The Ferrum College Athletic Department has announced its first annual Student-Athlete Awards and seven individuals have been recognized. The awards include Male and Female Athletes of the Year, Male and Female Senior Athletes of the Year, Male and Female Newcomers of the Year and the Panther Pride Award.
Male and Female Athletes of the Year Awards are given to one male and one female who has been deemed the overall athlete of the year. This award recognizes exemplary athletic ability as well as sportsmanship, commitment and overall contributions to their respective teams. The Male and Female Senior Athlete of the Year Awards recognize one female and one male student-athlete from the graduating class who has made a significant contribution to the success of the Ferrum College athletic program. Guidelines for this award include: participation in the intercollegiate athletic program, proven leadership skills, commitment to the team and/or athletic department and contributions outside of athletics.
The Male and Female Newcomer of the Year Awards recognize one male and one female who have contributed at the highest level of their respective sports in their first year of athletic eligibility at the collegiate level. And finally, the Panther Pride Award recognizes an individual who exhibits and embodies the pride and passion for Ferrum College and its athletic department on and off campus.
Male Athlete of the Year honors went to wrestler senior Braden Homsey, who won three tournaments in 2021-22 in the 197-lb weight class. Homsey won the Cougar Open, the rugged Pete Willson Memorial Tournament in Illinois and the Southeast Conference Tournament. He was ranked as high as #11 in the nation last season and closed out his season with a 25-7 record, including four pins.
The Donna Doonan Female Athlete of the Year award went to junior softball standout Lyndsey Sears, who was named to the ODAC All-Conference third team as a pitcher. Sears posted a 13-9 record and 2.51 earned run average in the circle, while striking out 114 batters. She also batted .339 with 11 doubles, six home runs and 35 run batted in. Sears also earned a spot on the 2021-22 ODAC Academic All-Conference Team. This award is named in memory of former Coach Donna Doonan, who spent 29 years as head women's basketball coach, and also served as Ferrum's first Senior Woman Administrator and coached four other sports.
Senior Male Athlete honors went to wrestler Christian Hite, who posted 22 wins last year with four pins. Hite was 2nd at the Cougar Open and 6th at the Southeast Wrestling Conference Tournament. He also placed 6th at the NCAA Southeast Regional, where he beat an ranked wrestler. Hite was a National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar All-American last year
The Senior Female Athlete Award went to soccer standout Abbey Hayes, who earned All-Conference for the Panthers in 2020 as a goalkeeper. Hayes graduated with a perfect 4.0 GPA in just three years, and was al ODAC All-Academic Team honoree in 2020, 2021 and 2022. She was named to the College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-District first team last year and represented Ferrum on the Academic All-America ballot. Hayes posted a .788 save percentage, was an inspirational leader as Team Captain, made the Deans List and Presidents List list every semester, was part of the Ferrum Boone Honors Program, and served the campus as a PAL tutor for Chemistry 103/104 courses.
The Male Newcomer of the Year Award sent to football placekicker Seth Deaton, who scored 30 points for the Panthers. Deaton was 33-35 in PATs and 9-14 in field goals as a freshmen for the Panthers. Deaton had a air of field goals in Ferrum's win over Christopher Newport University last season.
Female Newcomer of the Year honors went to soccer player Jamie Adams. who started all 17 games last season for the Panthers. Adams was the team's leading scorer as a freshman forward, posting 12 points on five goals and two assists. She had the game-winning goal in Ferrum's 2-1 win over Randolph College to close out the season October 30 on the road.
The Panther Pride Award goes to Caroline Saalweachter '22, who wore Panther Pride on her sleeve for four years. Caroline was the captain of the swim team her senior year because of her great attitude, drive and ability to get her teammates fired up! Her older brother, Zach, played football at Ferrum and she would lose her voice from yelling after every home game. Known by her teammates as "The Face of Ferrum", Carolina was all over campus, including the cover of the Ferrum Admissions brochure. People loved Caroline's positivity and good attitude. Her Panther pride is contagious and makes everyone she meets proud of Ferrum College.
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