Athletes Honored at 42nd Annual Athletic Banquet

By CSU Sports Information

CHARLESTON, S.C. – For the last time during the 2007-08 school year, all of the Charleston Southern student-athletes gathered to hand out a number of awards at a banquet on April 20.

Each team that has concluded their 2007-08 season handed out sportsmanship and most valuable player awards. The soccer team won the first-annual Buc Cup for their attendance at other athletic events, while the baseball team earned the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Team Community Service Award for the second-straight year. Football’s Tyrese Harris was given the SAAC Representative of the Year Award for his “above and beyond” participation in various community service events.

Volleyball player Nichole Diller was the R.L. Wynn Christian Leadership Award winner, and was moved to tears as she accepted her award. A closer on the mound for the baseball team, Payton Tweddale’s off-field accomplishments played a large factor in his awarding of the Michael Frost Christian Athlete Award. After passing out the award named in his honor, the former CSU (then Baptist College) track star, Dr. Frost, spoke to the athletes, urging them to “run every lap in life the best they can,” and reminding them that there is only one way to get to Heaven and that is through the grace of God.

Softball player Jill Shondel, the all-time doubles, extra-base hits, and hits leader was named the 2007-08 CSU Senior Female Athlete of the Year. On the men’s side, four-time Big South champion 400m runner Michael Rhue was named the 2007-08 CSU Senior Male Athlete of the Year.

Receiving his award at graduation, the Bucs also announced that kicker/punter Nick Ellis was the first-ever recipient of the Hunter Cup, an award named after President Dr. Jairy C. Hunter, which recognizes an athlete for their all-around athletic, academic, and character performances during their CSU career. Ellis, the all-time points leader in CSU history and school record for the longest field goal, and most field goals, was also an ADA Academic All-Star, and was named the 2008 Atlanta Area Boy Scouts Peach of an Athlete.

Pictures from the event can be found here.

A full listing of the individual team awards can be found below:

Basketball (Men’s)
Sportsmanship – Terrance Grier
MVP – Chris Moore

Basketball (Women’s)
Sportsmanship – Abby Poole
MVP – Pam Tolbert

Cross Country (Men’s)
Sportsmanship – Ronald Hunter
MVP – Andrew King

Cross Country (Women’s)
Sportsmanship – Rachel Moss
MVP – Brittany Owens

Football
Sportsmanship – Alexius Ferguson
MVP – Jada Ross

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

Soccer
Sportsmanship – Alyssa Budros
MVP – Brittany Bolick

Tennis (Men’s)
Sportsmanship – Thomas Mullikin
MVP – Guy David

Tennis (Women’s)
Sportsmanship – Andrea Schutte
MVP – Aodhnait Lombard

Track and Field (Men’s Indoor)
Sportsmanship – J.P. Poisson
MVP – Levi Brooks

Track and Field (Men’s Outdoor)
Sportsmanship – Cornelius Tyler
MVP – Alonzo Spurley

Track and Field (Women’s Indoor)
Sportsmanship – Jessica Thomas
MVP – Jocelyn Davis

Track and Field (Women’s Outdoor)
Sportsmanship – Tia Habbersham
MVP – Dionne Gibson

Volleyball
Sportsmanship – Canan Erdogan
MVP – Renae Popovich

Athletic Training
Newcomer of the Year – Angel Van Esson
Student Trainer of the Year – Leanna Fortner
Captain’s Resolve – Alyssa Clay

Cheerleading
Captains Award – Jessica Hoyle and Lindsey Green
Most Improved – Jessie King and Desmond Little
Most Outstanding – McKenzie Byrd