Harrogate, TN -- Lincoln Memorial University athletics has announced that it will host the 10th annual Lincoln Awards on April 26 at Tex Turner Arena. The event celebrates the remarkable achievements of student-athletes throughout the academic year, with doors scheduled to open for attendees at 6 pm. The ceremony will recognize excellence across multiple categories, highlighting individual performances and team successes that defined the season.
The Moment of the Year category featured high-stakes dramatic finishes with nominees on the men's side including men's soccer victories over Emory and Henry and Lenoir-Rhyne in the South Atlantic Conference championship, a men's basketball win against Carson-Newman in the conference tournament, and a walk-off baseball victory versus Lee. For the women, nominees included a soccer win against Emory and Henry, a basketball victory over Coker, a golf win at Lenoir-Rhyne and the Dunes, and an over-the-shoulder goal by women's lacrosse standout Jaiden Jaynes.
Freshman of the Year honors highlighted a strong group of young talent, including men's nominees: Vance Laster in cross country, Antonio Talavera in soccer, Jackson Clonce in track and field, Harry Dickins in golf, Gabe Gray in baseball, and Beckett O'Shea in lacrosse. Female freshmen nominees were Cayla Wiggins in field hockey, Kaytlin Johnson in volleyball, Callie Wetzel in track and field, Shandrea Morgan in wrestling, Ruby Copeland in lacrosse, and Ruby McLellan in golf.
Newcomer of the Year nominees featured Relja Miloskovic in volleyball, Brady Morse in baseball, Victor Bourguignon in tennis, and Joel Boerkey in track and field for the men, while the women's nominees included Maleiya Hill in basketball, Adleigh Huckstep in lacrosse, Brooke Strickland in softball, Natalia Reimer in tennis, and Camden Prosser in soccer.
The Breakthrough Athlete of the Year category recognized those who reached new heights this season with men's nominees Jaxson Branham in cross country, Porter Finstad in wrestling, Inbar Shachar in volleyball, Edward Mason in golf, Peyton Mullanix in baseball, and Joel Boerkey in track and field. Women's nominees were Edie Wilds in soccer, Megan Maier in volleyball, Theresa Brosthaus in cross country, Jovie Favati in lacrosse, Calista Gibson in wrestling, and Keiara Anderson in basketball.
Athlete of the Year nominations for the men's programs went to Jaxson Branham in cross country and track and field, Ronan O'Mahony in soccer, Harry Dickins in golf, Axel van Baars in volleyball, Brady Morse in baseball, and Alex Giurea in tennis. Female nominees for the top honor were Kamil Collier in basketball, Olivia Rosini in field hockey, Ashley Parrish in track and field, Reese Vivrette in softball, Joy Aspetaki in golf, and Adrianna Pellizzari in tennis.
Performance of the Year nominees on the men's side included Ronan O'Mahony at the conference championship, Daniel Miklosi with a shutout against Anderson, Walter Campbell against UVA-Wise, Harry Dickins at the first federal collegiate, Adrian Smith with ten strikeouts in his first outing, and Morgan Cain at the North Georgia Mizuno Intercollegiate. Women's performance nominees featured Paige Branam with a hat trick in her first game, Cayla Wiggins against Converse, Ashley Parrish at the conference indoor track meet, Asia Barr with 25 points in the conference quarterfinals, Kamil Collier with 20 points and 19 rebounds against Lenoir-Rhyne, and Hannah McMeen with a two-home run game.
Team of the Year nominations for the men were men's soccer, men's basketball, men's golf, baseball, and men's tennis, while the women's nominees were women's cross country, field hockey, cheer, women's golf, and women's basketball. The comeback athlete of the year category rounded out the evening with nominations for Lucas Barsuaskas in men's lacrosse, Sage Leax in women's lacrosse, Riley Flickinger in women's wrestling, Reese Vivrette in softball, and Guillaume Bogaert in men's track and field.
