2021 Lions' Choice Awards Recap

MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) put together their fourth annual Lions' Choice Awards that saw academic and athletic achievements recognized Wednesday evening for the first time ever outdoors, in the Ammons Family Athletic Center and Meares Stadium.

Kicking off the night was an impressive performance by the Bailey Mountain Cloggers and Mars Hill dance team.  SAAC Co-Presidents Jayson Moorman and Maggie Langheim opened the show and transitioned to the first set of awards that recognized academic excellence.

Ashley Collins of the softball team won Female Highest GPA with a 4.00 while there was a tie for the first time ever for Male Highest GPA as Austin Treadway of the baseball team and Jeppe Christensen of men's soccer each ended the year with a 3.95 GPA.  The volleyball team won their second LCA for Team Highest GPA in the past four years with an overall GPA of 3.64.

The softball team was awarded Most Supportive Team, as voted on by the SAAC while baseball's reign as the "Make It Yours" Community Engagement Award winners for the past three years came to an end.  The football team, after putting in 168 days of community service with weekly work done at the Lord's Harvest, Calvary Baptist Church, and Western Carolina Rescue Ministry, was declared the winner.

Two two-time winners were crowned as Caleb Strother was named Athletic Trainer of the Year while Cindy Whitt, for the second straight year, was named the Faculty/Staff Supporter of the Year.

The first intermission came as the SAAC recognized and celebrated all of the seniors in attendance by presenting leis as part of the tropical theme for the event.

Returning back to the awards, the SAAC honored Female and Male Newcomers of the Year.  Maria Razzetta of the women's tennis team was selected as Female Newcomer while Thomas Gibson of the men's swim team won Male Newcomer. 

The SAAC celebrated all of the Mars Hill South Atlantic Conference award winners throughout the year that included the following:

• STATISTICAL CHAMPIONS
  • Alexa Holleran – Women's Lacrosse: Ground Balls per Game (4.45)
  • Ashley Evans – Softball: Batting Average (.427)
  • Marissa Adame – Softball: Strikeouts Per 7 (10.7)
  • David Elkins – Men's Basketball: Assists-to-Turnover Ratio (2.4)
• ALL-SAC HONORABLE MENTIONS
  • Sanne Martinsen – Women's Soccer
  • Ashley Evans – Softball
  • Marissa Adame – Softball
  • Luke Manley – Men's Soccer
• ALL-SAC SECOND TEAM
  • Tyler Lala – Baseball
  • Zac Carrigan – Men's Lacrosse
  • Sydney Joyce – Women's Lacrosse
  • Jana Cuk – Volleyball
  • De'Ja Marshall – Women's Basketball
• ALL-SAC FIRST TEAM
  • Sebastian Bertilsson – Men's Soccer
  • Ully Martins – Volleyball
• COACH OF THE YEAR
  • Gregg Munn – Men's Soccer

The winners of both the Male and Female Athlete of the Year award went to the lone All-SAC First Team selections with Sebastian Bertilsson of men's soccer and Ully Martins of the volleyball team receiving the awards. 

Bertilsson tied for the league-lead in points (12) and was second in goals scored (5) while Martins led the league in digs (223) and digs per set (6.19).

Volleyball earned their second team award of the night, taking the "First Team Sports" Performance of the Year with their dominant 3-0 win over Lenoir-Rhyne in their season opening match. 

Following a motivational and inspired speech by Dr. Tracy Parkinson, Mars Hill Provost and Vice President of Enrollment Management, the evening closed out with the Man and Woman of the Year awards.

Jayson Moorman claimed his second Man of the Year award while Gabby Gianikos, who earlier in the night was celebrated for being named women's basketball SAC Scholar Athlete of the Year, took home Woman of the Year.  Both will advance to the SAC ballots.

Moorman and Langheim returned to the stage to close out the night.

Below are the list of winners from the 4^th Annual Lions' Choice Awards:

Female Highest GPA: Ashley Collins (Softball)
Male Highest GPA: Austin Treadway (Baseball) & Jeppe Christensen (Men's Soccer)
Team Highest GPA: Volleyball
Female Newcomer of the Year: Maria Razzetta (Women's Tennis)
Male Newcomer of the Year: Thomas Gibson (Men's Swimming)
Most Supportive Team: Softball
"Make It Yours" Community Engagement: Football
Faculty/Staff Supporter of the Year: Cindy Whitt
Athletic Trainer of the Year: Caleb Strother
"First Team Sports" Performance of the Year: Volleyball 3-0 season-opening win vs. Lenoir-Rhyne
Female Athlete of the Year: Ully Martins (Volleyball)
Male Athlete of the Year: Sebastian Bertilsson (Men's Soccer)
Man of the Year: Jayson Moorman (Men's Lacrosse)
Woman of the Year: Gabby Gianikos (Women's Basketball)