UNIVERSITY OF MONTEVALLO ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT AWARD WINNERS
NEAL SHIRLEY AWARD (Male Student-Athlete of the Year)
Neal Shirley was the first male president of the University of Montevallo Student Government Association and was a member of the school's first baseball team. Shirley received the "Distinguished UM Alumnus" award in 1972, served on the UM Board of Trustees, was President of the UM Alumni Association and was a member of the UM Foundation Board of Directors. Shirley was inducted into the University of Montevallo Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994.
2025  Alexei Kolesnikov      Men's Swimming
2024   Gabe Hixenbaugh  Wrestling
2023    Sam Kuchinski         Baseball
          Joe Leventry              Men's Cross Country/Track
          Will Mahone               Men's Swimming
2022  Thomas Vaesen     Men's Lacrosse
      Reed Latimer       Baseball
      Joe Leventry         Men's Track and Field
2021   DaShaun Morgan      Men's Track and Field
2020   DaShaun Morgan    Men's Track and Field
2019   Georg Trompler       Men's Tennis
      Tyler Krabbe         Baseball
2018   Alex Pondick        Baseball
      Kyle Little           Men's Lacrosse
2017   Javonte Douglas     Men's Basketball
      Matthew Furuto      Baseball
2016   Terrell Lipkins       Men's Basketball
      Taylor Walker        Baseball
2015   Troran Brown        Men's Basketball
2014   Troran Brown        Men's Basketball
2013   Brendan Ledgeway   Men's Soccer
2012   Antoine Davis        Men's Basketball
2011   Nathaniel Foster     Men's Soccer
2010   Chris Sosebee       Baseball
2009   Jonathan Maloney     Men's Soccer
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MARGARET BLALOCK AWARD (Female Student-Athlete of the Year)
Margaret Blalock graduated from the University of Montevallo in 1957. After going on to earn her doctorate, Blalock came back to UM in 1966 and taught for 23 years. She helped establish the women's athletic program here at Montevallo and was instrumental in the formation of the Alabama Women's Intercollegiate Sports Association. Dr. Blalock led the volleyball team to the 1972 state championship, the runner-up position in the regional championship, and a trip to the national tournament. From 1972-1976, her teams finished in the state top three five times. She also guided the UM tennis team to a fourth place state finish in 1972. She was the first woman to be inducted in the University of Montevallo Athletic Hall of Fame, going into the Hall of Fame as a part of the inaugural class of 1989.
2025  Morgan Goehring                             Women's Soccer
2024  Nyla Shipman                                  Women's Track and Field
2023  Allie Dishman                                  Volleyball
2022   Evelina Teran                  Volleyball
       Sierra Easterwood              Softball
2021      Justine Glass                 Women's Cross Country/Track and Field
2020      Taylor Gonzales               Women's Cross Country/ Track and Field
2019    Hunter Chavarry              Women's Track and Field
2018    Katie Nelson                  Women's Cross Country/Women's Track and Field
              Hunter Chavarry              Women's Track and Field
2017    Kristy Bohan                 Volleyball
        Arin Eddy                    Women's Golf
        Katie Nelson                 Women's Cross Country/Women's Track and Field
        Cheyenne Thompson          Women's Cross Country/Women's Track and Field
        Kelsey Vining                Softball
2016   Katie Nelson                  Women's Cross Country/Women's Track and Field
       Elaine Wood                  Women's Golf
2015   Katie Nelson                  Women's Cross Country/Women's Track and Field
       Cheyenne Thompson           Women's Cross Country/Women's Track and Field
              Elaine Wood                  Women's Golf
2014      Manyi Ati                     Volleyball
2013    Kaley Glover                 Women's Cross Country
2012      Haley Evans                  Women's Cross Country
2011      Emily Gibson                 Women's Golf
2010      Emily Gibson                 Women's Golf
2009      Adele Jackson                Women's Soccer
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WALTER BENNETTÂ AWARD (Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year)
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2025  Matt Sheahan                                  Men's Soccer
2024  Gerry York                                      Men's Lacrosse
2023   Matt Simon                                   Baseball
2022Â Â Â TBDÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â TBD
2021     Milan Ludlage                 Men's Tennis Â
2020   Charles Wood                                 Men's GolfÂ
2019   Tyler Updike                  Men's Basketball
2018     Cage Williamson               Men's Track and Field
2017    Matthew Furuto               Baseball
2016      Cody Hughes                 Baseball
2015      Ram Gilad                    Men's Soccer
2014      Jackson Tolleson              Men's Soccer
2013      Austin Dubberly               Baseball
2012      Vance Curro                  Men's Soccer
2011      David Esser                  Men's Soccer   Â
2010      Tripp Cash                   Men's Golf
2009      Jim Witherow                Men's Soccer
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JAN EAGLES AWARD (Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year)
2025  A.K. Eastman                                  Women's Basketball
          Paulina Bermejo                              Women's Golf
2024  Olivia Bergert                                  Softball
          Allie Dishman                                  Volleyball
          Marisa Snodgrass                           Women's Basketball
          Amber Fisher                                     Women's Cross Country
2023  Darby Bevis                                      Women's Soccer
          Courtney Keeler                                 Women's Cross Country/Track and Field
          Macy Lowery                                     Volleyball
          Lily McCormick                                 Women's Lacrosse
          Taylor Robinson                                 Softball
          Hannah Waki                                      Women's Soccer
2022Â Â Â TBDÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â TBD
2021  Sadie Bopst                     Women's Lacrosse
          Kristen Chance                                  Women's Soccer
          Alexis Cortez                                      Softball
          Samara Lino                                      Women's Soccer
          Hailey Vance                                      Women's Swimming Â
2020   Michaela Henderson                       VolleyballÂ
2019      Hunter Chavarry                Women's Track and Field
2018   Nicolette Fiessinger             Volleyball
             Taylor Gonzales                Women's Soccer/Women's Track and Field
2017    Cheyenne Thompson                   Women's Cross Country/Women's Track and Field
2016      Rebekah Phelps                              Volleyball
2015      Nikola Polcerova                             Women's Tennis
2014      Kaitlin Thomas                Women's Soccer
2013      Lauren Blair                   Women's Tennis
2012      Anna Garrison                 Volleyball
2011      Calli Robinson                                  Women's Tennis
2010      Brittany Correia                                Women's Soccer
2009      Corey Gros                    Women's Soccer
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DEWAYNE PEEVY AWARD (Student who best exemplifies school spirit)
2025  Savannah Cook                             Women's Basketball
          Diogo Mazzoco                             Men's Soccer
2024  Maddie Taylor                              Softball
          Mark Shoebridge                          Men's Soccer
2023     Cyba Ozzor                                  Women's Tennis
             Micah Flores                               Men's Track and Field
2022   Hannah Waki                 Women's Soccer
       Kyle Tidwell                  Men's Track and Field
2021     Linda Silva                                     Women's Lacrosse
       Sergi Martinez                               Men's Tennis
2020   Alyssa Williams                             Women's BasketballÂ
2019   Wil Mitchell                  Men's Track and Field
2018   Brett Batchelor                             Men's Golf
2017    Grace Harris                 Volleyball
2016      Lexes Wilson                Softball
2015      Octavia Saunders             Women's Soccer/Women's Tennis
2014      David Smith                  Men's Cross Country
2013      Britt Gable                   Women's Soccer
2012      Zackery Walsh               Men's Cross Country
2011      Hayley Gant                  Women's Tennis
2010      Katie Johnson               Volleyball
        Angela Bounassisi            Women's Soccer
2009      Katie Vanderhyden           Women's Basketball
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MALE SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD (Male student who best exemplifies sportsmanship)
2025      Reese Gurner                                 Men's Basketball
2024      Amari Lewis                                  Men's Track and Field   Â
2023      Khalid Collymore                          Baseball
              Dylan Kamel                                  Men's Tennis
2022    Gavin Salton                  Men's Tennis
2021      Brennan Ferguson             Baseball
2020       Jake Morris                                     Baseball
2019    Kyle Little                    Baseball
2018      Tanner Koch                  Baseball
2017    Matthew Furuto               Baseball
2016      Jordan Poche                 Men's Cross Country/Men's Track and Field
2015      Donny Barnes                Men's Cross Country/Men's Track and Field
2014      Steven Didik                  Men's Soccer
2013      Austin Dubberly                            Baseball
2012      Duston Daugherty                        Baseball
2011      Ruwaldt Viljoen               Men's Soccer
2010      Kevin Garcia                 Baseball
2009      Ryan Norman                Baseball
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FEMALE SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD (Female student who best exemplifies sportsmanship)
2025      Reagan Oliver                               Women's Cross Country/Track and Field
2024      Claire Jaramba                              Women's Tennis
2023      Courtney Keeler                             Women's Cross Country/Track and Field
2022    Mychael McMillan             Softball
2021      Cyba Ozzor                                     Women's Tennis
2020    Shyan Flack                  Women's Basketball
2019    Marisa Sosa                   Softball
2018      Emily Beatty                                   Women's Tennis
2017    Sierra Millsaps                  Women's Cross Country/Women's Track and Field
2016      Allison Howell                                 Women's Tennis
2015      Nicole Johnston                              Women's Soccer
2014      Haley Highfield                               Women's Tennis
2013      Betsy Stevenson                             Volleyball
2012      Anna Garrison                 Volleyball
2011      Denise Mannion                               Women's Soccer
2010      Erin Duncan                   Women's Soccer
2009      Lauren Tortorici                              Volleyball
               Monica Tortorici                Volleyball
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SAAC MOST INFLUENTIAL AWARDÂ
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2025    Jeffrey Tubbs                              Wrestling
              Isabel Dillehay                             Women's Soccer
2024      Gabe Hixenbaugh                        Wrestling
              Maddie Taylor                              Softball
2023Â Â Â Â Â Â TBD
2022    Joe Leventry                  Men's Track and Field
2021      Xavier Malcom                               Men's Basketball
2020    Kyle Little                                  Men's Lacrosse
2019    Wil Mitchell                    Men's Track and Field
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FEMALE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR AWARDÂ
2025Â Â Shadia Valenzuela (Transfer)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Women's Soccer
          Alexandria Morgan (Freshman)   Women's Swimming
          Nikol Antova (Freshman)              Volleyball
2024  Emily Wolf                                      Women's Track and Field
2023  Angelina Rivas                                 Women's Soccer
2022  Skylar Suggit                  Women's Track and Field
2021  Casey Hendrixson                          Volleyball
2020  Marisa Snodgrass                         Women's BasketballÂ
2019  Romee Contreras                      Women's Soccer
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MALE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR AWARDÂ
2025Â Â Jake Chisolm (Transfer)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Wrestling
          Jacob Pearl (Freshman)              Baseball
          Austin Abney                                 Men's Track and Field
2024  Janek Barczyk                              Men's Swimming
2023  Alex Egorshin                                 Men's Lacrosse
          Tyler Moore                                     Men's Basketball
2022   Sam Kuchinski                Baseball
2021   Ray Asmakis                                   Men's Swimming
2020   Caleb Long                    Men's Track and Field
2019   Kordell Primus                      Men's Lacrosse
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INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
2025Â Â Alexei Kolesnikov (Men's Swimming) Won four Conference Carolina titles at the 2025 CC Championships
          Eric Boutwell (Men's Golf) Won the first tournament of the season by setting a UM record at -14 with a course record -11 in round one at the Full Moon Invitational
2024Â Â Brandon Fussell (Men's Basketball) Ties UM and GSC record for a freshman with 50 points on 23 shots in a win against UWF as a true freshman
          Caleb Kariuki (Men's Track and Field) Won the long jump and triple jump at the GSC Indoor Championship
          Sydnee Reaves (Softball) Became third player in program history to hit for the cycle on Mar. 30 against Valdosta State. Set single-game program record with eight RBI and 12 total bases
2023  Braxton Bertolette (Men's Basketball) scored 50 points and broke three school records against AUM
          Will Mahone (Men's Swimming) Finished 8th nationally in the 200-meter backstroke with a school record time
2022   Mabry Norris' (Softball) no hitter vs Christian Brothers on March 13 at Orr Park
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PLAYÂ OF THE YEAR
2025Â Â Morgan Goehring (Women's Soccer) Game-winning goal against No. 12 Florida Tech in NCAA Second Round
2024Â Â Gabe Hixenbaugh (Wrestling) Take down in the last second to make the national finals
2023Â Â Sam Kuchinski (Baseball) Walk-off homer against UAH
          Anja Kuys (Women's Lacrosse) Game-winning goal against RV UVA-wise on the road
          James McNeil (Men's Basketball) Game-winning three-pointer against AUM
2022   Mario Gratzl (Men's Soccer) with the OT game winner vs AUM to clinch GSC regular season championship
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MALE IRON FALCON
2025     Khalil Bell                                           Baseball
2024     Cristobal Porter                                  Men's Soccer
2023     Ben Boldt                                             Men's Lacrosse
2022   Reed Latimer                    Baseball
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FEMALE IRON FALCONÂ
2025     Molly Pendley                                     Softball
2024     Reagan Oliver                                   Women's Track and Field
2023     Lauren Higginbotham                      Softball
2022   Isabelle Fuell                    Volleyball
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Game of the Year
2025Â Â Â Â Â Â Baseball - 5-2 Win over No. 1 Tampa
2024Â Â Â Â Â Â Men's Lacrosse - 19-18 OT win at No. 7 Florida Southern
2023Â Â Â Â Â Â Softball - 8-7 win over No.11 UAH
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Above and Beyond
2025      Savian Graham                  Wrestling
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Heart of Service
2025      Farrah Hawkins                  Women's Track and Field      Â
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Comeback Player of the Year
2025    Morgan Trites                      Men's Lacrosse
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Rise Above
2025    Jaylen Curry                         Men's Basketball
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Sea of Purple
2025Â Â Â Â Women's Tennis
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PRESIDENT'S AWARD (Team with the highest cumulative grade-point average)
2023Â Â Â Â Women's Basketball
2022   Women's Tennis                                          Â
2021Â Â Â Women's Golf
2020Â Â Â Women's Golf
2019Â Â Â Women's Tennis
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â Women's Tennis
2017    Women's Tennis  Â
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â Women's Cross Country
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Women's Cross Country
2014Â Â Â Â Â Â Women's Tennis
2013Â Â Â Â Â Â Women's Tennis
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â Volleyball
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Women's Tennis
2010Â Â Â Â Â Â Men's Golf
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â Men's Golf
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FALCON CUP
The Falcon Cup is awarded by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee to the team that best combined academics, community service and SAAC attendance during the academic year.
2023Â Â Â Â Baseball
2023Â Â Â Â Â Â Volleyball
2022Â Â Â Â Men's SoccerÂ
2022Â Â Â Â Â Â Volleyball
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â Volleyball
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â No winner due to COVID
2019Â Â Â Â Volleyball
2018Â Â Â Â Softball
2017Â Â Â Â Â Â Volleyball
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Volleyball
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Women's Cross Country
