Eagles Take Center Stage at 2018 RESPYS
By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media
Photo Courtesy of Greg Spell/G-RoxPhotos.com
WALESKA, Ga. - The 2nd annual Reinhardt Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards Show (RESPYS) is now complete as friends of the University convened inside the Brown Athletic Center to celebrate last season's accomplishments from the Eagle student-athletes and 22 teams.
Nearly 800 people joined together for the live program that featured a formal dinner and highlighted academic and team character accolades, individual sport success, department recognitions and the unveiling of the 2018 Reinhardt University Athletics Hall of Fame class.
In total, 37 honors were presented, and four new members were welcomed into the Reinhardt Athletics Hall of Fame.
"Tonight was another great event to celebrate the success of our student-athletes and the athletic department at Reinhardt," Vice President of Athletics and Director of Athletics Bill Popp said. "It is so great seeing our student-athletes get dressed up and cheer for each other. Thanks to all of those that attended tonight's event, and congratulations to all the award winners and to our new class of Hall-of-Famers.
"Finally, a special thanks to all of those that made this event a great success."
The Hall-of-Famers (William G. "Billy" Hasty Jr. ('67), Sam Allen, Men's Basketball ('03), Maddie Monroe, Softball ('13) and Greg Ihlenburg, Baseball ('08)) and the Golden Eagles (Erinn Marroquin, Volleyball; Qua Stocks, Football and Men's Track) - given to the Reinhardt women's and men's players of the year â€" were some of the crown jewels of the evening.
Men's lacrosse head coach John Snow â€" the reining two-time NAIA Men's Lacrosse National Coach of the Year â€" again earned a RESPY for Reinhardt's Coach of the Year, as he helped guide the school's Team of the Year (second-straight selection) to the 2018 NAIA Men's Lacrosse National Invitational title with an 8-7 overtime triumph against previously unbeaten and No. 1-ranked Madonna (Mich.) back on May 12 in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Additionally, almost 150 student-athletes throughout the department maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher during 2017-18.
"I just love to be able to see the young men and young women be able to celebrate all their accomplishments â€" both on the field and off the field," Reinhardt President Kina Mallard said. "The idea of the RESPYS is really to say to our student-athletes 'We appreciate your hard work and appreciate the honor you bring to Reinhardt; we want to support you, encourage you and give you all the applause.'
"What really struck me tonight was seeing all the teams sitting together and realizing that none of them were doing this for themselves… they do it for their teammates and are excited when their teammates win. Vice President Popp does a great job â€" all the coaches â€" I'm so proud of them; models of great citizenship for our student-athletes. A great year No. 2, and I look forward to No. 3."
Below is a breakdown of the award winners from Thursday night:
Eagle Scholars
- The student-athletes who are recognized as Eagle Scholars have completed a full season of competition with their respective team, while maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher over the course of a school year
Female Breakthrough Athlete of the Year
- Jennah McElheney, Softball
Male Breakthrough Athlete of the Year
- Dylan Powers, Baseball
Breakthrough Team of the Year
- Volleyball
Outstanding Team of Service
- Softball
Best Regular Season Performance by an Individual
- Tevin McCoy, Football
Hall of Fame Induction No. 1
- William G. "Billy" Hasty Jr. ('67)
Talon Tough
- Jay Smith, Assistant Men's Basketball Coach
Female Freshman of the Year
- Erinn Marroquin, Volleyball
Male Freshman of the Year
- Antonio Stewart, Wrestling
Fan of the Year
- The Bryan Family: Wally, Lisa, Kelly, and Matthew
Female Newcomer of the Year
- Tessa Colden, Volleyball
Male Newcomer of the Year
- Myrohn Miranda, Men's Tennis
Hall of Fame Induction No. 2
- Sam Allen, Men's Basketball ('03)
Assistant Coach of the Year
- John Harris, Baseball
Highest Team GPA
- Women's Soccer: 3.69
- Men's Soccer: 3.61
Women's Silver Eagle
- Albanae Queinnec, Women's Tennis
Men's Silver Eagle
- Fabio Periera, Men's Tennis
Stat Stuffer
- Kaleb Swayze, Baseball
Hall of Fame Induction No. 3
Best Championship Performance by an Individual
- Zane Anderson, Men's Lacrosse
Best Championship Performance by a Team
- Baseball
Comeback Player of the Year
- Nick Johnson, Football
Best Game
- Football
Biggest Upset
- Men's Tennis
Head Coach of the Year
- John Snow, Men's Lacrosse
Hall of Fame Induction No. 4
Women's Record-Breaking Performance
- Volleyball
Men's Record-Breaking Performance
- Qua Stocks, Track
Women's Clutch Performance of the Year
- Jada Hubbard
Men's Clutch Performance of the Year
- Nick Marquez, Football
Play of the Year
- Dillan Bousquet, Men's Lacrosse
Women's Golden Eagle
- Erinn Marroquin, Volleyball
Men's Golden Eagle
- Qua Stocks, Football and Men's Track
Team of the Year
- Men's Lacrosse
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