Albany State athletes honored at banquet

Albany State University student-athletes were honored for their outstanding academic and athletic achievements during the 46th Annual All-Sports Banquet at ASU’s Health, Physical Education and Recreation Complex. Student-athletes who participate in the 11 sports and two activities were honored during the event.

“The banquet was an opportunity to honor our student-athletes for their accomplishments during the 2015-2016 season,” ASU Athletics Director Dr. Richard H. Williams said.

“Each year, we honor our Lady Ram and Golden Ram teams for their athletic and academic accomplishments. This is our opportunity to thank them for the banner year we had in athletics, along with their dedication and service to the university.”

More than 100 student-athletes were honored, including Artisha Holston and Cervantes Jackson, who received ASU’s top awards, the 2016 Female and Male Athlete-of-the-Year awards. Cedric Ashe and Morgane Rainwater received the RAM Awards, which is presented to the male and female student-athletes who exhibit school spirit, dedication, leadership and service to the community.

As a junior, Holston led the Lady Rams’ to their third consecutive winning season. She was named to the 2016 SIAC All-Conference First Team and the NCAA South Region Second Team for the third straight year, and was voted the 2016 SIAC Player of the Year. This is the third consecutive year Holston has been named the Female Athlete of the Year.

Jackson, the freshman phenom from the men’s track & field team, led the Golden Rams to a third place finish at the SIAC championships. He also received the SIAC Cleve Abbott Award for total points at the championship and was named the SIAC Field MVP. Jackson made the all-conference team in four different events.

In addition to the Athletes of the Year, ASU Athletics placed student-athletes on the All-Lady Ram and All-Golden Ram teams. The All-Lady Ram Team featured Kaliah Carter (women’s volleyball), Philicia Batton (women’s track & field), Ebone Cobb (women’s track & field), Aaliyah Howard (women’s cross country/track & field) and Irrion Conaler (women’s track & field). Jared Jordan (men’s track & field), Jarvis Small (football), Kelvin Wimbish (baseball), Grover Stewart (football), and Kamil Jones (men’s cross country) were recognized on the All-Golden Ram team.

As a member of the ASU Football team, Ashe helped the team to the 2015 SIAC Eastern Division championship and the SIAC championship game. He is also the president for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).

Rainwater was a key component on the Lady Rams’ track & field team that won the SIAC title for the second time in three years. She serves as the vice-president of the SAAC and the president of the Chi Alpha Sigma National Honor Society for Student-Athletes.

On the offensive side of the gridiron, the Golden Rams football team awarded Small with the Most Valuable Player and Most Outstanding Offensive Back trophies. Javoris Wilburn received the Best Lineman Award, and Caleb Edmond was named Most Improved Player. Thomas Smith garnered Offensive Newcomer of the Year honors.

On defense, Tavarius Washington was named the Most Valuable Player. Grover Stewart received the Best Lineman Award, and Ryan Selby took home the Most Improved Player award. Nick Scott was named Most Outstanding Back, while Stefan Whitehead received the Best Special Team Player Award. Darien Conley was given the Coaches’ Award, while Zavondric Shingleton won Most Outstanding Linebacker.

Football Academic Achievement Awards went to Ashe, Jamal Abd Al-Qadir, Yancey Burns, Devonta Osborne, Terry Wiley, Jalliane Coverson, Yusuf Muhammad, Marvin Lewis, Darius Mitchell and Small.

Top Golden Ram baseball awards went to Wimbish as the Defensive Player of the Year, and Cody Fleck received the Best Offensive Player Award. Ryan Sims received the Teammate of the Year Award. John Paul Barnard was presented with the Outstanding Pitcher Award.

Jonatan Galan, Michal Byron, Payton Dixon, Herron Gardner, DaMarkus Green, Brandon Pearson, Sage Sammons, Theodore Smith, Juan Vidal and Brandon Wollett received Academic Achievement Awards.

The Lady Rams softball team’s Most Valuable Player Award went to Malea Maye. Outfielder Brishanti Weaver was named Best Defensive Player, and Toni Coleman took home the Best Offensive Award.

Tiffany Massey, Demeshia Russell, Kyera Whitaker, Jakeidra Pruitt, and Weaver earned Academic Achievement Awards.

Holston was named Most Valuable Player and Best Offensive Player for the women’s basketball team, while the Defensive Player of the Year Award went to guard Zuri Frost. Academic awards went to Holston, Ngozi Ware and Sierra Foster.

For men’s basketball, Jayson Snearl and Timothy Rose received Academic Achievement Awards.

ASU tennis player Torian Foster was named the team’s Most Valuable Player. Samantha Heard received the Most Improved Award, and Vivian Moultrie was named the Most Valuable Scholar. Kiara Thompson received an Academic Achievement Award.

In men’s track & field, Jackson received the Most Valuable Player, Freshman of the Year, Man Award and High Point trophies. Khaleed Barrett was named Most Improved. Rashon Miller, Jeremy Burch, Jamorris Hill and Barrett were presented with the Academic Achievement Awards.

On the women’s side, Irrion Conaler was named the Most Valuable Track Performer. Batton was given the Most Valuable Field Performer Award, and Rainwater and My’keese Edwards were presented with the Senior Awards. Academic Achievement Awards were given to Rainwater, Cobb, Howard, Daijah Fullwood, Keanu Hall, Jalleyah Jordan and Brittianni Phillips.

Howard was named the Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Year, and the Best Men’s Cross Country Runner award went to Kamil Jones. Barrett, Hill, Fullwood and Howard received Academic Achievement Awards.

The Most Valuable Player Award for women’s volleyball went to Tiffany Roesler, and Carter received the Best Defensive Player Award. Phillips was named the Best Offensive Player. Tiffany Roesler, Thompson, Carter, Thompson and Jakishma Soto earned Academic Achievement Awards.

For the ASU cheerleading squad, Omi Potts received the Outstanding Leadership Award, and Anaiah Hopewell was given the Most Spirited Award. Ashley Gibson was named Best All-Around, and Kierra House received the Most Improved Award. Courtney Spencer was presented with the Newcomer of the Year Award.

Cheerleaders who received Academic Achievement Awards were Potts, Brittany Young, Lamoya Kelly, Kalia Spears and An’Jonai Nabors.

The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee honored Ashe and Rainwater with the Edythe Y. Bradley Leadership Award. Jonatan Galan and Tiffany Massey were presented with Community Service Awards, while Dominique Pollard and Kiara Thompson received Advisors’ Awards.

The Platinum Divas Leadership Award was presented to Vreonna Strong-Belin. Kenay Phillips received the Most Outstanding Dancer award, and the Most Dedicated Dancer went to Erica Samms. Asisha Coleman was named Most Improved Dancer, and Patrice Ellison took home the Coaches’ Award. Jasmine Roundtree was named the Diva of the Year.

In addition to All-Lady Ram and All-Golden Ram teams, the ASU Department of Athletics incorporated the inaugural Lady Ram and Golden Ram All-Academic teams.

The women’s team consisted of Roesler, Hall, Pruitt, Jordan and Holston. Rainwater received the Lady Ram Academician Award. Green, Al-Qadir, Ashe, Miller and Osborne represented on the men’s squad. The Golden Ram Academician Award was presented to Galan.