The University of Richmond Athletics Department held its annual SPIDYs Award Show Monday evening. Richmond's top performers over the past 12 months were honored following voting by a panel of Spider head coaches, the SPIDYs committee and Richmond's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
Grad student Jacob Gilyard (Kansas City, Mo.) of the men's basketball team was named Athlete of the Year for the second time in his college career and first since 2020. Gilyard set single-season school records for steals and three-pointers and became the all-time career steals leader in NCAA Division I prior to being named Most Outstanding Player at the 2022 Atlantic 10 Championship after leading the Spiders to the second A-10 title in school history.
Gilyard shared the award with senior sprinter Rachel Helbling (McDonald, Pa.) of the women's track & field team. Helbling won gold in the 400M dash and the 4x400M relay at the A-10 indoor track & field championship, helping the Spiders to a second-place finish as a team. She broke four school records during the course of the season.
The Richmond men's basketball team earned Bunkie-Trinite Team of the Year honors after winning the Atlantic 10 Championship and defeating Big Ten-champion Iowa in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. The Spiders finished the season with 24 wins, the fourth most in a season in program history. Head coach Chris Mooney was also recognized Monday, winning the SAAC Coach of the Year Award. Football defensive coordinator Justin Wood and men's lacrosse assistant coach Paul Richards shared the SAAC Assistant Coach of the Year Award.
The Newcomer of the Year Award was shared by baseball's Jake Elbeery (North Andover, Mass.) and swimming and diving's Abby Fuller (Charlottesville, Va.). Elbeery, a freshman, has started 30 out of a possible 32 games for the Spiders this season, mainly at first base. Fuller set the program record in the 50M freestyle at the A-10 Championship, winning bronze in the event. She won a gold medal as part of the 200M freestyle relay team that set a program record and another as part of the 200M medley relay at the championship meet.
Women's basketball senior Molly Mraz (Erie, Pa.) and men's cross country senior Peter Borger (Malvern, Pa.) hared the Spider Pride Award, given to the student-athlete who best exemplifies what it means to be a Spider both on and off the field of competition. Mraz has served as president of Richmond's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) for the last two years, while Borger won the individual title at the A-10 men's cross country championship in the fall, becoming the team's first individual conference champion since 2010.
The Spider Determination Award was given to baseball's Jack Buckley (Bronx, N.Y.) and field hockey's Kaitlyn Csensits (Emmaus, Pa.). Buckley was diagnosed with cancer two years ago but has continued to be an active part of the baseball program during his treatment. He returned to the field in March and has appeared in five games for the Spiders this season. Csensits overcame a tibia stress fracture this fall, starting 15 games on defense and leading the team in defensive saves.
The Donnie Earl Lindsey Jr. First Year Spirit Award, given to a newcomer who demonstrates outstanding teamwork and commitment to Richmond Athletics, was awarded to soccer's Elle Dziadzio and Max Merklinger from men's lacrosse.
Baseball's Antonio Balduccci (Mechanicsville, Va.) and track & field's Kendra Smither (Richmond, Va.) were presented with the Outstanding Civic Engagement Award and the Outstanding Leadership Award was shared by William Rice (Raleigh, N.C.) from men's lacrosse and Brittney Wright (Moorestown, N.J.) from women's lacrosse. Wright was also one of three winners of the inaugural Be The Change Award, which honors a student-athlete who promotes the ideals of diversity, inclusion, and belonging. Track & field's Tamar Accius (Jacksonville, Fla.) and football's Tyrek Funderburk (Indian Trail, N.C.) were the other two winners.
The Iron SPIDY Award, for superior results in strength and conditioning training was won by Marina Miller (Wexford, Pa.) of women's lacrosse and football's Tristan Wheeler (Bethlehem, Pa.).
A full list of Monday's award winners can be found below.
SPIDYs AWARD WINNERS
Outstanding Civic Engagement Award: Antonio Balducci (Baseball) & Kendra Smither (Women's Track & Field)
Outstanding Leadership Award: William Rice (Men's Lacrosse) & Brittney Wright (Women's Lacrosse)
Donnie Earl Lindsey Jr. First Year Spirit Award: Elle Dziadzio (Soccer) & Max Merklinger (Men's Lacrosse)
Iron Spidy Award: Marina Miller (Women's Lacrosse) & Tristan Wheeler (Football)
GPA Award – Freshman: Kyra Blakeslee (Women's Cross Country and Track & Field), Emma Coleman (Soccer), Laura Davis (Swimming & Diving), and Liam Weaver (Men's Basketball)
GPA Award – Sophomore: Addie Budnik (Women's Basketball) and Garrett Clark (Men's Golf)
GPA Award – Junior: Robert Rolfe (Football) & Claire O'Shaughnessy (Swimming & Diving)
Presidential Citation Award – Brenden Argomaniz (Baseball) & Taylor Coleman (Soccer and Track & Field)
SAAC Support Staff Member of the Year: Brent Norford (Strength & Conditioning)
SAAC Assistant Coach of the Year: Paul Richards (Men's Lacrosse) & Justin Wood (Football)
SAAC Coach of the Year: Chris Mooney (Men's Basketball)
Determination Award: Jack Buckley (Baseball) & Kaitlyn Csensits (Field Hockey)
Newcomer of the Year Award: Jake Elbeery (Baseball) & Abby Fuller (Swimming & Diving)
Distinguished Faculty/Staff Award: Rich McDonald
Be the Change Award: Tamar Accius (Women's Track & Field), Tyrek Funderburk (Football), Brittney Wright (Women's Lacrosse)
Spider Pride Award: Peter Borger (Men's Cross Country) & Molly Mraz (Women's Basketball)
Spider Athletic Fund Athlete of the Year: Jacob Gilyard (Men's Basketball) and Rachel Helbling (Track & Field)
Bunkie-Trinite Most Outstanding Team Award: Men's Basketball
SAAC AWARDS
Best Duo: Jacob Gilyard & Grant Golden (Men's Basketball) and Marta Buendia & Polina Shitikova (Women's Tennis)
Best Roster Picture: Tamar Accius (Women's Track & Field) and Lauren Kingsbury (Women's Lacrosse)
Spiderman Award: Braxton Hughes (Football) and Celia Satter (Women's Basketball)
Best Dressed: Maggie Purcell (Swimming & Diving) and Gio Seigler (Football)
Best Teammate on AUX: Maddie Loughead (Soccer) and Brendan O'Berry (Men's Lacrosse)
Most Likely to Make You Laugh: Lindsey Frank (Field Hockey & Women's Lacrosse) and Luke Grayum (Men's Lacrosse)
Best Person to Take Home to Your Parents: Madelyn Grassi (Soccer), Jackson Hardy (Football), and William Tune (Men's Cross Country)
Fitness Freak: Kendall Miller (Women's Golf) and Tristan Wheeler (Football)
Most Likely to be President: Tess Keppel (Field Hockey), Sebastian Miano (Men's Tennis), and Robert Rolfe (Football)
Original source can be found here.
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