Brevard College Student-Athletes Celebrated at 2022-23 BESPYs

BREVARD, N.C. - The Department of Athletics hosted the 2022-23 "BESPYs", the college's annual athletic awards banquet on Thursday, April 20 at the Boshamer Gymnasium. 

The BESPYs were presented by the Brevard College Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) with student broadcasters Scott Douglas and Brady Penn serving as event MC's. 

Several major awards were presented to standout student-athletes over the course of the evening in front of an audience of over 400 members of the Brevard College community.

The Ann Etters Award is given annually to the underclassman student-athlete who best displays excellence athletically, academically, and through dedicated service to the BC community.  The 2022-23 Ann Etters Award was presented to Emily Denaga, a sophomore women's lacrosse student-athlete.

The John McKissick Award, presented annually to the most outstanding football senior student-athlete both on and off the field, was awarded to senior running back Mitchell Yoder.  The Chuck Dunbar Team Spirit Award was presented to men's soccer senior Scott Douglas

Additional award winners included USA Cycling individual omnium national champion Cole Punchard (Cyclist of the Year), women's basketball student-athlete Oliva Miller (Female Rookie of the Year) and baseball student-athlete Connor Crosby (Male Rookie of the Year).  In addition, an award presentation to senior baseball student athlete Blake Burchett who won the NCAA Division III stolen bases crown in 2022.

The Brevard College Perfect Storm awards are given to the most outstanding overall Tornado student-athletes both in sport and in the classroom.  Brooke Garland of women's tennis won the Female Perfect Storm Award, while football and baseball dual-sport athlete Joc Pledger was named the Male Perfect Storm Award winner.

The Female Athlete of the Year was presented to junior Makenna Parkins, a dual-sport student athlete from volleyball and women's basketball.  Ryan Lynch, a junior men's soccer student-athlete, was named the Male Athlete of the Year.

The second annual David and Lynne Joyce Award was presented to Pledger of baseball and football.  The award is presented to the graduating senior student-athlete who displays superior performance in competition, in the classroom and in the community over an entire four-year career at Brevard College.

The women's lacrosse team recaptured the Tornado Cup, given to the team that accumulates the most points in the Tornado Cup Challenge with the components of Academic Excellence, Athletic Excellence, Personal Development, Community Service and Athletes Supporting Athletes. 

The BC women's soccer team earned the Highest Team GPA with the highest cumulative grade point average amongst BC's athletic teams. 

Members of the USA South Conference champion men's soccer team were presented with their conference championship rings in a ceremony that included Brevard College President Bradley J Andrews, Director of Athletics Myranda Nash, Head Men's Soccer Coach Helio "L" D'Anna and Assistant Coach Mario Pinto.

The event included a special tribute dedicated to the late Dr. Stephen E. Knott, the beloved Faculty Athletics Representative at Brevard College, who tragically passed away last August.

As part of the program, BC graduating senior student-athletes received their senior gifts and graduates with a GPA of 3.0 or higher also received a scholar-athlete graduation stole to be worn at the upcoming Brevard College Commencement.

In addition to the major Brevard College awards, a plethora of conference and national awards were also handed out to the Tornado student-athletes. 

To follow the latest news and updates surrounding Brevard College Athletics, follow the Tornados on Twitter/Instagram @BCTornados, subscribe to 'Brevard College Tornados' on YouTube and SoundCloud, and follow 'Brevard College Tornado Athletics' on Facebook.  In addition, follow 'brevardcollege' on Flickr for photos from BC events.

SAAC Executve Board

JaMarcus Walker, Men's Tennis – President

Brooke Garland, Women's Tennis – Vice President

Caelyn Murphy, Volleyball – Secretary

Cassidy Hutto, Women's Lacrosse – Community Engagement

Sly White, Men's Basketball – Marketing Coordinator

2022-23 Brevard College Athletics Awards

Tornado Cup – Women's Lacrosse

Highest Team GPA Award – Women's Soccer

Ann Etters Excellence Award – Emily Denaga, Women's Lacrosse

John McKissick Award – Mitchell Yoder, Football

Chuck Dunbar Team Spirit Award – Scott Douglas, Men's Soccer

Cyclist of the Year – Cole  Punchard

Female Rookie of the Year – Olivia Miller, Women's Basketball
Male Rookie of the Year – Connor Crosby, Baseball
Female Perfect Storm Award – Brooke Garland, Women's Tennis
Male Perfect Storm Award – Joc Pledger, Baseball/Football
Female Athlete of the Year –  Makenna Parkins, Volleyball/Women's Basketball
Male Athlete of the Year – Ryan Lynch, Men's Soccer

David and Lynne Joyce Legacy Award – Joc Pledger, Baseball/Football

Conference/National Awards (as of 5/4/23)

Women's Soccer:

Nicole Arroyo, USA South Rookie of the Week

Channing Barker, CSC Academic All-District

Grace Black, CSC Academic All-District

Maddy Edwards, CSC Academic All-District

Olivia Griswood, USA South All-Sportsmanship Team

Alyssa Heatherington, CSC Academic All-District

Mackenzie Lozano, USA South Defensive Player of the Week

Abbie Mayer, USA South Player of the Week and All-Conference Honorable Mention

Kiara Porcelli, USA South Rookie of the Week

Abbie Worsencroft, CSC Academic All-District

Autumn Wright, CSC Academic All-District

Men's Soccer:

Rocco Barbon, CSC Academic All-District, 1st Team All-Conference, USA South All-Tournament Team

Francesco Bonometti, CSC Academic All-District

Igor da Silva, CSC Academic All-District, 2ndTeam All-Conference, USA South All-Tournament Team and USA South Tournament Most Valuable Player

Luis dos Santos, Second-Team All-Conference

Tom Dussauge, USA South All-Tournament Team

Rodrigo Garcia, USA South All-Tournament Team

Ryan Lynch, 2-Time USA South Player of Week, 1st Team All-Conference and USA South All-Tournament Team

Daniel Morgan, USA South Rookie of the Week

Sam O'Callaghan, CSC Academic All-District, USA South All-Sportsmanship Team, 1st Team All-Conference

Matheus Rossi, 2-time USA South Defensive Player of the Week, USA South All-Tournament Team

Cross Country

Zoe Capps, All-Sportsmanship Team

Dalton Hawley, USA South Runner of the Week, All-Sportsmanship Team

Football

Luis Alvarez, CSC Academic All-District

Stamati Damalos, 4-Time USA South Conference Special Teams Player of Week, 1st Team All-Conference

Obidiah Grimes, USA South Defensive Rookie of the Week

Miles Hayes, USA South All-Sportsmanship Team

Cooper Hogan, CSC Academic All-District

Toby Naylor, USA South Defensive Player of the Week, 2nd Team All-Conference

Justin Parker, CSC Academic All-District, NFF Hampshire Honor Society

Reece Rubio, NFF Hampshire Honor Society

Ernest Smith II, USA South Defensive Player of the Week

Brandon Unangst, 2nd Team All-Conference

James Woods, USA South Special Teams Player of the Week

Mitchell Yoder, USA South Offensive Player of the Week

Volleyball

Bailey Lance, CSC Academic All-District

Caelyn Murphy, USA South All-Sportsmanship Team

Makenna Parkins, USA South All-Conference Honorable Mention

Kaitlyn Pressley, CSC Academic All-District

Grace Pukas, CSC Academic All-District

Men's Basketball

Jadon Carnes, 2-Time USA South Rookie of the Week

Quincy Carter, USA South Conference All-Sportsmanship Team

Garrett Sutherland, CSC Academic All-District

Kavan Horton, 2-Time USA South Rookie of the Week

Sly White, USA South Player of the Week

Women's Basketball

Olivia Miller, 3-Time USA South Conference Rookie of the Week, USA South Conference Rookie of the Year and USA South All-Conference Honorable Mention

Makenna Parkins, CSC Academic All-District, 2-time USA South Player of the Week and First Team All-Conference

Chyna Pouncey, CSC Academic All-District

Makayla Street, 3-Time USA Conference Rookie of the Week

Journey Tyler, CSC Academic All-District, USA South All-Sportsmanship Team

Calli Wells, CSC Academic All-District

Women's Lacrosse

Emily Denaga, USA South Player of the Week

Xan Hill, USA South Rookie of the Week

Autumn Kramer, IWLCA D3 National Co-Offensive Player of the Week, USA South Player of Week

Paige Kneubuhler, 2-Time USA South Rookie of the Week

Lex MacLauchlin, USA South Defensive Player of the Week

Parker Moore, IWLCA D3 National Co-Offensive Player of the Week, 2-Time USA South Player of Week

Nicole Volk, USA South All-Sportsmanship Team

Men's Lacrosse

Drew Pond, USA South Rookie of the Week

Ben Wilhelm, USA South All-Sportsmanship Team

Baseball

Blake Burchett, Second Team All-Conference, USA South Player of the Week

Connor Crosby, 3-time USA South Rookie Pitcher of the Week

Lucas Granata, D3Baseball.com Team of the Week

Hayden Jennings, USA South All-Sportsmanship Team

Frankie Vasquez, First Team All-Conference, USA South Player of the Week

Softball

Karley Queen, USA South All-Sportsmanship Team

Men's Tennis

Noah Lewis and Ethan McGee, USA South Conference Doubles Team of the Week

JaMarcus Walker, USA South All-Sportsmanship Team

Women's Tennis

Brooke Garland, USA South All-Sportsmanship Team

Hannah Hersh, 1st Team All-Conference, 2-Time USA South Conference Player of the Week

Hannah Hersh and Alli Kogoy, 2-Time USA South Conference Doubles Team of the Week

Men's Track & Field

Luis Alvarez, USA South All-Sportsmanship Team, 3rd Team All-Conference (4x100 relay)

Brooks Ashford Jr., 3rd Team All-Conference (4x100 relay)

Devon Brodmyer, 2nd Team All-Conference (800 meters), 3rd Team All-Conference (5,000 meters)

Gabriel Covington, 2nd Team All-Conference (Shot Put)

DeShawn Curtis, 3rd Team All-Conference (4x100 relay)

Dalton Hawley, 3rd Team All-Conference (1,500 meters)

Garrett Spangler, 3rd Team All-Conference (10,000 meters), 3rd Team All-Conference (3,000 meter Steeplechase)

Reginald Taylor II, 3rd Team All-Conference (100 meters), 3rd Team All-Conference (4x100 relay)

Jaxsen Wilkerson, 2nd Team All-Conference (110 hurdles), 3rd Team All-Conference (High Jump), 3rd Team All-Conference (Triple Jump), 3rd Team All-Conference (Long Jump)

Women's Track & Field  

Channing Barker, 2nd Team All-Conference (800 meters)

Haylea Layne-Miller, 3rd Team All-Conference (100 hurdles), 3rd Team All-Conference (400 hurdles)

Isabell Musser, 2nd Team All-Conference (Discus)

Grace Pukas, USA South All-Sportsmanship Team

Makayla Street, 2nd Team All-Conference (High Jump), 3rd Team All-Conference (200 meters)

-BC-