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Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Athletic Department hosted the fifth annual WUSPYS Monday night at the Union County Agricultural Center. The national champion men's soccer team was the big winner, taking home six WUSPYS trophies including Men's Team of the Year and Male Athlete of the Year, while the women's swimming team and men's basketball teams collected three WUSPYS trophies each.
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. 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.
Female Breakthrough Athlete
Marta Miscenko, Women's Basketball
Marta Miscenko averaged 5.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game during her sophomore season, without making a start. She earned All-SAC and All-Region honors this season, leading the SAC champion Bulldogs with 13.8 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. Miscenko led the SAC in blocked shots, ranking second in rebounding, 10th in scoring and 13th in field goal percentage, piling up 16 double-doubles to lead the SAC and rank 14th nationally.
Other Nominees
Katie Bludau, Volleyball
Cristina Casanella, Women's Golf
Gianna Thompson, Women's Track & Field
Taylor Wells, Softball
Past Winners
2016 - Vika Arkhipova, Women's Swimming
2015 - Olga Kosheleva, Women's Swimming
2014 - Allison Rickher, Volleyball
2013 - Shelby Forza, Women's Soccer
Male Breakthrough Athlete
Will Sheridan, Men's Lacrosse
Will Sheridan played 89 total minutes in goal during his first two seasons at Wingate, making one career start. During his junior season in 2017, Sheridan is a first team All-SAC goalie, leading the league in save percentage and goals-against average. He was also named the SAC Tournament MVP, leading the Bulldogs to their first-ever SAC title. He ranks second in the nation in save percentage (.609) and fifth in goals-against average (7.16), anchoring the nation's fourth-ranked scoring defense. The 11th-ranked Bulldogs lead the SAC, allowing just 6.92 goals per game. He was named SAC Player of the Week twice.
Other Nominees
Dalton Cox, Men's Cross Country
Josh Dominguez, Men's Basketball
Blake Hayes, Football
Nicholas Oliveira, Men's Tennis
Past Winners
2016 - Lawrence Pittman, Football
2015 - Shane Billings, Baseball
2014 - George Williams, Men's Track & Field
2013 - Ryan Daye, Men's Basketball
Freshman Female Athlete of the Year
Tarah Young, Women's Track & Field
Tarah Young had a huge SAC Championship Meet for the Bulldogs, winning three individual titles to help lead Wingate to its first-ever SAC title. She won the 200 meter dash (24.15) and the 400 meters (54.43), setting SAC records in both events. Young concluded her first SAC appearance by running the anchor leg as the Bulldogs won the 4x400 meter relay (3:52.13) by more than five seconds. Young is an NCAA National Championship qualifier in both the 200m and 400m events as well.
Other Nominees
Diana McDonald, Women's Golf
Treslyn Ortiz, Volleyball
Elena Pellegrini, Women's Tennis
Ebba Stillman, Women's Swimming
Past Winners
2016 - Claudia De Andreis, Women's Tennis
2015 - Oroma Womeodu, Women's Tennis
2014 - Sofia Petrenko, Women's Swimming
2013 - Rita Koryukova, Women's Swimming
Freshman Male Athlete of the Year
Daniel Belsito, Men's Tennis
Daniel Belsito earned first team All-SAC doubles honors and second team All-SAC singles honors for the #36 Bulldogs. He played all 20 of his singles matches at number two singles, posting 17-3 record, leading the team in wins. Belsito went 8-2 against SAC opponents. He teamed with Josh DuToit to pick up 12 wins at number one doubles, posting an 8-2 mark against league opposition. Belsito went 17-2 against Division II opponents at two singles, ending the year on a seven-match win streak.
Other Nominees
Ben Evans, Men's Swimming
Joseph Mason, Baseball
BJ Muckelvene, Football
Elliot Zirwas, Men's Track & Field
Past Winners
2016 - Pablo Jara, Men's Soccer
2015 - Bradley Brown, Baseball
2014 - Connor Kudrick, Men's Tennis
2013 - TJ Rinoski, Baseball
Newcomer of the Year (Non-Freshman)
Alex Divelbiss, Women's Swimming
Alex Divelbiss played a huge role in Wingate's third-place finish at nationals during her first season with the Bulldogs. She piled up seven All-American swims for Wingate, leading the Bulldogs to the national title in the 800 Free Relay. Divelbiss finished second in the 200 IM, 400 IM and 100 Free, while also helping the 400 Free Relay Team finish second. She added a third-place finish with the 400 Medley Relay team and a sixth-place finish in the 200 Free. She was named the BMC Swimmer of the Meet, while also taking home BMC Swimmer of the Year honors.
Other Nominees
Ty Andrus, Baseball
Theo Dessacs, Men's Tennis
Elma N'For, Men's Soccer
Past Winners
2016 - Jon Ander, Men's Soccer
2015 - Armony Dumur, Women's Swimming | Brandon Hathaway, Football
Best Championship Performance
Jon Ander, Men's Soccer (National Championship Game)
All-American Jon Ander was huge for the #1 Bulldogs in the national title game, scoring both goals to deliver the first NCAA team title in Wingate Athletics history. The junior got Wingate on the board with nine minutes left in the first half against #4 Charleston with a strike from just outside the box. He added insurance in the 78th minute, tucking one into the corner from even further out for the 2-0 margin. Ander was named the Most Outstanding Offensive Player at the NCAA Final Four.
Other Nominees
Alex Divelbiss, Women's Swimming (BMC Championship Meet)
Isaiah Kyle, Men's Track & Field (NCAA Indoor Championships)
Abby Saehler, Volleyball (SAC Tournament)
Will Sheridan, Men's Lacrosse (SAC Tournament)
Vanisha Wilshire, Women's Track & Field (NCAA Indoor Championship)
Danasia Witherspoon, Women's Basketball (SAC Tournament)
Past Winners
2016 - Armony Dumur at NCAA Championships
2015 - Armony Dumur at NCAA Championships
2014 - Marko Blazevski, Men's Swimming
2013 - Katie Pheil at NCAA Championships
Play of the Year
Aksel Juul goal in NCAA Regional Title Match
#1 Wingate and defending national champion Pfeiffer were scoreless with under 30 minutes to play in the regional title match in front of a capacity crowd at Pride Park when All-American Aksel Juul chipped a ball over the defender with one touch, then chipped it over the keeper for the lone goal of the game, leading the Bulldogs to an eventual national champion.
Other Nominees
Shannon O'Neal OT game-winner at Tusculum
Women's Track & Field 4x100 Relay
Moryah Johnson interception at Limestone
Kaitlyn Brunworth goal in SAC Tournament Semifinals
Amber Neely game-winner at #4 Lincoln Memorial
Women's Swimming NCAA Champion 800 Free Relay
Katie McLaurin game-winning catch at Lenoir-Rhyne
Alex Llerandi OT game-winner in SAC title game
Past Winners
2016 - Women's Swimming 400 Medley Relay National Championship
2015 - Ashlyn Hardie saves 3 PKs in SAC title match
2014 - Jade Montgomery's SAC title game-winner
2013 - Pedro Figuiera's game-winning goal sends Wingate to Sweet 16 - Winner
Best Upset
Men's Basketball at #3 Queens
The Bulldogs traveled to Charlotte in January to face the third-ranked and 16-0 Queens Royals and came back with a 71-64 victory. The game was tied at 53 at the midway point of the second half, but the 'Dogs shutout the high-powered Royals offense over the next five minutes, going on a 9-0 run to take a 62-53 lead. It was a season-low point total for the Royals. Mike Baez led five Bulldogs in double figures with 17 points, while Keith Griffin and Isiah Cureton each notched double-doubles.
Other Nominees
Women's Soccer vs. #25 Carson-Newman
Women's Basketball at #5 Lincoln Memorial
Baseball at #9 Mount Olive
Women's Tennis at #18 Francis Marion
Men's Lacrosse vs. #5 Belmont Abbey
Softball DH sweep at #15 Lenoir-Rhyne
Past Winners
2016 - Football at #16 Lenoir-Rhyne
2015 - Baseball beats #11 Catawba twice to win SAC championship
2014 - Softball sweep vs. #14 Lenoir-Rhyne
2013 - Men's soccer wins 2-1 over #8 Lander to reach NCAA Sweet 16 - Winner
Best Comeback
Men's Basketball vs. Catawba (SAC Tournament)
The Bulldogs hosted Catawba in the SAC Tournament quarterfinals and trailed 64-54 with 6:10 remaining in regulation. Anthanee Doyle hit back-to-back threes, then a Josh Dominguez three made it a one-point game with three minutes left. Doyle tied it with three free throws, but Catawba went up by five with a minute left. Keith Griffin made a layup and was fouled, while Isiah Cureton got the rebound on the missed free throw and found Doyle, who buried the game-tying three. Wingate led by as many as eight in overtime, winning 91-85 to advance to the SAC Tournament semifinals.
Other Nominees
Women's Basketball vs. Catawba (SAC Tournament)
Women's Tennis at Anderson
Women's Lacrosse vs. Coker (SAC Semifinals)
Men's Lacrosse at Tusculum
Past Winners
2016 - Volleyball vs. LMU in SAC Tournament
2015 - Baseball vs. Concord
2014 - Men's Lacrosse vs. Mount Olive
Game of the Year
Men's Soccer vs. Charleston in National Championship Game
The #1 Bulldogs won the first NCAA team title in the history of Wingate Athletics, collecting a 2-0 victory over #4 Charleston. All-American Jon Ander got Wingate on the board with nine minutes remaining in the first half. The junior gave the Bulldogs some insurance in the second half, scoring with 12 minutes left to make it 2-0. Wingate's top-ranked defense shutout the nation's second-best offense, out-shooting Charleston 10-8 on the day. The Bulldogs did not allow a goal in the five NCAA Tournament games, with Alex Nelson earning Most Outstanding Defensive Player honors at the Final Four.
Other Nominees
Football beats Mars Hill 42-39
Volleyball vs. LMU in SAC Championship Match
Women's Basketball vs. LMU in SAC Championship Game
Women's Track & Field wins SAC Championship
Men's Lacrosse beats Queens 11-10 in SAC title game
Past Winners
2016 - Men's basketball OT win over Montevallo in NCAA Tournament
2015 - Volleyball vs. Armstrong State in NCAA Regional title match
2014 - Women's Soccer vs. Columbus State (NCAA Tournament)
2013 - Volleyball defeats Tusculum 3-2 in SAC title match
Geddings Award – Best Overall Student-Athlete
Kaitlyn Brunworth, Women's Soccer
Kaitlyn Brunworth is a two-time SAC Scholar-Athlete and two-time Academic All-America honoree. The 2015 NSCAA second team All-American is a three-time All-SAC and All-Region selection. The Elite 18 Award winner was also named an NSCAA Scholar-Athlete. She has led the Bulldogs to an appearance in the SAC title game all four years of her career. After earning third team Academic All-America honors last year, Brunworth was a first team selection this season. A Biology major, Brunworth has a 4.0 GPA in her senior year at Wingate. She is also a Spanish minor. A member of the university's Honors Program, Brunworth has been named to the President's List in every semester at Wingate. A team captain, Brunworth is a Spanish tutor and Biology lab assistant at Wingate. She is also a Gateway peer mentor, spending one hour per week helping freshmen adjust to college life. Brunworth participated in United Way Day of Caring as a freshman. She also volunteers two hours per week at a local medical clinic, spending time translating and scheduling appointments for Spanish-speaking patients. Brunworth spent a week in Honduras in 2013, building a school for kids in an impoverished neighborhood.
Keith Griffin, Men's Basketball
Keith Griffin is one of only 10 men's basketball student-athletes on all levels of college basketball to be named to the 2017 Allstate NABC Good Works Team. This prestigious award shines a light on 10 young men for the things they accomplish off the court. Griffin is one of only two NCAA Division II men's basketball student-athlete to earn the honor this year. A Dean's List student in each of his first three years at Wingate, Griffin has been named to the SAC Honor Roll multiple times while earning Academic All-District honors as a junior and a senior. He also earned Honors Court Recognition from the NABC. Griffin makes several contributions at Wingate and in the community. A team captain for the Bulldogs, Griffin is in the FCA Leadership program. He has volunteered with the West Stanly Ministries and has spoken to students at Wingate Elementary School. Griffin has assisted with the Boys and Girls Club, doing after school tutoring and mentoring kids at Monroe Middle School. He also participated in United Way Day of Caring, working with Habitat for Humanity. Griffin and his wife started
G.R.I.F.F.I.N. K-9 Rescue last year. Located in Monroe, N.C., they work with many shelters in the surrounding areas. Their goal is to rescue dogs from high-kill shelters and provide them a temporary home until they are adopted by a great family. The second team All-SAC honoree finished in the top 10 in the SAC in blocks, rebounding and field goal percentage, ranking ninth nationally in blocked shots.
Other Nominees
Mikaela Hadaway, Women's Golf
Alyssa Johnson, Women's Cross Country
Past Winners
2016 - Kaitlyn Brunworth, Women's Soccer
2015 - Christina Matheney, Women's Track & Field
2014 - Robbie Nallenweg, Football | Keeley Wood, Women's Cross Country
2013 - Grace Krauser, Volleyball
Female Athlete of the Year
Alex Divelbiss, Women's Swimming
Alex Divelbiss was named the BMC Swimmer of the Year, while also earning Swimmer of the Meet honors in the BMC Championships. The junior led Wingate to a third-place finish at nationals. She piled up seven All-American swims for Wingate, leading the Bulldogs to the national title in the 800 Free Relay. Divelbiss finished second in the 200 IM, 400 IM and 100 Free, while also helping the 400 Free Relay Team finish second. She added a third-place finish with the 400 Medley Relay team and a sixth-place finish in the 200 Free.
Layla Tanik, Women's Tennis
Layla Tanik went a perfect 20-0 in singles play during her senior season for the 33rd-ranked Bulldogs, adding 15 victories in doubles play. Tanik and the Bulldogs won their seventh straight regular season SAC title, pushing their historic SAC winning streak to 59 matches. The Bulldogs never lost a regular season SAC match in her four years at Wingate, while individually, Tanik finished with an incredible 43-1 record in conference singles play, winning her last 34 league matches. Tanik's 43 SAC singles wins are the most in SAC history. In her perfect 20-0 senior season, Tanik lost only one set all season.
Other Nominees
Brittany Andrews, Women's Lacrosse
Abby Saehler, Volleyball
Vanisha Wilshire, Women's Track & Field
Past Winners
2016 - Armony Dumur, Women's Swimming
2015 - Jade Montgomery, Women's Soccer
2014 - Jade Montgomery, Women's Soccer
2013 - Jade Montgomery, Women's Soccer
Male Athlete of the Year
Alex Nelson, Men's Soccer
Alex Nelson became the first player in Wingate history to earn NSCAA National Player of the Year honors in 2016, leading #1 Wingate to its first-ever team national title. The consensus All-American and first team All-SAC and All-Region honoree was also named the Most Outstanding Defensive Player at the NCAA Final Four. Nelson anchored a Wingate defense that led the nation in goals-against average. The 19-1 Bulldogs allowed just eight goals all season, notching 12 shutouts while never allowing multiple goals in a game. Wingate did not allow a goal in any of the five NCAA Tournament game en route to the title. The Bulldogs didn't allow a goal in the final 534 minutes of the season.
Other Nominees
Ray Edwards, Football
Leif-Henning Klüver, Men's Swimming
Isaiah Kyle, Men's Track & Field
Austin Murphy, Men's Lacrosse
Past Winners
2016 - Shane Billings, Baseball
2015 - George Williams, Men's Track & Field
2014 - Marko Blazevski, Men's Swimming
2013 - Chris Bowden, Football
Women's Team of the Year
Women's Swimming
Wingate finished third in the nation at the NCAA Championships in 2017, marking their third straight top-three finish in the country. The Bulldogs also picked up a national championship in the 800 Free Relay. Wingate notched a second-place finish at the BMC Championships, finishing behind only NCAA champion Queens.
Other Nominees
Women's Cross Country
Volleyball
Women's Basketball
Women's Tennis
Women's Track & Field
Past Winners
2016 - Women's Swimming
2015 - Women's Swimming
2014 - Volleyball
2013 - Volleyball
Men's Team of the Year
Men's Soccer
Wingate went 19-1 on the year, winning the first NCAA team title in Wingate University history. The Bulldogs were ranked #1 throughout the final two months of the season and were the only team in NCAA soccer to go unbeaten and untied through the regular season. The Bulldogs led the nation in win percentage and goals-against average, allowing just eight goals all year and zero goals in the NCAA Tourney.
Other Nominees
Men's Swimming
Men's Basketball
Men's Track & Field
Men's Lacrosse
Past Winners
2016 - Men's Soccer
2015 - Baseball
2014 - Men's Tennis
Bulldog Club Spirit Award
Shelby Tricoli, Women's Basketball
This Award goes to the student-athlete that best personifies the Bulldog spirit, both on and off the field, that always shows great pride in being a Bulldog.
Other Nominees
Cornel Cheron, Football
Mike Connor, Men's Lacrosse
Lucas Cuadros, Men's Swimming
Macy Franklin, Women's Soccer
Olivia Smith, Softball
Past Winners
2016 - Xavier Griffin, Men's Basketball
2015 - Christina Matheney, Women's Track & Field
2014 - Jasmine DeBerry, Women's Basketball
2013 - Robert Fletcher, Football | Kasey Pendley, Softball
Wounded Bulldog Award
Pablo Jara, Men's Soccer
This Award is decided by the Wingate Sports Medicine Staff.
Other Nominees
Shannon O'Neal, Women's Lacrosse
Zack Singleton, Football
Colleen Zickert, Women's Soccer
Past Winners
2016 - Amber Neely, Women's Basketball
2015 - Chantal Dunbar, Women's Basketball
2014 - Justin Somers, Baseball
2013 - Cory McGowan, Volleyball
Haskins Scholar-Athlete Award
This Award is given annually to the senior student-athlete with the highest GPA. Wingate had four seniors with a perfect 4.0 GPA in 2017.
Kaitlyn Brunworth, Women's Soccer
Mikaela Hadaway, Women's Golf
Alyssa Johnson, Women's Cross Country/Track & Field
Andrea Ternera, Women's Tennis
Team Awards
Men's Cross Country
MVP: Dalton Cox
Find A Way Award: Dustin Hickernell
Women's Cross Country
MVP: Alyssa Johnson
Find A Way Award: Juliet Salgueiro
Men's Soccer
Offensive MVP: Jon Ander
Defensive MVP: Alex Nelson
Women's Soccer
Offensive Player of the Year: Kaitlyn Brunworth
Defensive Player of the Year: Macy Franklin
Volleyball
MVP: Abby Saehler
Perseverance Award: Rachael Cecka
Football
Offensive MVP: Blake Hayes
Defensive MVP: Ray Edwards
Athletic Training
Best Overall Athletic Training Student: Kristen Nietz
Best Academic Senior Athletic Trainer: Taylor Paxton
Cheerleading
MVP: Janine Hazel
Most Dedicated Award: Donald Horn
Men's Swimming
MVP: Leif-Henning Klüver
Scholar-Athlete Award: Mehdi Zeraidi
Women's Swimming
MVP: Alex Divelbiss
Bridget Beth Melvin Award: Olga Kosheleva
Men's Basketball
MVP: Josh Dominguez
One Dog Award: CJ McVay
Women's Basketball
MVP: Marta Miscenko
Most Outstanding Player: Danasia Witherspoon
Baseball
MVP: Ty Andrus
Coaches Award: Zach Little
Softball
Offensive Player of the Year: Naomi Sapp
Defensive Player of the Year: Mary Claire Coyne
Men's Lacrosse
MVP: Austin Murphy
John R. Dodd Award: Vinny Aiello
Women's Lacrosse
MVP: Arion Pierre
Coaches Award: Morgan Insel
Men's Golf
MVP: Tim Bombosch
Freshman of the Year: Charles Joubert
Women's Golf
MVP: Cristina Casanella Martinez
ACE Award: Mikaela Hadaway
Men's Tennis
MVP: Daniel Belsito
Coaches Award: Jerome Desrosiers
Women's Tennis
MVP: Layla Tanik
Coaches Award: Sydney Homan
Men's Track and Field
Track Performer of the Year: Breon Jenkins
Field Performer of the Year: Elliot Zirwas
Women's Track and Field
Track Performer of the Year: Tarah Young
Field Performer of the Year: Vanisha Wilshire
Media Relations
Media Relations MVP: Katelyn DeVane
Sports Network MVP: Trae Harrell
WINGATE UNIVERSITY
Wingate University, consistently ranked as a top 10 "best value" in the South by
U.S. News & World Report, serves more than 3,200 students on three campuses in Wingate, Charlotte and Hendersonville, N.C. Founded in 1896, the University offers 35 undergraduate majors, 35 minors, 12 career concentrations, nine pre-professional programs, master's degrees in accounting, business, education, physician assistant studies and sport management and doctorates in education, pharmacy and physical therapy.
With a 14 to 1 student/teacher ratio, Wingate students gain the tools and support needed to excel in academics and apply that learning toward an extraordinary career and life. To view current news, video and story ideas, visit
www.youtube.com/wingateuniversity.
In addition to a robust intramural athletics program, Wingate student athletes compete in 22 NCAA Division II sports. The University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past 11 years. For more information, go to
www.wingate.edu.
Wingate is first among NCAA Division II Academic All-America®-producing colleges in the 2000's with 88 selections. Among North Carolina's colleges and universities, Wingate is number one in this millennium with 88 Academic All-America® honorees. Wingate is tops among all SAC schools with 97 lifetime Academic All-America® picks. For more information on WU athletics, go to
www.wingatebulldogs.com.
