April 23, 2007
FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University announced its annual student-athlete award winners at the school’s Athletics Awards Banquet Monday night in Farmville. The top award winners for 2006-07 are senior baseball pitcher Brian McCullough/Virginia Beach (Princess Anne) and junior softball shortstop Ryan Washington/Bealeton (Liberty), named the male and female Athletes of the Year, respectively. The keynote speaker for the event was Brian Bassett ‘95, former baseball standout (.375, 23 HR, 114 RBI) and, currently the Administrative Coordinator for IB (International Baccalaureate Program) at Gar-Field High School. The Lancers are nearing completion of the final year of the University’s four-year NCAA Division I Reclassification toward official Division I Certification expected this upcoming September for 2007-08.
McCullough, a right-handed pitcher with a sidearm delivery, has started a team-best 12 games this season while leading the Lancers (31-13) with a mound record of 6-2, a 2.18 ERA, 86.2 innings pitched, 66 strikeouts, four complete games, and two shutouts. He has pitched a team season-high of 9.0 innings on three occasions along with a season-high nine strikeouts on two occasions while also earning Division I Independent Pitcher of the Week honors earlier this spring. Though the season is not complete, McCullough has become the career leader in both innings pitched (310.2) and strikeouts (251), while ranking third in career ERA (3.51), fifth in fewest walks per career game (2.49), seventh in career wins (20), and ninth in career winning percentage (.625, 20-12). Brian is a business management major and the son of Richard and Karen McCullough.
Washington has started all 36 games while leading Longwood (19-17) with her .450 batting average, 45 hits, including seven home runs and seven doubles, 27 RBI, 24 runs, 19 stolen bases, a .730 slugging percentage, a .545 on-base percentage, and a .953 fielding percentage. She has earned Division I Independent Player of the Week honors two times this spring as well. Though only a junior, Washington already ranks second in career batting average (.410), home runs (23), and stolen bases (55). Ryan is a business administration major and the daughter of Daniel and Patricia Washington.
The Longwood Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) presented their SAAC Coach of the Year selection to fourth-year assistant baseball coach Rick Blanc, while assistant athletics director for compliance Michelle Meadows was awarded the SAAC Acclaimed Commitment to the Excellence of Student-Athletes (ACES) Award. Additionally, the Athletics Department presented Kenny Nelson and Daniel Senger with Special Recognition Awards for their efforts toward facilities maintenance.
2006-07 LONGWOOD UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS BANQUET AWARD WINNERS
Male Athlete Of The Year: Brian McCullough/Virginia Beach • Senior • Baseball
Female Athlete Of The Year: Ryan Washington/Bealeton • Junior • Softball
Male Henry I. Willett Scholar-Athlete Award: Zach Zigrang/Virginia Beach • Senior • Baseball
Female Henry I. Willett Scholar-Athlete Award: Heather Storrie/Spring Grove, Pennsylvania • Senior • Women’s Soccer
Freshman Male Athlete Of The Year: Adam Webb/Ridgeway • Men’s Golf
Freshman Female Athlete Of The Year: Kaylyn Mahon/Spring Grove, Pennsylvania • Women’s Soccer
Jimmy Yarbrough Inspiration Award: Ashleigh Hollman/Centreville • Senior • Women’s Basketball
Male Henry I. Willett Scholar-Athlete award: Zach Zigrang
Senior • Baseball • Virginia Beach • Kempsville
Physics Major … Mathematics Minor … 3.68 GPA
Zach is a four-year member of the baseball team from Virginia Beach majoring in Physics with a minor in Mathematics, and has attained a 3.68 cumulative GPA … A three-year team captain, he has started three of 10 games this spring, including three pitching appearances of 3.0 innings with two strikeouts; while having been limited by an injury this year … Zach has started 73 of 91 career games with a .336 career batting average, 10 home runs, and 67 RBI, while on the mound he has a 7-1 career record with a 2.16 career ERA … He was a 2006 Division I All-Independent 2nd-Team selection, a 2006 Division I Independent All-Academic Team choice, and a 2006 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III 2nd-Team honoree; and is the son of Paul and Cheryl Zigrang.
Female Henry I. Willett Scholar-athlete award: Heather Storrie
Senior • Women’s Soccer • Spring Grove, Pennsylvania • Spring Grove
Liberal Studies (Special Education) Major … 3.57 GPA
Heather is a four-year member of the women’s soccer team from Spring Grove, Pennsylvania majoring in Liberal Studies-Special Education, and has attained a 3.57 cumulative GPA … She started two of four games last fall as the goalkeeper played 268 minutes, allowing five goals for a 1.68 goals-against average with seven saves for a .583 save percentage … Heather started 23 of 30 career games and played 2,174 career minutes, allowing 56 goals for a 2.32 goals-against average with 106 saves for a .654 save percentage and three career shutouts; and is the daughter of Tim and Carolyn Storrie.
Freshman Male Athlete of the Year: Adam Webb
Men’s Golf • Ridgeway • Magna Vista
Adam is a member of the men’s golf team from Ridgeway majoring in pre-pharmacy … He has played all 23 rounds this year while leading the team with his school-record 72.78 scoring average, including a low 18-hole score of 68 two times, a low 36-hole score of 139 two times, and a low 54-hole score of 216 … Adam won two tournaments this spring among his six Top Five and nine Top 10 overall individual finishes in 11 events; and is the son of Anthony and Phyllis Webb.
Freshman Female Athlete of the Year: Kaylyn Mahon
Women’s Soccer • Spring Grove, Pennsylvania • Spring Grove
Kaylyn is a member of the women’s soccer team from Spring Grove, Pennsylvania majoring in accounting … She started all 19 games last fall and had six goals, three assists, and 15 points, each second-best on the team, with a team-best two game-winning goals … Kaylyn also earned United Soccer Conference Newcomer of the Week honors last fall; and is the daughter of Joe and Vonnie Mahon.
Jimmy Yarbrough Inspiration Award: Ashleigh Hollman
Senior • Women’s Basketball • Centreville • Westfield
Ashleigh is a senior member of the women’s basketball team from Centreville majoring in business marketing … She started 21 of 25 games this past winter and led the team in minutes (33.1) while averaging 8.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists … Ashleigh had 10 double-figure scoring games, including one 20-plus point game, and earned All-Tournament Team and MVP honors at the Lancer Invitational last November … She suffered several concussions and was told that she would no longer be able to play basketball and spent her junior year as a student assistant coach … Ashleigh received clearance from her doctor to play this season and was voted a team captain by her teammates and coaching staff … At the end of the season, she was voted the Women’s Basketball Leadership Award and the team’s Player of the Year; and is the daughter of Sylvester and Delores Hollman.
