April 26, 2010
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Men's golfer Austin Reeves and volleyball standout Kelsey Salava were named Furman Male and Female Athletes of the Year, respectively, Monday evening at the school's ESPY style all-sports awards banquet held at Timmons Arena.
Reeves, a junior from Greenville, last week fired rounds of 71, 66, and 70 to finish nine-under par and capture Southern Conference Medalist honors and lead Furman to the SoCon team championship the 13th title in program history and first since 2004. He posted four top-five finishes, shot par or better in 13 rounds this year, and finished the campaign with a 72.86 stroke average en route to landing All-SoCon honors.
Salava took home the school's Edna Hartness Female Athlete of the Year Award for a brilliant 2009 season that saw her garner All-SoCon and SoCon Player of the Year honors while keying Furman to a 26-4 overall record and 16-0 league regular season mark - both program highs. She paced the Paladins with a team best 1,267 assists and was a major catalyst in Furman posting a school record 19 consecutive wins. A senior psychology major from Clearwater, Fla., she sports a 3.485 grade point average.
Standout softball pitcher Lana Mackey from Perry, Ga., received Furman's Student-Athlete Achievement Award. A veteran of 135 mound appearances, including 53 victories, she currently sports a 2.80 career earned run average and last year garnered second team All-SoCon honors. Earlier this season the Paladin senior became Furman's all-time strikeouts leader and tossed a no-hitter against USC Upstate. As a freshman she pitched Furman to a SoCon Tournament title and NCAA Tournament appearance. At the plate she has collected 130 career hits, including 17 home runs. President of the Athletics Service Board and active in FCA, she is a health and exercise science major.
Furman's Elizabeth Blackwell Academic Achievement Award was presented to women's soccer goalkeeper Briana da Mota, a senior from Lilburn, Ga., who sports a 3.79 grade point average in communications & political science.
The Dr. John M. Block Academic Achievement Award went to senior baseball pitcher Barry Benton, a Jacksonville, Ala., native and holder of a 3.87 GPA in biology.
Volleyball coach Michelle Young and men's golf coach Todd Satterfield shared Furman's J. Lyles Alley Coach of the Year Award after directing their respective squads to SoCon titles.
Furman's volleyball squad received the Gold Paladin Award, which is given annually to the team with the highest combined point total in four categories: team GPA, athletic success, attendance at other sporting events, and community service.
Individual team most valuable players were recognized and numerous ESPY awards were presented during Monday's event.
Team MVPs
Men's Basketball: Amu Saaka
Men's Tennis: Sawyer Duncan and Carl Lundberg
Men's Golf: Daniel Bowden, Garland Ferrell, and Austin Reeves
Men's Soccer: Nasarachi Onyeuku
Men's Cross Country: Charlie McGoogan
Men's Indoor Track & Field: Lee Gilmer
Men's Outdoor Track & Field: Charlie McGoogan
Women's Basketball: Lee Stephens
Women's Tennis: Jessica Preeg
Women's Golf: Stefanie Kenoyer
Women's Soccer: Margaret Antonik
Women's Cross Country: Chloe Kowalski
Women's Indoor Track & Field: Chloe Kowalski
Women's Outdoor Track & Field: Brooke Mosteller
Softball: Lana Mackey
Student ESPY Awards
Unsung Hero Award: Julian Hicks, Football
Comeback Player of the Year Award: R.J. Webb, Football
Play of the Year: Women's Volleyball (5th Game Play) vs. College of Charleston
Male Rookie of the Year: Carl Lundberg, Men's Tennis, and Jerry Williams, Football
Female Rookie of the Year: Natalie Braun and Caroline Adams, Volleyball
Record Breaking Performance: Adam Mims, Football
