Rocky Mount, N.C. - The North Carolina Wesleyan Department of Athletics celebrated the 2016-2017 season by hosting its 52nd Annual Awards Ceremony on Tuesday evening, April 18th, in Minges Auditorium at the Dunn Center. Coaches, staff and student-athletes came together to celebrate the accomplishments of both individuals and teams from this academic year.
The night began with a video highlighting the 9th Annual Wesley Awards, which offered a lighthearted take on the season and saw the Bishops' Athletic Training and Support Staff honored for their behind-the-scenes work. The evening then moved into the Department of Athletics' traditional awards. Among the athletes and teams honored, NCWC boasted 41 USA South All-Conference selections, three Players of the Year, three USA South Championships, and one NCAA Tournament berth. Highlighting the night's winners were the honors given for Male and Female Student-Athlete of the Year, along with Male and Female Athlete of the Year.
Female Student-Athlete of the Year honors went to senior Christina Huber of volleyball, an Exercise Science major from Virginia Beach. Off the court, she is a three-time member of both the President's List and the USA South Academic All-Conference Team, while on the court, she will graduate as the Bishops' second all-time leader in total digs with 1,927. For her efforts, she was also named volleyball's Most Valuable Player and Scholar-Athlete.
The Male Student-Athlete of the Year award went to junior Adrian Moore of basketball. Majoring in Organizational Adminstration, the Plymouth, N.C. native is a current member of the President's List and USA South Academic All-Conference Team. Like Huber, he was also named his sport's Most Valuable Player after leading the USA South in scoring this season at nearly 21 points per game.
The final awards of the night saw area product Timyra Staton named Female Athlete of the Year, while junior Sebastian Sikh earned his second straight Male Athlete of the Year honor. Staton was a Second Team USA South All-Conference selection this season and the Most Valuable Player of her squad for the second straight year. On the court, the senior forward led her team to a 4th-place finish in the USA South after ranking in the league's top-15 in field goal percentage and posting a team-high seven double-doubles.
On the men's side, Sikh was a First Team All-Conference selection and was honored as the USA South's Player of the Year in tennis. Most recently, the Sweden native was named Most Valuable Player of the USA South Conference Tournament after leading his Bishops to their 9th straight title. With an 18-5 singles mark, Sikh is currently ranked #6 in the Atlantic South Region heading into NCAA Tournament play.
Below is a complete list of all honorees.
FEMALE STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Christina Huber, Volleyball
MALE STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Adrian Moore, Men's Basketball
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Timyra Staton, Women's Basketball
MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Sebastian Sikh, Men's Tennis
FOOTBALL
Moe Bauer Sportsmanship Award: Travis Thompson
Scholar-Athlete Award: Lucas Koons
Offensive Most Valuable Player: Malik Adams
Defensive Most Valuable Player: Michael Clemmons
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Moe Bauer Sportsmanship Award: Brittany McGraw
Scholar-Athlete Award: Amanda Mazza
Co-Most Valuable Players: Hannah Tolson & Ashley Major
MEN'S SOCCER
Moe Bauer Sportsmanship Award: Thorfinnur Thorfinnsson
Scholar-Athlete Award: Sullivan Reece
Co-Most Valuable Players: A.J. Wadda & Drew Wiltse
VOLLEYBALL
Moe Bauer Sportsmanship Award: Evie Hunter
Scholar-Athlete Award: Christina Huber
Most Valuable Player: Christina Huber
CROSS COUNTRY
Moe Bauer Sportsmanship Award: Hannah Ivester
Scholar-Athlete Award: Leigh Hales
Most Valuable Runner: Sarah Grossman
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Moe Bauer Sportsmanship Award: Timyra Staton
Scholar-Athlete Award: Weslie Young
Most Valuable Player: Timyra Staton
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Moe Bauer Sportsmanship Award: Chris Sause
Scholar-Athlete Award: Robert Wilson
Most Valuable Player: Adrian Moore
BASEBALL
Moe Bauer Sportsmanship Award: Donielle Totten
Scholar-Athlete Award: Trey Croom
Co-Most Valuable Players: Ryan Grant & Brad Pennington
GOLF
Moe Bauer Sportsmanship Award: Luke Thornton
Scholar-Athlete Award: Matthew May
Co-Most Valuable Players: Grady Anderson & Mariano Silvestri
SOFTBALL
Moe Bauer Sportsmanship Award: Abigail Leonard
Scholar-Athlete Award: Kaitlyn Checkan
Most Valuable Player: Hannah Ivester
WOMEN'S TENNIS
Moe Bauer Sportsmanship Award: Ana Diaz
Scholar-Athlete Award: Leigh Hales
Most Valuable Player: Florencia Sorrentino
MEN'S TENNIS
Moe Bauer Sportsmanship Award: David Appelqvist
Scholar-Athlete Award: David Chang
Most Valuable Player: Sebastian Sikh