Rocky Mount, N.C. - The North Carolina Wesleyan Department of Athletics celebrated the 2015-2016 season by hosting its 51st Annual Awards Ceremony on Monday evening, April 18th, in the Garner Lobby of the Dunn Center. Coaches, staff and student-athletes came together to celebrate the accomplishments of both individuals and teams from this past season.
The night began with a video highlighting the 8th Annual Wesley Awards, which offered a lighthearted take on the season. The evening then moved into the Department of Athletics' traditional awards. Among the athletes and teams honored, NCWC boasted 43 USA South All-Conference selections, four Players of the Year, three All-Americans, 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.
For just the third time in Wesleyan history and the first time since 1998, senior Jasmine Edgren of softball swept the Female Student-Athlete and Athlete of the Year awards. A Biomedical Science major, Edgren is a current member of the President’s List and USA South All-Academic Team. Athletically, she is one of only two female athletes to garner First Team accolades in her sport this season and was honored as her team's Most Valuable Player earlier in the evening. Edgren graduates as a three-time All-Conference honoree and three-time Most Valuable Player during her career, most recently leading softball to its best season in nearly a decade with 20 wins this spring.
The Male Student-Athlete of the Year award went to senior Ciro Norzagaray of baseball. Majoring in Business Adminstration, he, too, is a current member of the President's List and USA South All-Academic Team. On the field, he garnered First Team All-Conference and All-Tournament accolades this season and graduates as a four-time All-Conference selection and three-time MVP.
The final awards of the night saw junior Malik Adams of football and sophomore Sebastian Sikh of men's tennis garner Co-Male Athlete of the Year honors. Both were honored as their team’s Most Valuable Players earlier in the evening, and both were First Team All-Conference selections. Additionally, Adams was tabbed the USA South's Offensive Player of the Year after leading the nation in touchdown receptions, while Sikh was recently named Most Valuable Player of the USA South Conference Tournament after leading the Bishops to an eighth straight title.
Below is a complete list of all honorees.
FEMALE STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Jasmine Edgren, Softball
MALE STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Ciro Norzagaray, Baseball
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Jasmine Edgren, Softball
CO-MALE ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
Malik Adams, Football
Sebastian Sikh, Men's Tennis
FOOTBALL
Moe Bauer Sportsmanship Award: Dustin Midgett
Scholar-Athlete Award: Christopher Richardson
Offensive Most Valuable Player: Malik Adams
Defensive Most Valuable Player: Kenneth Newsome
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Moe Bauer Sportsmanship Award: Hannah Tolson
Scholar-Athlete Award: Sarah Olsowski
Most Valuable Player: Vanessa Batchelor
MEN'S SOCCER
Moe Bauer Sportsmanship Award: Birkir Petursson
Scholar-Athlete Award: Drew Wiltse
Co-Most Valuable Players: Birkir Petursson & Caetano Viegas
VOLLEYBALL
Moe Bauer Sportsmanship Award: Evie Hunter
Scholar-Athlete Award: Christina Huber
Most Valuable Player: Tori Stewart
CROSS COUNTRY
Moe Bauer Sportsmanship Award: Hannah Ivester
Scholar-Athlete Award: Leigh Hales
Most Valuable Player: Florencia Sorrentino
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Moe Bauer Sportsmanship Award: Cheria Turrentine
Scholar-Athlete Award: Timyra Staton
Most Valuable Player: Timyra Staton
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Moe Bauer Sportsmanship Award: Shannon Huff
Co-Scholar-Athlete Awards: Adrian Moore & Jesse Simpson
Co-Most Valuable Players: Adrian Moore & D.J. Weaver
BASEBALL
Moe Bauer Sportsmanship Award: James Kornegay
Scholar-Athlete Award: Dillon Moore
Co-Most Valuable Players: James Lovett & Ciro Norzagaray
GOLF
Moe Bauer Sportsmanship Award: Grady Anderson
Scholar-Athlete Award: Tommy Nakamura
Most Valuable Player: David White
SOFTBALL
Moe Bauer Sportsmanship Award: Abigail Leonard
Scholar-Athlete Award: Sarah Bowyer
Most Valuable Player: Jasmine Edgren
WOMEN'S TENNIS
Moe Bauer Sportsmanship Award: Stephany Barbera
Scholar-Athlete Award: Leigh Hales
Most Valuable Player: Valeria Berber
MEN'S TENNIS
Moe Bauer Sportsmanship Award: J.D. Telles
Scholar-Athlete Award: Mark Sokolov
Co-Most Valuable Players: Mike Konnov & Sebastian Sikh