Longwood University Athletics

April 19, 2010

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University announced its annual award winners at the 2009-10 Student-Athlete Awards Banquet Monday night in Farmville. The top award winners were redshirt-senior men’s basketball standout Dana Smith/Woodbridge (C.D. Hylton) and junior softball standout Briana Wells/Romoland, California (Paloma Valley), named the school’s male and female Athletes of the Year, respectively. Smith won the award for the second-straight year. Local junior softball team member Brittany Matthews/Farmville (Prince Edward County) was presented with the school’s Jimmy Yarbrough Inspiration Award.

Smith, a team captain and 6-5 guard-forward, started all 31 games this year while averaging 31.8 minutes, 18.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists. He shot 47.8% (195-408) from the field, 34.0% (33-97) on three-point field goals, and 66.4% (142-214) at the free throw line while adding 30 steals and 16 blocks. Smith had 29 double-figure scoring games, including 28-straight to end his season/career, and had twelve 20-point games, ten 10-rebound games, and 10 double-doubles. He led the Lancers in scoring 21 times, in rebounding 13 times, and had four 40-minute games among nine 35-plus minute games. Smith earned 1st-Team All-Independent, CollegeInsider.com Independents’ MVP, and South Padre Island Invitational All-Tournament Team honors, and ranked 59th in Division I scoring while only the second player in program history with 1,500 career points (1,540, fourth all-time) and 700 career rebounds (708, second). He already earned a bachelor of science degree in sociology in May 2008, and will earn his second undergraduate degree in business management this May. Smith was a finalist for the prestigious 2010 V Foundation Comeback Award for the second consecutive year as well. Dana is the son of Cheryl and Dana Smith of Woodbridge.

Wells, a left-handed pitcher, has started 34 of 39 games this spring and leads Longwood with her 27-7 pitching record. The 27 wins are a new school-record, and she adds a 2.35 earned run average, 20 complete games, eight shutouts, 199.2 innings, 113 strikeouts, and one no-hitter. Wells is also hitting .268 with six home runs, eight runs scored, and 18 RBI. Briana majors in mathematics with a minor in business, and is the daughter of Shane and Denise Wells of Romoland, California.

Matthews is known for her heart in everything she does, whether its academics, athletics, the community or just her interacting with those she comes in contact with. She approaches life with a smile and believes the best in every situation. Never known to complain, she attacks life with a fearless tenacity to make the most of each and every opportunity. Truly inspirational, she never places herself before the good of the team or group. A catcher, Matthews has started 33 of 36 games while hitting .274 with one triple, two doubles, 13 runs scored, and 10 RBI. Brittany majors in finance with a minor in real estate, and is the daughter of Don and Donna Matthews of Farmville.




Another highlight to the evening was the announcement of the new Cormier Award for Academic Excellence in honor of retiring Longwood University President, Dr. Patricia Cormier and her ‘commitment to excellence in academics, athletics, and leadership.’ The award is presented to the male and female team with the highest semester GPA each of the past two semesters. This year’s recipients for the Spring 2009 semester were Women’s Golf and Men’s Tennis, while Women’s Golf and Women’s Tennis as well as Men’s Tennis garnered the awards for the Fall 2009 semester.

A complete list of all 2009-10 Student-Athlete Awards Banquet awards and winners follows below.

Male Athlete Of The Year
Dana Smith | Woodbridge, Virginia | Redshirt-Senior | Men’s Basketball

Female Athlete Of The Year
Briana Wells | Romoland, California | Junior | Softball

Jimmy Yarbrough Inspiration Award
Brittany Matthews | Farmville, Virginia | Junior | Softball

Male Henry I. Willett Scholar-Athlete Award
David Smiy Jr. | Chesterfield, Virginia | Senior | Baseball | Business Finance | 3.91 GPA
David has maintained a cumulative grade point average of 3.91 while majoring in business finance … He has started 25 games for the baseball team that is currently 17-15 … The left fielder is hitting .204 with seven doubles, 14 runs scored, and 13 RBI; adding three multi-hit games and five multi-RBI games with a slugging percentage near .300 and an on-base percentage above .250 while a two-time Independent All-Academic Team selection as well.

Female Henry I. Willett Scholar-Athlete Award
Amy Betterton | Rocky Mount, Virginia | Senior | Softball | Exercise Science | 3.79 GPA
Amy has maintained a cumulative grade point average of 3.79 while majoring in exercise science with a minor in biology … She has started all 44 games for the softball team that is currently 31-13 … The third baseman is hitting .280 with 11 home runs, five doubles, 27 runs scored, and 35 RBI; adding nine multi-hit games and 12 multi-RBI games with a slugging percentage over .500 and an on-base percentage above .300.

Freshman Male Athlete Of The Year
Justin Lacy | Glen Allen, Virginia | Baseball
Justin has started 30 games for the baseball team that is currently 17-15 … A designated hitter, he is hitting .250 with four home runs, eight doubles, 18 runs scored, and 15 RBI; adding six multi-hit games and five multi-RBI games with a slugging percentage near .500 and an on-base percentage above .350.

Freshman Female Athlete Of The Year
Brooke Short | Altavista, Virginia | Softball
Brooke has started all 44 games for the softball team that is currently 31-13 … A designated player, she is hitting .430 and leads the team with 12 home runs, five triples, 41 runs scored, and 40 RBI; adding 16 multi-hit games and 10 multi-RBI games while also the team leader in both slugging percentage (.815) and on-base percentage (.521).




Cormier Award for Academic Excellence
Spring 2009: Women’s Golf, Men’s Tennis
Fall 2009: Women’s Golf, Women’s Tennis, Men’s Tennis

Male Academic PRIDE Award
Zack Mahon | San Antonio, Texas | Sophomore | Men’s Soccer
Zack is a young man who gives 100% to everything he does, including his academics. His ability to manage his many commitments in addition to his never-ending work ethic has been an example for his teammates and peers.

Female Academic PRIDE Award
Jessica Mantel | Virginia Beach, Virginia | Senior | Field Hockey
Jessi is best described as an inspiration. She has overcome many obstacles through hard work, discipline and courage to achieve academically. She never settles for “getting by” or “taking the easy way out” and is described by many as determined and professional.

Male Outstanding Service Award
Shane Johnson | Ashburn, Virginia | Sophomore | Men’s Soccer
Shane’s contributions have included Habitat for Humanity, free soccer clinics to area youth, the “Snow Shovel for the Community” project, and the Special Olympics. Shane’s genuineness is displayed in his humble, servant demeanor to give back to those in need without regard to personal recognition. It was his personal efforts that lead to the involvement of the men’s soccer team in the Special Olympics this past year.

Female Outstanding Service Award
Eliza Coughter | Charlottesville, Virginia | Senior | Women’s Lacrosse
Eliza has participated in many community service initiatives, but it was her heartfelt desire and compassion to help the children of Uganda that resulted in the successful involvement of Longwood University in the Invisible Children project. Invisible Children provides educational and other resources to the children of Uganda to help protect them from being enslaved as refugee soldiers. Over the last year or so, over $1,800 has been raised for Invisible Children and several student-athletes attended a rally in D.C. in support of Invisible Children at the encouragement of Eliza. In addition, she has set up opportunities to inspire others to assist those less fortunate.

Special Recognition Award
Nancy Scruggs | Administrative Assistant | Health, Recreation and Kinesiology

Student-Athlete Advisory Committee A.C.E.S. Award
Jenna Page | Head Athletic Trainer

Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Coach of the Year Award
Bill Andrews | Softball Volunteer Assistant

Christopher A. Briere, Baseball; Philip Z. Cerreto, Baseball; Matthew F. Gwaltney, Baseball; Casey J. Havers, Baseball; Michael R. Johnson, Baseball; Brant C. Jones, Baseball; D. Scott Laabs, Baseball; Justin H. Lacy, Baseball; Daniel L. Pomposini, Baseball; David P. Smiy, Baseball; Luke A. Townsend, Baseball; Stephen R. Shockley, Men’s Basketball; Jan H. Van Der Kooij, Men’s Basketball; Sean A. Flynn, Men’s Cross Country; Gerard R. Shaber, Men’s Cross Country; Darren T. Simpson, Men’s Cross Country; Robert T. Smith, Men’s Cross Country; Robert P. Fox, Men’s Golf; Austin W. Gray, Men’s Golf; Kenneth G. Leech, Men’s Golf; Jed C. Rasnick, Men’s Golf; Michael J. Young, Men’s Golf; Parker C. Arnold, Men’s Soccer; Joel C. Helmick, Men’s Soccer; Shane G. Johnson, Men’s Soccer; Evan W. Jones, Men’s Soccer; Zackery G. Mahon, Men’s Soccer; Patrick J. McDaniel, Men’s Soccer; Cody J. Merkes, Men’s Soccer; Giovanni F. Peralta, Men’s Soccer; Devin J. Pierce, Men’s Soccer; Michael C. Tegler, Men’s Soccer; Martin D. Vickerton, Men’s Soccer; Emilio Barajas-Alexander, Men’s Tennis; Adham Halabi, Men’s Tennis; William B. Heird, Men’s Tennis; Andres A. Lazarte, Men’s Tennis; Rebecca M. Fernandes, Women’s Basketball; Krystal N. Garrison, Women’s Basketball; Brittany L. Jones, Women’s Basketball; Erin E. Neal, Women’s Basketball; Jessica R. Alley, Women’s Cross Country; Laura K. Bland, Women’s Cross Country; Jacquelyne C. Chantry, Women’s Cross Country; Kristine Grube, Women’s Cross Country; Ashley M. Sanders, Women’s Cross Country; Megan J. Short, Women’s Cross Country; Jenna M. Sprinkle, Women’s Cross Country; Andrea M. Bastiaanse, Field Hockey; Taylor R. Bender, Field Hockey; Sarah E. Bietsch, Field Hockey; Kaitlyn T. Byrum, Field Hockey; Julia T. Hernandez, Field Hockey; Olga T. Knop, Field Hockey; Amy C. Lewis, Field Hockey; Kristen C. Meredith, Field Hockey; Bailey A. Rampey, Field Hockey; Melissa K. Strickland, Field Hockey; Kelsey E. Turner, Field Hockey; Laura M. Barrett, Women’s Golf; Alexa R. Boucher, Women’s Golf; Kameron M. Carter, Women’s Golf; Morgan L. Chaney, Women’s Golf; Ha E. Lee, Women’s Golf; Brooke M. Mallory, Women’s Golf; Kelly C. McAnally, Women’s Golf; Amanda M. Berezney, Women’s Lacrosse; Jamie E. Brentlinger, Women’s Lacrosse; Karli L. Brentlinger, Women’s Lacrosse; Katie E. Carbiener, Women’s Lacrosse; Christine N. Comeau, Women’s Lacrosse; H. Eliza Coughter, Women’s Lacrosse; Kesley K. Dean, Women’s Lacrosse; Juli A. Liebig, Women’s Lacrosse; Karen E. Nirschl, Women’s Lacrosse; Hannah L. Riggs, Women’s Lacrosse; Jessica G. Rudloff, Women’s Lacrosse; Samantha L. Stifler, Women’s Lacrosse; Duan T. Wright, Women’s Lacrosse; Marcia M. Biddle, Women’s Soccer; Lindsey N. Booth, Women’s Soccer; Kyra L. Byron, Women’s Soccer; Michelle A. DeSieno, Women’s Soccer; Katharine M. Devlin, Women’s Soccer; U. Nikki Glisson, Women’s Soccer; Mackenzie A. King, Women’s Soccer; Kaylyn E. Mahon, Women’s Soccer; Natalie K. Massey, Women’s Soccer; Alecia A. McConnell, Women’s Soccer; Ashlee L. McConnell, Women’s Soccer; Kristen E. McGough, Women’s Soccer; Tia V. Nardella, Women’s Soccer; Kacie R. Oliver, Women’s Soccer; Lindsey E. Ottavio, Women’s Soccer; Soraya P. Serra, Women’s Soccer; Dylan N. Spicker, Women’s Soccer; Lauren E. Trizna, Women’s Soccer; Lyndsay R. Wilshaw, Women’s Soccer; Hope H. Woods, Women’s Soccer; Courtney E. Zamparello, Women’s Soccer; Amy A. Betterton, Softball; Kellie V. Bridgeman, Softball; Erin M. Carpenter, Softball; Ashley L. Kramer, Softball; Brittany L. Matthews, Softball; Patricia E. Nelson, Softball; E. Nichole Simmons, Softball; Laura Simon Espinalt, Women’s Tennis; Zsofia Jakab, Women’s Tennis; Nasim Moadab, Women’s Tennis; Marta P. Davi, Women’s Tennis; M. Dani Basye, Athletic Training; John J. Walker, Athletic Training; Anne L. Bryan, Athletic Training; Amanda L. Cartwright, Athletic Training; Timothy M. Cocrane, Athletic Training; Brett A. Winston, Athletic Training; Derik T. Claar, Athletic Training; Caitlin M. Keroack, Athletic Training; Matthew B. Rawlins, Athletic Training; Rachel L. Simmons, Athletic Training; Lindsay A. Barden, Cheerleading; Emily A. Krava, Cheerleading; Allison C. Trigger, Cheerleading; Kathryn A. Wilson, Cheerleading.

All-Academic Team Awards [16]
Baseball: David Smiy Jr.; Men’s Basketball: Jan Van der Kooij; Women’s Basketball: Becky Fernandes; Men’s Cross Country: Gerard Shaber; Women’s Cross Country: Jessica Alley; Field Hockey: Andrea Bastiaanse; Men’s Golf: Michael Young; Women’s Golf: Kelly McAnally; Women’s Lacrosse: Katie Carbiener; Men’s Soccer: Shane Johnson; Women’s Soccer: Ashlee McConnell; Softball: Amy Betterton; Men’s Tennis: Billy Heird; Women’s Tennis: Zsofia Jakab; Cheerleading: Kathryn Wilson; Athletic Training: Caitlin Keroack. Coaching Staff: Women’s Soccer Head Coach Todd Dyer, Associate Head Coach Steve Brdarski.

2008-09 Student-Athlete Awards
2007-08 Student-Athlete Awards
2006-07 Student-Athlete Awards
2005-06 Student-Athlete Awards