Student-Athletes Honored at 43rd Annual Spring Banquet

Senior Dionne Gibson was named the track MVP, Senior Female Athlete of the year, and received the Hunter Cup

CHARLESTON, S.C. – With reading day and finals on the horizon this week, the Charleston Southern athletics department gathered one final time to hand out a number of awards at the 43rd Annual Spring Athletic Banquet.

Each team that has concluded play in the 2008-09 season handed out a sportsmanship and MVP award, while all teams took time to honor their seniors and letter winners from the past year.

The soccer team won the Buc Cup for the second year in a row for their attendance at various sporting events on campus, while the football team took home the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee’s Team Community Service Award. Marie Doan (track & field) and Amy Trenkamp (softball) were also given service awards for their involvement as SAAC representatives and officers.

Two of the highest honors that were given at the banquet were the Christian Leadership awards, given for their spiritual leadership on their team as much as athletic ability. Brittany Bolick (soccer) was named the R.L. Wynn Christian Leadership Award winner, while J.P. Poisson (track & field) earned the Michael Frost Christian Athlete Award.

The Senior Male Athlete of the Year was football player Jake Killeen, who is second in CSU history for tackles-for-loss, despite playing just two seasons for the Bucs. All-everything on the track Dionne Gibson was the Senior Female Athlete of the Year, holding a share of 10 different school records, and earning USTFCCCA All-American honors last year after posting the highest finish at the NCAA Championships of any CSU athlete.

Gibson’s day was not done as she was also named the recipient of the Hunter Cup, an award named after President Dr. Jairy C. Hunter, Jr., which recognizes an athlete for their all-around athletic, academic and character performances during their CSU career.

While many coaches provided scripture or inspirational words to the athletes, perhaps the biggest charge came from CSU alumnus and baseball coach, Stuart Lake. Lake told the crowd that much like many of the current athletes, when he attended the school it was easy to complain about what they did not have. 

“What we did have was friendships,” said Lake. “Those friendships are still there 14 years later. I want you all to be proud of where you are from, and once you graduate, come back and support the school, even if it is just coming to the games. It means so much to see all of the alumni in the stands.”

A full listing of the individual team awards can be found below and pictures from the event can be found here.

Basketball (Men’s)
Sportsmanship – Joel Lamb, Billy Blackmon

Basketball (Women’s)
Sportsmanship – Tina DeCarvalho
MVP – Pam Tolbert

Cross Country (Men’s)
Sportsmanship – Jesse Huff
MVP – Andrew King

Cross Country (Women’s)
Sportsmanship – Aundraya Camp
MVP – Brittany Owens

Football
Sportsmanship – Josh Warrior
MVP – Gerald Stevenson
Captains – Markus Murry, Mike McCann

Golf (Women’s)
Sportsmanship – Katrin Rumpf
MVP – Olivia Jordan-Higgins

Golf (Men’s)
Sportsmanship – Herve Gevers
MVP – Kelvin Day

Soccer
Sportsmanship – Alyssa Budros
MVP – Brittany Bolick

Softball
Sportsmanship – Elaine Edwards
MVP – Megan Lombard

Tennis (Women’s)
Sportsmanship – Andrea Schutte
MVP – Olga Makhova

Track and Field (Men’s Indoor)
Sportsmanship – Tom Lackland
MVP – Cornelius Tyler

Track and Field (Men’s Outdoor)
Sportsmanship – Cornelius Tyler
MVP – Levi Brooks

Track and Field (Women’s Combined)
Sportsmanship – Marie Doan
MVP – Dionne Gibson

Volleyball
Sportsmanship – Emily Libertowski
MVP – Amanda Hill

Athletic Training
Newcomer of the Year – Brittany Williams
Student Trainer of the Year – Crystal Rish
Captain’s Resolve – Katie Tull, J.W. Myers

Cheerleading
Captains Award – Jessie King and Lindsey Green
Most Improved – April Crews
Most Outstanding – April Crews