Winston-Salem, NC-The Salem College athletic department celebrated another fantastic year with their 2014-2015 awards banquet last night. Sawyer Ferguson, Nataly Mojica, and Audrey Wierda took home the evening's big honors.
Ferguson was awarded the Anne Woodward Student-Athlete of the Year award. This award is presented to the Salem College student-athlete who has achieved team and individual greatness during the 2014-15 year. Ferguson finished with 16 goals and 13 assists for 32 points to help soccer go 18-5 and go back to NCAA Tournament. She became the first soccer player to reach 100 career points as she concluded her career with 110 points (47 goals and 16 assists), despite a broken fibia and tibia that sidelined her the majority of her first year. She leads the all-time points and all-time goals for the soccer program. She was named to the Great South All-Conference team for the third-straight year and to the NCCSIA All-State first team for the second year in a row. She was a two-year captain.
Mojica was awarded The Jess Byrd Scholar Athlete Award, which is presented to a graduating senior who for 4 years has attained a strong academic record and exhibited qualities of sportsmanship, leadership, and athletic ability and was a four-year starting midfielder for soccer. She broke the school record playing in 80 career games. Mojica was a captain this season. She was selected to the Great South All-Conference team for the fourth year in a row, and the GSAC All-Academic team for the third year in a row. She has a 3.72 cumulative GPA for her time at Salem and is majoring in Economics, International Business, and Spanish.
Wierda was awarded as The Scholar Athlete of the Year Award, which is presented to the student-athlete letter-winner that has reached at least sophomore class standing who has the best cumulative GPA and is a contributing member of her sport.
2014-15 Salem Awards
Basketball-
Team Awards: Kristal Lollis (Heart Award), Quntashea Lewis (Spirit Award)
North Carolina All-State- Quntashea Lewis
Great South All-Conference-Quntashea Lewis
GSAC All-Sportsmanship-Hannah McBride
GSAC All-Academic- Kristal Lollis and Ashlen Rector
GSAC Player of the Week- Quntashea Lewis (X2)
Team Awards: Cristi Magracia (Heart Award), Stephanie Verdi (Spirit Award)
Great South All-Conference- Stephanie Verdi, Audrey Wierda, Cristi Magracia
GSAC All-Academic-Tali Schroeder, Stephanie Verdi, Audrey Wierda, Amanda Johnson, Cristi Magracia
GSAC All-Sportsmanship- Tali Schroeder
GSAC Player of the Week- Stephanie Verdi, Audrey Wierda, Cristi Magracia
Soccer-
Team Awards: Liz Smetana (Coach's Award), Sarah Slates (Coach's Award)
NCAA All-South Region Team-Taylor Norman and Morgan Canepa
NCAA Academic All-South Region- Nataly Mojica
North Carolina All-State-Taylor Norman and Sawyer Ferguson
Great South Soccer Player of the Year- Tarryn Johnson
GSAC Freshmen of the Year-Tarryn Johnson
Great South Tournament Most Valuable Player-Taylor Norman
GSAC Coach of the Year-Jay Callahan
GSAC All-Conference- Tarryn Johnson, Sawyer Ferguson, Heather Huffman, Nataly Mojica, Morgan Canepa
GSAC All-Freshman- Tarryn Johnson, Sydney Priest, Brooke Bukas
GSAC All-Academic- Sawyer Ferguson, Summer Rich, Stephanie Verdi, Nataly Mojica, Meghan Menard, Sierra Hutchins, Jacqueline Hogg
GSAC All-Sportsmanship- Liz Smetana
GSAC Player of the Week- Tarryn Johnson, Sawyer Ferguson X2, Nataly Mojica, Tarryn Bundy, Morgan Canepa, Taylor Norman
Softball-
Team Awards: Maggie Fritts (Offensive MVP), Lauryn Smith (Defensive MVP)
Great South Freshman of the Year-Maggie Fritts
GSAC Tournament Most Valuable Player- Lauryn Smith
GSAC All-Conference- Jennifer Vitarelli, Kierston Garner, Briana Crumley, Maggie Fritts, Kayla Kennedy, Brianna Morris, Lauryn Smith
GSAC All-Freshmen-Briana Crumley, Maggie Fritts, Brianna Morris, Jennifer Vitarelli
GSAC All-Academic- Amber Bass and Lauryn Smith
GSAC All-Sportmanship-Brianna Morris
GSAC Player of the Week- Brianna Morris X2, Lauryn Smith X3, Briana Crumley, Maggie Fritts
Team Awards: Kerri Morgan (MVP), Allie Watkins (Coach's Award)
Great South All-Conference- Andrea Akers, Ashley Koehler, Kerri Morgan, Deanna Wilkins
GSAC All-Academic- Andrea Akers, Kerri Morgan, Ayla Pruitt, Leia Pruitt, Samantha Story
GSAC All-Sportsmanship- Deanna Wilkins
GSAC Player of the Week- Deanna Wilkins
Track & Field-
Team Awards: Tali Schroeder (Heart Award), Elizabeth Penley (Spirit Award)
Great South Libero of the Year- Zykeya Henderson
Great South Freshman of the Year-Kylie Taffer
Great South Coach of the Year-Dana Wall
GSAC All-Conference- Hillary McPhatter, Kylie Taffer, Zykeya Henderson, Taylor Rhodes, Roslyn Nixon
GSAC All-Freshman- Bernisha Master, Kylie Taffer
GSAC All-Academic- Brandy Bednorz, Roslyn Nixon, Taylor Rhodes
GSAC All-Sportsmanship- Chanice Williams
GSAC Player of the Week- Hillary McPhatter, Zykeya Henderson, Roslyn Nixon