General | 5/6/2015 12:30:00 PM

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University athletic department held its third annual WUSPYS on Monday night at the Union County Agricultural Center. The idea 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. 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 http://www.wingatebulldogs.com/wuspys. Check back later in the week, when the entire WUSPYS show will be available to watch online. A photo gallery from the red carpet will also be available later this week.

The night began with each team handing out two team awards. The WUSPYS portion of the show began with Wingate University president Dr. Jerry McGee receiving the Excellence in Leadership Award. That was followed by WUSPYS awards being handed out in 19 different categories.

Male Breakthrough Athlete (Watch the nominees highlights)

















Shane Billings, Baseball
After hitting .328 as a freshman, Shane Billings is hitting a team-best .412 in his sophomore year, earning first team All-SAC honors. He had three homers, seven doubles, 27 RBI and 45 runs scored last year, adding six stolen bases. This year, Billings has 10 homers, 16 doubles, 43 RBI and 79 runs scored, stealing a SAC-best 26 bases in 27 attempts. He is second in the SAC in hits and runs, ranking third in average and seventh in homers.

Other Nominees
Oystein Fjeldberg, Swimming
Aksel Juul, Soccer
Eric Mapoles, Football
Travis McCuaig, Track & Field

Female Breakthrough Athlete (Watch the nominees highlights)

















Olga Kosheleva, Swimming
After not earning any All-American honors during her sophomore season, Olga Kosheleva won a national title in 2015, earning two total All-American medals to go along with two honorable mention All-American swims. She was a part of the national championship 400 Medley Relay team, while also helping to lead the 200 Medley Relay team to a third place finish. Kosheleva also notched honorable mention All-American swims in the 100 and 200 Breaststroke. She was also a member of the conference champion 200 Medley Relay team.

Other Nominees
Brooke Howell, Soccer
Abby Saehler, Volleyball
Caitlin Starrs, Golf
Emily Usiak, Softball

Male Newcomer of the Year (Non-Freshman Newcomer) (Watch the nominees highlights)

















Brandon Hathaway, Football
The Murray State transfer picked up All-SAC and All-American honors during his first season at Wingate. Hathaway led the SAC with six interceptions, ranking third with six passes defended. He was second on the team with 72 tackles. Beyond Sports Network named Hathaway a first team All-American, while he also earned All-Region accolades from Daktronics.

Other Nominees
Colby Barnette, Baseball
Anthanee Doyle, Basketball
Anthony Gaudin, Cross Country/Track & Field

Female Newcomer of the Year (Non-Freshman Newcomer) (Watch the nominees highlights)

















Armony Dumur, Swimming
In her first year at Wingate, the Bridgeport transfer won a pair of national championships while piling up five total All-American swims to go along with two honorable mention All-American nods. Dumur set the NCAA record when she won the title in the 100 Butterfly. She led Wingate's 400 Medley Relay national championship team as the 'Dogs set a school record. Dumur also played a role in a third place finish in the 200 Free Relay and fourth place finish in the 400 Free Relay.
Other Nominees
Andrea Bertrand, Basketball
Erin Murphy, Lacrosse
Andrea Ternera, Tennis

Wounded Bulldog (Voted on by Sports Medicine staff) – Watch the nominees highlights

















Chantal Dunbar, Women's Basketball

Other Nominees
Brennan Asplen, Men's Lacrosse
Ryan Daye, Men's Basketball
Jasmine DeBerry, Women's Basketball
Will Poteat, Football 

Bulldog Club Spirit Award (Voted on by Bulldog Club committee) – Watch the nominees highlights

















Christina Matheny, Women's Track and Field

Other Nominees
Kelli Bonner, Women's Basketball
Jenna Flanigin, Volleyball
Lucia Careaga Herrera, Women's Golf
Neal Towson, Men's Tennis

Play of the Year - (Watch the nominees highlights)

















Ashlyn Hardie saves third straight penalty kick
After stopping the first two Lenoir-Rhyne PK attempts in the SAC title game, Ashlyn Hardie clinched the championship for the Bulldogs by stopping a third consecutive attempt.

Other Nominees
Katie McLaurin walk-off homer against Brevard
Keith Griffin game-winner at Anderson
Brad Cherry walk-off against Brevard
Nicole Hinkle save against Newberry
Jon Jimenez pick-six at Newberry
Shelly Stumpff regional title winning ace
Austin Murphy winner at Catawba
Charlie Machell overtime game-winner vs. Carson-Newman

Upset of the Year (Watch the nominees highlights)

















Baseball beats #11 Catawba twice to win SAC title
The Bulldogs entered the final day of the SAC Tournament needing two wins against regular season champion Catawba, who was just one win away from the title. The Indians took a 2-0 lead in the first game, but Wingate scored eight unanswered, getting two Thomas Spitz homers and a Colby Barnette homer, while Brett Morgan allowed just two hits in 7 1/3 innings. Catawba led 4-0 in the second game, but homers from Bradley Brown and Josh Clark, along with two doubles and three RBI from Spitz helped Wingate score 11 of the final 12 runs in the game. Tyler Brown allowed just one run in six innings to pick up his second win of the tournament. 

Other Nominees
Men's Golf finishes 2nd at Armstrong Pirate Invitational
Men's Soccer shuts out #6 Limestone
Women's Soccer wins 4-1 at #10 Catawba
Softball wins twice at #8 Armstrong

Comeback of the Year (Watch the nominees highlights)

















Baseball vs. Concord
In the longest game in SAC baseball history, the Bulldogs erased two 11-run deficits, defeating Concord 17-16 in 17 innings. Wingate trailed 12-1 in the fifth and 13-2 in the seventh. The 'Dogs scored three in the seventh, highlighted by a Bradley Brown 2-run double. Four runs came in during the eighth inning when Thomas Spitz connected on a grand slam. Wingate scored five times in the ninth to tie it. A two-run single from Spitz made it a one-run game, while Brown's RBI single tied the game at 14. Concord took a 16-14 lead in the 15th, but Wingate had the answer in the bottom of the frame. Brad Cherry started the frame with a double, while Nick Triplett followed with his second homer of the season over the fence in right center, tying the game at 16. Simmons started the bottom of the 17th with a single, then went to second on a sacrifice. After an intentional walk, Blake Prince also drew a one-out walk. After a strikeout, Brown came to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs. Brown lined the 3-2 pitch down the first base line, driving home Simmons to end the marathon contest.

Other Nominees
Men's Lacrosse vs. Catawba
Softball vs. Belmont Abbey
Women's Swimming 400 Medley Relay
Women's Tennis at Queens

Men's Team of the Year (Watch the nominees highlights)

















Baseball
The Bulldogs made an incredible run through the SAC tournament, winning the title by winning six games in five days and four games against the top three teams in the league the final two days. Wingate faced elimination six times during the tournament, winning all six games. The Bulldogs led the tournament with a .357 average, 95 hits, 70 runs, 14 homers and 22 doubles. The 'Dogs capped their run with two wins on championship Monday against regular season champion and 11th-ranked Catawba. The victory gives Wingate an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Other Nominees
Golf
Soccer
Swimming
Tennis
Track & Field

Women's Team of the Year (Watch the nominees highlights)

















Swimming
The Bulldogs finished third at the NCAA national championships, the highest NCAA Division II finish in Wingate history. Wingate was second at the BMC meet, trailing only national champion Queens. The Bulldogs' incredible NCAA championship performance was highlighted by a pair of national titles. Armony Dumur set an NCAA record in the 100 Butterfly. The 400 Medley Relay team also took home the national title. Wingate finished third nationally in the 200 Free Relay, 200 Medley Relay and 400 Free Relay, while finishing fourth in the 800 Free Relay.

Other Nominees
Basketball
Cross Country
Soccer
Tennis
Track & Field
Volleyball

Game of the Year (Watch the nominees highlights)

















Volleyball vs. Armstrong in NCAA regional title match
The 12th-ranked Bulldogs won a five-set thriller against #17 Armstrong State to win their third straight regional title and fourth in five years. The Bulldogs jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a commanding 25-14 win in set one. Armstrong tied the match in the second set, but the 'Dogs took set three 25-20. The Pirates won the fourth to send it to a fifth set. A kill and an ace from Susie Murach made it 12-8, while a Shelly Stumpff kill made it 13-9. Armstrong cut the lead to two at 13-11, but a Stumpff kill made it 14-11. Stumpff followed with an ace to cap the match and send Wingate to the Elite Eight.

Other Nominees
Men's Basketball at Queens
Women's Basketball vs. Lander in NCAA Tournament
Women's Cross Country SAC championship meet
Men's Soccer vs. Carson-Newman
Women's Soccer vs. Lenoir-Rhyne in SAC title match
Women's Swimming at NCAA Championships
Women's Tennis SAC Title

Best Championship Performance (Watch the nominees highlights)

















Armony Dumur at NCAA Championships
Armony Dumur played a huge role in leading Wingate to a third place finish at the NCAA championships, the highest-ever finish for the Bulldogs. Dumur won the national title in the 100 Butterfly while setting an NCAA record. On that same night, the junior helped lead the 400 Medley Relay team to a national title. Dumur would also help Wingate 200 Free Relay Team and 400 Free Relay teams to third-place finishes, while helping the 800 Free Relay Team to a fourth-place finish. She notched five All-American swims to go along with a pair of honorable mention All-American swims.

Other Nominees
Maria Garcia, SAC Tournament
Ashlyn Hardie, SAC Championship Game
Cole Henderson, SAC Meet
Alyssa Johnson, SAC Championship Meet
Susie Murach, NCAA Regional Championships
Filippo Pezzoli, SAC Tournament
Thomas Spitz, Baseball

Male Freshman of the Year (Watch the nominees highlights)

















Bradley Brown, Baseball
Bradley Brown was named the SAC Freshman of the Year, while also earning second team all-conference honors. He is third on the team with a .352 batting average, piling up 10 homers, 21 doubles and 64 RBI, scoring 38 times. He is second in the SAC in doubles, third in RBI, fifth in homers and ninth in slugging percentage. He hit .419 in the SAC Tournament with two homers, four doubles and 13 RBI.

Other Nominees
Jerome Heidrich, Swimming
Zeriq Lolar, Basketball
Nathan Patterson, Track & Field
James Scott, Soccer
Amir Zari, Tennis

Female Freshman of the Year (Watch the nominees highlights)

















Oroma Womeodu, Tennis
Oroma Womeodu earned second team All-SAC doubles honors in her first season at Wingate, helping the 'Dogs win the regular season and tournament title. She is 14-5 in singles play on the year, going 12-4 at number three singles for Wingate with a 9-2 mark against SAC opponents. She picked up a 6-4, 6-2 win at NCAA Division I Campbell in her collegiate debut. Womeodu has teamed with classmate Maria Garcia to post a 15-5 doubles record, going 13-1 at number two doubles with a 9-2 record against the SAC. The duo won both matches during the SAC Tournament. They will enter the NCAA Tournament on a nine-match winning streak.

Other Nominees
Kori Adams, Volleyball
Jaclyn Chiesa, Lacrosse
Leigh-Ann Clark, Swimming
Morgan Hendrix, Softball
Taylor Leyble, Soccer

Geddings Award (Best Overall Student-Athlete) -Watch the nominees highlights

















Christina Matheny, Track & Field
Christina Matheny was named an NCAA Division II indoor track and field second team All-America this winter, the first Bulldog women's track and field performer to be so honored. She finished 10th in the 2015 NCAA Division II indoor national championships. She was named the Southeast Region Field Athlete of the Year for the 2015 indoor season. Wingate's school record holder both indoors and outdoors, Matheny is the 2014 and 2015 SAC outdoor track and field high jump champion. In outdoor track, Matheny was named All-Southeast Region in the high jump and the heptathlon following her junior season. She is a three-time All-Southeast Region performer in both the indoor and the outdoor high jump. Matheny holds a 3.696 GPA as a Human Services major. Outside the athletic arena, she is the SAAC co-president and Make-A-Wish chair. Matheny has been involved in Wingate's Alternative Spring Break for three years, serving as a group leader her junior year. She was a Wingate Hunger and Homelessness Week volunteer last fall. Matheny is an admissions tour guide, a campus safety student worker, an ARC note taker and a peer mentor. She performed an internship with the United Way of Central Carolinas during the fall 2014 semester.

Other Nominees
Ana Fish, Swimming
Ashlyn Hardie, Soccer
Eric Mapoles, Football
Lexi Potter, Volleyball
Thomas Spitz, Baseball

Male Athlete of the Year (Watch the nominees highlights)

















George Williams, Track & Field
George Williams received indoor All-American honors with his fifth-place finish in the NCAA Division II indoor national championship meet. Williams cleared 2.07 meters in his second NCAA indoor appearance, writing his name in the WU record books with the first All-American trophy in Wingate's senior college track history. Williams capped a tremendous outdoor season with a SAC high jump championship, thanks to a leap of 2.12 meters. He is Wingate's school-record holder both indoors and outdoors. Williams is a five-time All-Region selection (three indoor, two outdoor). He is a has qualified for the 2015 NCAA Division II national championship meet in May.

Other Nominees
Ryan Daye, Basketball
Benedict Gebhardt, Golf
Leif-Henning Klüver
Charlie Machell, Soccer
Nick Napolitano
Thomas Spitz, Baseball

Female Athlete of the Year (Watch the nominees highlights)

















Jade Montgomery, Soccer
Jade Montgomery was named the SAC Player of the Year for the third consecutive season, while also earning Region Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. She earned All-American accolades for the third consecutive season, earning first team honors from the NSCAA and third team accolades from Daktronics. Montgomery led the SAC with 15 goals and 36 points, finishing fourth on the league's all-time charts in goals and points. The four-time All-SAC and All-Region selection is the first person in women's soccer history to earn SAC Player of the Year honors three times.

Other Nominees
Alexis Burrell, Softball
Armony Dumur, Swimming
Chantal Dunbar, Basketball
Alyssa Johnson, Cross Country
Christina Matheny, Track & Field
Shelly Stumpff, Volleyball


Team Awards

Men's Cross Country 
MVP - Nepolian Patel
Coaches Appreciation Award - Scott Pullen

Women's Cross Country 
MVP - Alyssa Johnson
Coaches Appreciation Award - Austin Hoffman

Men's Soccer 
Offensive MVP - Charlie Machell
Defensive MVP - Alex Nelson

Women's Soccer 
MVP - Jade Montgomery
MVP - Ashlyn Hardie

Volleyball 
MVP - Shelly Stumpff
Exceptional Performance Award - Susie Murach

Football 
MVP - Nick Napolitano 
Leadership Award - Nick Napolitano

Men's Swimming 
MVP - Leif-Henning Kluver
Scholar-Athlete Award - Issam Zeraidi

Women's Swimming 
MVP - Sofia Petrenko
Bridget Beth Melvin Award - Erin Brooks

Men's Basketball 
Offensive MVP - Ryan Daye
Defensive MVP - Xavier Griffin

Women's Basketball 
MVP - Brittany Hill
Most Outstanding Player - Chantal Dunbar

Baseball 
MVP - Thomas Spitz
Coaches Award - Bradley Brown

Softball 
Offensive Player of the Year - Alexis Burrell
Defensive Player of the Year - Taylor Laskey

Men's Lacrosse
MVP - Ryan Vogrig
John R. Dodd Award - Bobby Brown

Women's Lacrosse 
MVP - Erin Murphy
Coaches Award - Madison LaBarbera

Men's Golf
MVP - Benedict Gebhardt
Freshman of the Year - Jarett Stowe

Women's Golf
MVP - Caitlin Starrs
ACE Award - Mikaela Hadaway

Men's Tennis 
MVP - Filippo Pezzoli
Coaches Award - Neal Towlson

Women's Tennis
MVP - Becca Thomas
Coaches Award - Caroline Holland

Men's Track & Field 
Track Performer of the Year- Tyler Lee
Field Performer of the Year - George Williams

Women's Track & Field 
Track Performer of the Year- Katrice Tolbert
Field Performer of the Year - Christina Matheny

Cheerleading
MVP - Grace Brucia
Most Improved - Anna McCollum

Athletic Training
Best Overall Athletic Training Student - Sara Messer
Best Academic Senior Athletic Trainer - Tiffany Williams