Student athletes and coaches filled the court of Allen Arena on Thursday night, but this time, it was not for a game.
The Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) hosted the inaugural Lippy Awards in Allen Arena to honor various members of Lipscomb University’s sports teams.
The awards show was hosted by student TJ Ojehomon and women’s soccer assistant coach Chris Klotz.
Both female and male athletes of the year were competitive categories, but for the female award, sophomore cross country/track and field runner Dani Walker and junior volleyball player Jewell Dobson tied. On the men’s side, track and field high-jumper Gemikal Prude, who broke the high jump record earlier in the year, won as well.
Prude said that winning the award was a blessing.
“Winning this is quite the blessing,” Prude said. “It’s a feeling that can’t really be described, especially when you feel as if you’re undeserving.”
The biggest award of the night, the Best Team Award, went to the women’s track and field/cross country.
Senior runner Lacey Printz said that the team worked hard and credited the coaches and team captains for keeping the team focused.
“This is the most incredible team we’ve had, and we just love running together and just having fun and doing it for God’s glory,” Printz said.
To open the night, the James R. Byers Award was presented to senior track and field sprinter Tucker Peabody, senior volleyball player Caitlin Dotson and junior cross country/track and field runner Tessa Hoefle.
The award is given to a top senior athlete who displays outstanding Christian leadership and excels academically and athletically. The honors had previously been announced at Saturday’s Don Meyer Evening of Excellence.
Track and field/cross country runner Juan Gonzalez won Male Freshman of the Year, and women’s soccer forward Ellen Lundy won Female Freshman of the Year.
Lipscomb sports bring in many international players, and the Lippys recognized the International Player of the Year. Sophomore tennis player Lorena Djuknic won the award. Djuknic is a native of Zagreb, Croatia.
All of the head coaches were nominated for Coach of the Year, and volleyball head coach Brandon Rosenthal won the award. The volleyball team finished 23-8 last season.
Co-host Chris Klotz won the award for Assistant Coach of the Year for his work with the women’s soccer team.
The Bison Cup, the award given the team who best supports other Lipscomb teams, went to the men’s tennis team.
The OUR TEAM Award was presented to Alex Ross, a former Lipscomb baseball player who now works for the university. He was given the award because of his service to the athletic department.
The Best Moment award went to both the men and women’s cross country teams for their dual Atlantic Sun Conference victories in November.
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The men’s basketball team won the award for Best Comeback. The team finished 12-18 in the 2012-13 season, but in head coach Casey Alexander’s first year, the team finished 15-15 and with a winning record in conference play (10-8).
Best Record-Breaking Performance was awarded to Prude and redshirt sophomore forward Ashley Southern. Prude won because of his record-breaking jump that qualified him for indoor nationals. Southern won due to her 22 double-doubles this past season, a school record.
The Matt Deery Award was awarded to April Terry and Ryan Terry. The recipients won the award because of their encouragement and inspiration to their teammates.
Hoefle won the Scholar of the Year Award for having the highest GPA and the most significant athletic impact.
Carousel photo and gallery credit: Erin Turner