Winthrop student-athletes, seniors recognized for hard work on and off field
Tuesday, May 3, 2011 at 10:12AM By David Thackham
thackhamd@mytjnow.com
Winthrop University awarded 21 student-athletes on Sunday, May 1, with recognition awards for their exemplary work on and off the field during the 2010-2011 academic year. The ceremony, held in the DiGiorgio Campus Center Ballroom, also honored 44 seniors within 13 varsity sports for their contributions to the Eagle program.
The awards honor each student-athlete for his/her accomplishments, both academically and athletically, leadership, and service to Winthrop and the community.
The cross country and track programs swept most of the major endowment accolades, with seven. Senior distance runner Carly Moss scored two, taking the Senior Academic Award (awarded to the male and female senior athletes with the highest grade point average) and the Griffin- Guettler Award (awarded to those with the highest GPA in the program).
“It was quite a surprise for us last night,” said coach Ben Paxton, head of Winthrop’s cross country and track squads. “We are proud at stressing performance on track as well as the classroom.”
The golf and baseball programs came away with three awards each, while women’s soccer, men’s basketball, and volleyball earned two awards apiece.
Katie Bolling, a junior women’s golf player, snagged the most coveted honor of the night, The Roman Gabriel, Sr. Endowed Scholarship, awarded to a student-athlete whose demonstrated commitment to athletics and academics best exemplifies the concept of a “student-athlete.” Bolling has been a consistent presence on the course this year. In 2010-2011, she led her team in 1st round average, while notching up 2nd place positions in last round average, Par 3 scoring and Par 4 scoring.
Key seniors will be leaving Winthrop and in great number. Baseball and women’s soccer are the hardest hit by graduation, with seven players exiting. New women’s basketball coach Marlene Stollings will have to do without the services of Ashley Cox, Chantel Johnson and Lacey Lyons on the court, while men’s basketball coach Randy Peele will take on the 2011-2012 season minus Charles Corbin and Justin Burton.
The athletic class of 2011 racked up 10 Big South Conference Championship team titles during their time as Eagles.
“Each year it is amazing to see these wonderful young men and women that complete their eligibility and graduate from Winthrop,” said Scott McDonald, associate athletic director. “It is a pleasure to see each student grow from timid, incoming freshman to confident leaders. The leadership that this group has exhibited, not only on the field/court/course, but also through community service and academic work leaves a wonderful legacy for future Eagles to strive for each year.
Consolation can be taken from the amount of juniors and sophomores that were also recognized for their actions this past year. Two juniors from the women’s soccer squad, Lindsay Taylor and Courtney Durbin, were awarded for having over a 3.0 GPA and having outstanding leadership qualities, respectively.
“It will definitely be a challenge for classes in the future to continue to build upon the successes of the Class of 2011,” McDonald said. “Our student-athletes look to build upon the traditions and legacies of each program. I believe that is a challenge that our returning and incoming student-athletes will relish in the future.”
