FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood athletics handed out its annual awards on Monday night at the Student-Athlete Awards Banquet.
 
The event, which annually highlights on the achievements of student-athletes and staff in the department, has awards that are focused both on results on the playing surface and in the classroom.
 
The Henry I. Willett Scholar-Athlete Award, which recognizes outstanding performance by a graduating senior both on the competition surface as well as the classroom, was won by David Ambaek (men's soccer) and Maggie Chapin (softball).
 
Ambaek was a team captain for men's soccer and an unquestioned leader for the Lancers on the pitch. He earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors while also being named to the Big South All-Academic Season. In addition, he started 11 matches in the fall despite battling an injury throughout his senior campaign.
 
Chapin has been the leader in the circle for Longwood softball this season. She was accepted into Kansas State's veterinary school, where she will head after an outstanding career for Longwood. A regular on the Dean's List and President's List every semester, she ranks in the top 12 nationally in strikeouts, complete games, and innings pitched. She also broke into the program's top 10 for strikeouts in a season, and she is top 10 in program history in career strikeouts as well.
 
Timéo Puech (men's tennis) and Malea Brown (women's basketball) took home Longwood Athlete of the Year, which is annually given to the top performing student-athlete across the department.
 
Puech set the new standard for excellence in men's tennis. He won the Big South Men's Singles Individual Championship this fall, and he was the Big South Preseason Player of the Year as well as the Big South Player of the Year at the conclusion of the season. He earned All-Big South First Team honors for a second straight season, going 20-6 in singles on the year. He won more than 100 career matches as a Lancer as well.
 
Brown, meanwhile, was the tip of the spear for a Longwood women's basketball defense that was one of the best in the nation at forcing turnovers. She was the Big South Co-Defensive Player of the Year and an All-Big South Second Team honoree. Brown contributed everywhere on the court, averaging 11.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.8 steals per game. In addition, she helped lead Longwood women's basketball to back-to-back 20-win campaigns for the first time in more than 25 years.
 
The Lancer tennis staff was named the Coaching Staff of the Year after leading the Lancer men's and women's tennis programs to unprecedented heights. The Lancer women claimed a share of the Big South regular season crown for the first time in team history while also finishing as the top overall seed for the first time. In addition, the staff, led by head coach Charlotte Clark—the Big South Women's Tennis Coach of the Year, helped coach Puech to the program's first-ever Big South individual champion in team history. The Lancer men also advanced to the conference championship in team play for the first time.
 
The Jimmy M. Yarbrough Award, which is presented to the student-athlete who embodies the enthusiasm and leadership of the late Longwood basketball great of the same name and who exhibits exemplary performance academically, in intercollegiate competition and in service to the community, went to women's cross country runner Nicole Pinder.
 
Jackson Garland (baseball) and Sam Fischer (women's soccer) were named the Longwood Freshman Athletes of the Year.
 
Garland has been an impact player out of the Longwood bullpen as one of the best relievers in the Big South. He holds a 3.72 ERA while striking out 41 in 38.2 innings of work spread over 15 appearances. The freshman has gone 4-2 on the mound and has held opponents to a .238 batting average. He was named the Big South Freshman of the Week earlier in the season.
 
Fischer was one of the best players in the Big South this season, full stop. She was the Big South Freshman of the Year and earned All-Big South First Team honors. In addition, she led Longwood with seven goals and 16 points and helped the Lancers finish third in the league. Longwood advanced to the Big South Championship Semifinals after winning a home match.
 
Chester and Margaret Roberts were named the Roy Nunnally Special Recognition Award winners for their unwavering support of Longwood student-athletes throughout the year.
 
Longwood also recognized its All-Academic Team, which selects top academic performers from each program as well as cheerleading.
 
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