It was a big night on Monday, April 25th for Longwood Athletics. The 2010-11 Student-Athlete Awards Banquet was held in the Lee Grand Dining Room at Dorrill Dining Hall. Senior Briana Wells, star pitcher for the softball team, won the Longwood Female Athlete of the Year award for the second year in a row. Junior Antwan Carter, star center for the men's basketball team, took home Male Athlete of the Year honors. Senior women's soccer player Lauren Trizna was the recipient of the school's Jimmy Yarbrough Inspiration Award.
Wells has been the dominant pitcher for the softball team this season. The left-hander has started 39 of 43 games and has a record of 29-11. Currently, Wells has a 2.23 ERA. This season she has pitched 28 complete games and 257 total innings, both of which are school records. She has also recorded six shutouts, a career-best 170 strikeouts and has thrown one no-hitter. Wells also has done damage at the plate, hitting three home runs and four doubles this season. She has 14 RBI. As of April 19th, she is ranked fourth in Division I pitching wins. Her career numbers are also staggering. Wells' career record is 91-46 with a 2.57 ERA. She holds the school record in every pitching category. The softball team is in the process of finishing their season. Their record is 32-11.
Carter started all 31 games this year for the men's basketball team. He averaged 18.2 points and 9.5 rebounds. Overall, he shot 57.2% from the field and 68.3% at the charity stripe. He had 28 steals and blocked 23 shots during the 2010-11 season. He scored in double figures 29 times. He had two 30-point games, along with 12 20-point games. Carter also had 14 double-doubles. Carter was named Independent Player of the Year and reached 1,000 career points scored. His career point total is 1,285, good enough for ninth all-time in Longwood's history. He also reached 723 rebounds, which is second all-time. The men's basketball team finished their season with a record of 12-19.
Head baseball coach Buddy Bolding presented Trizna with the Jimmy Yarborough Inspiration Award. Trizna received the award due to her impact on the women's soccer team on and off the field. A press release from longwoodlancers.com said, "Every day that Lauren has been on our campus, she has been a great person, a great teammate and a great leader; every minute she was on the soccer field she continued to get better. A recruited walk-on, she has outworked most strictly by investing sweat, tears, and pouring her heart into the team and university."
As a defender on the women's soccer team, Trizna started all 19 matches for the Lancers. She scored four goals, two of which were game-winners. She was the anchor for the Lancers' defense that had nine shutouts. The women's soccer team finished their fall 2010 season with an 11-8 record.
Also announced at the ceremony was the A.C.E.S (Acclaimed Commitment to the Excellence of Student-Athletes) Award. The award is presented every year by the Longwood Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and is given to a faculty or staff member who, "goes above and beyond for student-athletes in their academic, athletic, and personal pursuits, as well as an advocate for the student-athlete welfare." Longwood President Patrick Finnegan was the award recipient this year due in large part to his attendance at many home athletic games and matches.
The rest of the award winners can be found at longwoodlancers.com.
