Wingate, N.C.----For the first time in over 1,000 days, the Wingate University Athletic Department was able to host an in-person WUSPYS Show, with the Bulldog coaches and student-athletes coming together Monday night at the Union County Agricultural Center to celebrate another big year for the Bulldogs. During the show, 17 WUSPYS were handed out. The nominees were announced last week, with over 100 voters deciding the winners. Voters included Wingate coaches, athletic administration and members of the WU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Read below to see all the winners, their accomplishments, and the highlight video for each category. In addition, each team has their two award winners listed at the bottom of the story. To learn more about the WUSPYS, go to wingatebulldogs.com/wuspys. The crowd on Monday night was also treated to a "Pros vs. Joes" video, with some Wingate student-athletes giving other sports a try. You can watch that video here. 

Female Breakthrough Athlete - Bella Pellet, Women's Lacrosse



- After scoring 25 goals in her first 3 seasons, Pellet has poured in 36 goals so far this year
- Her 40 points this are more than her total from her three previous years combined (36)
- She is second on the team in goals and third in points, helping Wingate to a program-best 13 wins
- Pellet also has career highs of 15 caused turnovers, 17 ground balls and 8 draw controls

Other Nominees
Jess Brown, Women's Golf
Alicia Rubio Garcia, Women's Soccer
Sara Stroud, Softball
Lauren Sullivan, Women's Basketball

Male Breakthrough Athlete - Mitch Farris, Baseball



- Hit .172 in 29 at-bats through his first two seasons, while also posting a 4.11 ERA
- Is hitting .398 this year with a team-best 9 homers and 40 RBI
- Has a 3.00 ERA in 30 innings of work, going 5-1 while adding 2 saves, striking out 42
- Top 10 in the SAC in homers, average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and triples

Other Nominees
Kamal Desor, Football  
Saul Valdez, Men's Cross Country
Andreas Wilson, Men's Basketball

Upset of the Year - Women's Lacrosse vs. #13 Limestone



- The Bulldogs handed the 13th-ranked Saints their first SAC loss of the year in a 12-11 thriller
- It was the first victory over a ranked team in program history for the Bulldogs
- Leah Knowles scored on a free-position shot as the horn sounded to secure the win
- Knowles, Bella Pellet and Becca Ruiz had 3 goals each, with Megan Biase notching 7 saves in the win

Other Nominees
Men's Basketball vs. #17 Lincoln Memorial
Women's Basketball at #19 Carson-Newman
Women's Tennis vs. #11 Newberry
Softball vs. #24 Anderson

Play of the Year - Kate Agger wins 500 Free National Title



- The 12-time All-American was neck and neck throughout the entire race, just behind her until the two made the final turn, when Agger passed her and out touched her to bring home the national title.

Other Nominees
Justin Armwood Pick 6
Sean Elmore game-winner vs. Catawba
Leah Knowles game-winner vs. #13 Limestone
Willie Grieco game-winner vs. #7 Limestone
Soren Nygaard goal vs. Tusculum
Grayson Chapman walk-off 3-run double vs. Newberry

Newcomer of the Year - Josh Dotson, Baseball



- Dotson has made 10 starts on the mound in his first season at Wingate
- He is 5-0 with a 2.87 ERA in 47 innings of work, striking out 38
- Dotson ranks third in the SAC in ERA and 9th in wins
- He has not allowed more than 3 earned runs in any of his 10 starts, allowing 2 or less 9 times

Other Nominees
John Caponi, Men's Lacrosse
Sean Elmore, Men's Basketball
Savannah Lampley, Softball
Alex Lopez, Women's Tennis
Mary Ma, Women's Golf
Katrine Thisgaard, Women's Soccer

Comeback of the Year - Baseball vs. Newberry



- Wingate trailed all day against #17 Newberry, with the Wolves taking a 3-0 lead in the 3rd
- Mitch Farris tied it with a 3-run blast, but Newberry took a 4-3 lead in the 6th
- Another Farris homer tied it again, but the Wolves scored twice in the top of the 7th to make it 6-4
- A Walk and a single put 2 on, while an intentional walk to Farris sent Chapman up to clear the bases

Other Nominees
Men's Basketball vs. Catawba
Volleyball at Anderson
Women's Basketball vs. Tusculum
Women's Golf Surratt Championship
Softball vs. Catawba

Game of the Year - Men's Lacrosse vs. Limestone (Crown Classic)



- The top 10 teams met under the lights in Charlotte for an overtime thriller
- Goals from Fleming, Farley and Cottage gave the 'Dogs a 10-7 lead midway through the 4th
- Limestone answered with 3 goals in the final 5 minutes to send it to overtime
- The Bulldogs won the face-off and got it to the All-American Grieco
- He scored 49 seconds into the first OT to end it

Other Nominees
Men's Basketball vs. Carson-Newman
Football vs. Tusculum
Volleyball vs. Mars Hill (SAC Quarterfinals)
Women's Soccer at Lenoir-Rhyne
Men's Cross Country Wins Regional Championship
Women's Cross Country Finishes 5th at National Championships
Women's Triathlon finishes second at USA Triathlon National Championships

Men's Team of the Year - Baseball



- Defending national champions are 38-5 overall and 18-2 in the SAC
- The Bulldogs have been ranked #1 or #2 in every poll this season

Other Nominees
Cross Country
Men's Lacrosse
Men's Swimming

Women's Team of the Year - Women's Basketball & Women's Cross Country



Women's Basketball
- Wingate went 24-6 overall and 21-3 in the SAC, capturing the SAC title
- The Bulldogs won a program-record 18 straight games during the season

Women's Cross Country
- Wingate won the SAC championship by 16 points, then finished 2nd at Regionals
- The 'Dogs were the top regional team at nationals with a program-best 5th-place showing

Other Nominees
Women's Golf
Women's Lacrosse
Women's Swimming
Women's Tennis
Women's Triathlon
Volleyball

Freshman Female Athlete of the Year - Savanna Brooks, Softball



- Brooks has played in every game as a freshman, hitting .304 with 10 homers, 7 doubles and 48 RBI
- She leads the Bulldogs and ranks 3rd in the SAC in RBI, ranking 10th in the nation
- Brooks ranks 2nd in the SAC in triples, 7th in homers, 10th in total bases and 12th in slugging %
- She had 3 homers and 9 RBI in her first collegiate doubleheader, leading WU to a sweep over Augusta

Other Nominees
Julia Kekkonen, Triathlon
Kelsea Munro, Women's Swimming
Gemma Rebollo, Cross Country/Track & Field
Suzuka Sambyakugari, Women's Tennis

Freshman Male Athlete of the Year - Miguel Marcos, Men's Swimming



- Marcos earned 3 First Team All-American swims in his first season at Wingate
- He finished 2nd in the nation in the 1650 Free, breaking a 10-year-old school record in the process
- Marcos was 6th in the 500 Free and 3rd in the 1000 Free
- He won the 1000 Free at the BMC Championships,

Other Nominees
Collin Dutton, Men's Golf
Peyton Farley, Men's Lacrosse
Scott Nutter, Men's Cross Country
Florian Walcher, Men's Tennis

Female Athlete of the Year - Kate Agger, Women's Swimming



- Agger won the national championship in the 500 Free
- She earned 4 First Team All-American trophies in 2022
- 1st in 500 Free, 3rd in the 1000 Free, 3rd in 1650 Free 7th in the 200 Free
- Agger has earned 12 First Team All-American trophies in her WU career

Other Nominees
Camilla Ciaccia, Women's Tennis
Shannon Kasprak, Volleyball
Leah Knowles, Women's Lacrosse
Bryanna Troutman, Women's Basketball

Male Athlete of the Year - Willie Grieco, Men's Lacrosse



- The 2021 consensus First Team All-American is having another big year in 2022
- He leads the nation in points per game, ranking 3rd nationally in assists per game
- Grieco has 37 goals and 43 assists through 13 games this season for #10 Wingate 
- The junior is the program's all-time leader in career assists

Other Nominees
Jarren Cottingham, Men's Basketball
Brody McCullough, Baseball
McLean Robertson, Football
Elliott Zirwas, Track & Field

Geddings Award (Best Overall Student-Athlete) - Kayleigh Hiles, Women's Lacrosse



- Hiles earned the SAC Women's Lacrosse Elite 20 Award in 2021
- She has a 3.949 GPA, majoring in Biology
- Hiles has 10 goals and 10 assists on the year, adding 7 draw controls
- She has helped the Bulldogs earn their first ranking in program history

Other Nominees
McKenna DeLong, Women's Soccer
Logan McNeely, Baseball
Jonas Soerensen, Men's Swimming
Andrew Strickland, Football

Bulldog Club Spirit Award - Kasey Eastland, Volleyball



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
Dom Byers, Baseball
Camryn Gallagher, Women's Lacrosse
Alyssa Hall, Softball
Tucker Mullis, Football/Track & Field

Wounded Bulldog Award - Heaven Maness, Softball



This award is voted on by the Wingate Sports Medicine Team

Other Nominees
Ricky Clark, Baseball
Rashaard Pringle, MBB
Lauren Sullivan, WBB
Adam Vodovnik, MLAX

Haskins Awards (Senior with top GPA)
Jackson Hollenbach, MSOC, Casey Mitchell & Jonas Soerensen, MSWIM

2021-22 TEAM AWARDS

Football Team Awards
Offensive MVP - Nijere Peoples                                       
Defensive MVP - Jaquan Edwards
 
Volleyball Team Awards
MVP - Shannon Kasprak
Inspirational Leadership Award - Kasey Eastland

Men's Soccer Team Awards
Offensive MVP - Soren Nygaard
Coaches Award - Tim Singleton

Women's Soccer Team Awards
Offensive MVP - Caroline Peters
Defensive MVP - Kristen DeBiase

Men's Cross Country Team Awards
MVP - Felix Nadeborn
Rookie of the Year Award - Scott Nutter 

Women's Cross Country Team Awards
MVP - Lauryn Tumey Ursery
Rookie of the Year Award - Gemma Rebollo

Men's Basketball Team Awards
Teammate Award - Rashaard Pringle
Teammate Award - Quantra Taylor

Women's Basketball Team Awards
Johnny Jacumin Leadership Award - Hannah Clark
Tough as Nails Award - Haleigh Brandon

Men's Swimming Team Awards
Norman Family Most Valuable Swimmer - Miguel Marcos
Kevin Polansky Live Life, Love Life Award - Bennett Broad

Women's Swimming Team Awards
Norman Family Most Valuable Swimmer - Kate Agger
Bridget Beth Melvin Award - Anna Miram

Men's Track & Field Team Awards
Track Performer of the Year - Tai Smith
Field Performer of the Year - Elliot Zirwas

Women's Track & Field Team Awards
Track Performer of the Year - Mollie Scott
Field Performer of the Year - Danielle Crawford

Baseball Team Awards
Position Player of the Year - Mitch Farris
Pitcher of the Year - Brody McCullough

Softball Team Awards
Player of the Year - Sydney Kale
EAT Award - Hannah Reeves

Women's Lacrosse Team Awards
Player of the Year - Leah Knowles
Defensive Player of the Year - Emily Phipps

Men's Golf Team Awards
MVP - Nick Fleming
Coaches Award - Anthony Parziale

Women's Golf Team Awards
MVP - Hailey McLaughlin
Coaches Award - Madison Gorman
 
Cheerleading Awards
MVP - Ciarrah Brown
Most Dedicated - Brittney Klaus  

Athletic Communications Awards
Athletic Communications MVP - Garrett Elder
Sports Network MVP - Josh Tiller
 
Sports Performance Awards
Male Iron Dog Award - Josh Tiller
Female Iron Dog Award - Madison Gorman
 Male Iron Pup Award - Ben Hodge
Female Iron Pup Award - Savanna Brooks
 
Women's Triathlon Awards
Most Outstanding Performer - Julia Kekkonen
Most Improved Triathlete - Carla Larrabeiti Jefferson
 
Men's Lacrosse Team Awards
MVP - Willie Grieco
Rookie of the Year - Peyton Farley
                              
Sports Medicine Award
Most Outstanding Athletic Training student - Victoria Davenport

Men's Tennis Team Awards
MVP - Florian Walcher
Coaches Award - Patrick Arapi

Women's Tennis Team Awards
MVP - Suzuka Sambyakugari
Coaches Award - Flaminia Guidantoni

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.