021, with a 9-0 record against SAC opponents
- NC Special Olympics volunteer/Monroe High School tennis clinic volunteer/SAAC/Day of Caring
Other Nominees
Mike DiLegge – Men's Lacrosse
Tucker Mullis – Track & Field/Football
Sophie Schaff – Volleyball
Andrew Strickland - Football
Kendall Wells – Women's Lacrosse
Male Freshman of the Year - Sam Broderson, Baseball
Sam Broderson, Baseball
- Ranked 2nd on the team with 19 appearances, going 3-1 with a save and a 2.54 ERA in 28 innings
- Piled up 38 strikeouts and allowed opponents to hit just .186 against him
- Tossed 5 no-hit innings of relief in the national title game to earn the win, allowing just 1 baserunner
- Also got the win in the SAC championship game, allowing just 1 run in 3 1/3 innings of work
Other Nominees
Nick Bennett, Men's Soccer
KC Carlson, Men's Lacrosse
Edis Nokic, Men's Tennis
Ian Leighninger – Men's Swimming
Female Freshman of the Year - Heaven Maness, Softball
Heaven Maness – Softball
- SAC Freshman of the Year, 1st Team All-SAC, 1st Team All-Region
- Led Wingate in average, doubles, triples, homers, RBI, slugging percentage & total bases
- 2nd in the SAC in average, 3rd in triples, 5th in doubles, 6th in slugging, 7th in stolen bases, 8th in RBI
- Had 15 multi-hit games and a team-best 8 multi-RBI games – reached base safely in 20 straight games
Other Nominees
Peyton Davis – Women's Basketball
Sofia Ring – Women's Golf
Mollie Scott – Track & Field
Lorna Stacherski – Volleyball
Male Athlete of the Year - Reese Orman, Men's Lacrosse
Reese Orman – Men's Lacrosse
- Consensus 1st Team All-American – USILA National Long Stick Midfielder of the Year
- Earned 1st Team All-SAC & All-Region honors for the 4th-ranked Bulldogs
- Anchored a defense that led the SAC in goals-against average during the regular season
- Led the Bulldogs with 28 caused turnovers/2nd with 68 ground balls – top 5 in SAC in both
Other Nominees
Iran Almeida – Men's Swimming
Jarren Cottingham – Men's Basketball
Enrico Giacomini – Men's Tennis
Charles Joubert - Men's Golf
Micah Kipchumba – Men's Track & Field
Brody McCullough – Baseball
Female Athlete of the Year - Sara Aringsmann, WSWIM & Shannon Kasprak, VB
Sara Aringsmann – Women's Swimming
- Piled up 5 All-American swims (2 individual/3 relay) to help WU finish 6th at NCAA championships
- Finished 5th in the 100 Free & 8th in the 200 IM; added an 11th-place showing in the 200 Free
- Part of top-5 200 Medley, 400 Medley & 400 Free Relay teams;
- She has compiled 11 All-American swims during her illustrious career
Shannon Kasprak – Volleyball
- SAC Player of the Year; 1st Team All-SAC
- Led the SAC with 10.9 assists per match; 3rd on team with 3.03 digs per set
- Ran WU offense that was 4th in nation in kills per set and 5th in hitting percentage & assists/set
- Kasprak was named the SAC Specialist of the Week 3 times in the shortened 2021 season
Other Nominees
Megan Biase – Women's Lacrosse
Heaven Maness – Softball
Hailey McLaughlin – Women's Golf
Bryanna Troutman – Women's Basketball
Vanisha Wilshire – Women's Track & Field
Bulldog Club Spirit Award - Sierra Street, 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.
Other Nominees
Anne Abernathy, VB
Christian Della Cioppa, MTEN
Soren Nygaard, MSOC
Mind Puangcharoen, WGOLF
Wounded Bulldog Award - Marianna Warren, Volleyball
This award is voted on by the Wingate Sports Medicine Team
Other Nominees
Nina Cifolilli, WLAX
Sirod Cook, Football
Caroline Peters, WSOC
Haskins Awards (Senior with top GPA) - Kelley Jones, WSWIM & Roy Stepanov, MTEN
2020-21 TEAM AWARDS
Volleyball Team Awards
MVP - Shannon Kasprak
Most Improved Player Award - Reese Blackley
Men's Soccer Team Awards
MVP - Devin Scully
Coaches Award - Jens Bergendorff
Women's Soccer Team Awards
Offensive MVP - McKenna DeLong
Defensive MVP - Kristen DeBiase
Men's Cross Country Team Awards
MVP - Tai Smith
Rookie of the Year Award - Bastian Mrochen
Women's Cross Country Team Awards
MVP - Mollie Scott
Rookie of the Year Award - Meg Rapley
Men's Basketball Team Awards
Offensive MVP - Jarren Cottingham
Coaches Award - Kendrick Tucker
Women's Basketball Team Awards
Johnny Jacumin Leadership Award - Peyton Davis
Tough as Nails Award - Haleigh Hatfield
Men's Swimming Team Awards
Norman Family Most Valuable Swimmer - Slava Ohnov
Kevin Polansky Live Life, Love Life Award - Ian Leighninger
Women's Swimming Team Awards
Norman Family Most Valuable Swimmer - Sara Aringsmann
Bridget Beth Melvin Award - Amanda Cesario
Men's Track & Field Team Awards
Track Performer of the Year – Micah Kipchumba
Field Performer of the Year - Elliot Zirwas
Women's Track & Field Team Awards
Track Performer of the Year - Franziska Althaus
Field Performer of the Year - Vanisha Wilshire
Baseball Team Awards
Position Player of the Year - McCann Mellett
Pitcher of the Year - Brody McCullough
Softball Team Awards
Player of the Year - Heaven Maness
EAT Award - Gracyn Polk
Men's Lacrosse Team Awards
Offensive MVP - Willie Grieco
Defensive MVP - Reese Orman
Women's Lacrosse Team Awards
Offensive Player of the Year - Annie Plotts
Defensive Player of the Year - Megan Biase
Men's Tennis Team Awards
MVP - Enrico Giacomini
Coaches Award - Christian Della Cioppa
Women's Tennis Team Awards
MVP - Elena Gunfaus
Coaches Award - Elena Bompieri
Men's Golf Team Awards
MVP - Charles Joubert
ACE Award - Nick Fleming
Women's Golf Team Awards
MVP - Hailey McLaughlin
ACE Award - Sofia Ring
Cheerleading Awards
MVP - Jamiah Nash
Most Dedicated - Kali Snell
Sports Medicine Awards
Highest GPA - Megan Rossano
Best Overall - Savannah Neal
Athletic Communications Awards
Athletic Communications MVP - Donny Chiarel
Sports Network MVP - Josh Tiller
Sports Performance Awards
Male Iron Dog Award – Christian Della Cioppa
Female Iron Dog Award - Sophie Schaff
Male Iron Pup Award - Mark Burks
Female Iron Pup Award - Peyton Davis
WINGATE UNIVERSITY
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a laboratory of difference-making that serves more than 3,600 students in North Carolina. Wingate offers 37 undergraduate majors as well as eight master's and five doctoral degrees. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences; the Levine College of Health Sciences; the Byrum School of Business; and the College of Professional Studies, which includes the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences.
Wingate is a leader in healthcare education, and nearly one in five Wingate undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 23 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award for 13 years straight. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at
www.wingate.edu.
