Athletics Set for Fourth Annual FLAMESPY Awards
4/27/2015 12:00:00 AM | General
Liberty Athletics will celebrate another highly successful year of academics, athletics and community service at the fourth annual FLAMESPY Award show. The event will be hosted this evening, starting at 7 p.m.
The elegant evening opens with a reception-style event for all of Liberty's student-athletes, coaches, administrators and special invited guests in the Schilling Center.
The glitz and glamour of the evening continues when the invitees start to make their way into the Tower Theater. Guests will receive the "red carpet treatment," including the flashes of the photographers and red carpet host interviews as they enter the Tower for the ceremony.
Once inside the Theater, guests will be treated to a 75-minute show, hosted by Liberty Flames Sports Network reporter Alan York and Donna Barber. A total of 22 awards will be presented throughout the night.
Following the show, Liberty's student-athletes, coaches, administrators and special invited guests will return to the Schilling Center for an additional time of celebration. The fun-filled post-show event will give the evening's attendees one last chance to congratulate the award winners and celebrate the soon-to-be completed athletics season.
AD – Commitment to Excellence Award
Award Description: Given to a senior student-athlete with a cumulative grade point average of a 4.0.
• Award winner announced during the FLAMESPY Award show
Gifts of the Spirit Award
Award Description: Given annually to the tutor that exemplifies all of the fruits of the spirit while assisting student-athletes academically, socially and spiritually.
• Award winner announced during the FLAMESPY Award show
Darius Dixon Service Award
Award Description: Given annually to a student-athlete or team who gives freely and unselfishly of their time to community activities, they inspire others and act as a role model as well as improve the lives of others through voluntary giving. The award is named in honor of former track & field student-athlete Darius Dixon, who was committed to community service before he tragically passed away on Dec. 7, 2013.
• Award winner announced during the FLAMESPY Award show
Perseverance of Job
Award Description: Given to a student-athlete who has triumphed and overcome obstacles as well as difficulties over their Liberty University athletics career or in recent months.
• Brittany Aanderud (Women's Soccer)
• Yana Babbitt (Women's Track & Field)
• Caroline Douglas (Volleyball)
• Emily Frazier (Women's Basketball)
Support Staff of the Year Award
Award Description: Presented annually to a member of the athletics department staff that athletics could not do without.
• Eric Brown (Assistant Athletics Communications Director)
• Ryan Kindt (Director of Ticket Sales)
• Dan Maxam (Assistant Athletics Director for Facilities)
• Keely McMillon (Women's Olympic Sports Director of Operations)
• Joe Rixon (Assistant Director of Ticket Operations)
Best Clutch Performance
Award Description: Given to the best or most significant performance by a student-athlete in a game, match or meet.
• Karly Buer vs. Saint Joseph's (Women's Basketball)
• Caroline Douglas vs. Virginia (Volleyball)
• John Lunsford vs. Richmond (Football)
• Sam Matheson vs. Coastal Carolina (Men's Tennis)
Best Finish Award
Award Description: Given to the team or student-athlete with the best game, winning shot, goal, run or hit.
• Mallory Cuccio vs. No. 11 Louisville (Field Hockey)
• Crystal Elmers vs. Longwood (Women's Soccer)
• Jacob Hagen vs. Appalachian State (Football)
• Chima Uzowihe vs. No. 1 Coastal Carolina (Football)
Best Upset Award
Award Description: Given to the team or student-athlete with the best, most significant or most impressive upset of the year.
• Field Hockey defeats No. 4 Stanford on Nov. 8, 2014
• Football defeats No. 1 Coastal Carolina on Nov. 22, 2014
• Softball defeats Arkansas, 5-2, on Feb. 13, 2015
• Women's Tennis defeats No. 71 Pacific, 5-2, on March, 10, 2015
Best Championship Performance Award
Award Description: Given to the best or most significant performance in a championship/postseason match, series or tournament.
• Aklesso Agama at 2015 Big South Indoor Track & Field Championship (Men's Track & Field)
• Serena Barr helps Liberty win the 2014 NorPac Championship (Field Hockey)
• Jacy Christiansen wins the 2015 Big South Women's Cross Country Individual title
• Ashley Rininger at 2015 Big South Women's Basketball Championship (Women's Basketball)
Most Outstanding Team Award
Award Description: Given to the best team based on their record, conference championship wins and national rankings.
• Baseball
• Football
• Women's Basketball
• Men's Track & Field
Play of the Year Award
Award Description: Given for the singe play or performance that made the most impact on a game or season.
• Kenny Scott vs. James Madison (Football)
• Sam Struss vs. George Washington (Women's Lacrosse)
• Sammy Taormina vs. Penn State (Baseball)
• Chima Uzowihe vs. Coastal Carolina (Football)
Assistant Coach of the Year Award
Award Description: Presented to an assistant coach who helped their team achieve a high level of success athletically, academically, socially and spiritually.
• Jessica Barnes (Swimming & Diving)
• Giancarlo Lemmi (Women's Tennis)
• Robert Wimberly (Football)
• Clendon Henderson (Track & Field)
Head Coach of the Year Award
Award Description: Presented to a head coach who guides their athletics program to reach the highest level of success athletically, academically, socially and spiritually.
• Turner Gill (Football)
• Carey Green (Women's Basketball)
• Jeff Maren (Women's Tennis)
• Jim Toman (Baseball)
Breakthrough Athlete of the Year Award
Award Description: Given to the student-athlete who made the most impact or significant breakthrough during their season.
• D.J. Abnar (Football)
• Juliann Elmer (Women's Lacrosse)
• Theo Johnson (Men's Basketball)
Female Rookie Athlete of the Year Award
Award Description: Given to the female freshman or redshirt student-athlete who was dedicated, positive, hard-working, and made an immediate impact to their program.
• Evangeline Crist (Women's Tennis)
• Ednah Kurgat (Women's Track & Field)
• Katy Pridemore (Women's Lacrosse)
• Hannah Weidner (Volleyball)
Male Rookie Athlete of the Year Award
Award Description: Given to the male freshmen or redshirt student-athlete who was dedicated, positive, hard-working, and made an immediate impact to their program.
• Diego Castano (Men's Tennis)
• Jovanni Chavez (Men's Soccer)
• Titus Koech (Men's Cross Country/Track & Field)
• Isaiah Logue (Men's Golf)
Best Female Athlete of the Year Award
Award Description: Presented to an individual female student-athlete based on their yearly stats and athletics accolades.
• Kelby Allen (Softball)
• Kendall Hough (Swimming & Diving)
• Holly Van Noord (Women's Soccer)
• Ashley Rininger (Women's Basketball)
Best Male Athlete of the Year Award
Award Description: Presented to an individual male student-athlete based on their yearly stats and athletics accolades.
• Shawn Clowers (Baseball)
• Mathieu Fenasse (Men's Golf)
• Jacob Hagen (Football)
• Tim Harbison (Men's Soccer)
Rock Royer/Mac Rivera Award
Award Description: In 1975, the Rock Royer/Mac Rivera Award was established to honor the top graduating senior student-athlete at Liberty University who best exemplifies the standards and lives of both of these great Christian men. Rock Royer was Liberty's first football coach in 1973. Mac Rivera was a member of Liberty's basketball team from 1972 until 1975. Both Rock Royer and Mac Rivera tragically died at a young age. This award encompasses more than just athletic ability. It recognizes the Liberty University graduating senior student-athlete who has maintained an exemplary testimony on the playing field, in the classroom and among the student body.
• Maddie Boone (Womens' Soccer)
• Jacy Christiansen (Women's Cross Country/Track & Field)
• Alex Close (Baseball)
• Dominique Davis (Football)
• Helen Doolittle (Field Hockey)
• Emily Frazier (Women's Basketball)
• Megan Robinson (Softball)
• Dillon Segur (Men's Tennis)
• John Sherret (Men's Cross Country/Track & Field)
Dr. Jerry Falwell Leadership Award (Female and Male Award Winners)
Award Description: Presented annually to one male and one female who has exemplified Dr. Falwell's vision through leadership, commitment to academics, athletic talent and service to others.
• Award winners announced during the FLAMESPY Award show
Cornerstone Award
Award Description: Presented annually to an individual honoring their commitment to continue Dr. Jerry Falwell's vision of making Liberty Athletics one of the top NCAA Division I programs in the country.
• Award winners announced during the FLAMESPY Award show
