June 9, 2022

2022 Eagle Awards Day One Announced

WILMORE, Ky.--- Day one of the 2022 Eagle Awards winners were announced today by the Asbury Athletics Department. Nine TeamAU student-athletes and nine teams were recognized today in these awards. Day 2 of the awards will be announced tomorrow afternoon. 

Male Athlete of the Year

WALKER PARIS | Baseball / Sr. / Sport Management

Stats/Details:

*Back-to-Back winner of this award

*Broke his previously held record of hits in a single season in AU history (87)

*Most career RBI in AU history (154)

*Broke his previously held record of highest single season batting average in program history (.481)

*Top starting pitcher on the mound for AU going 6-1

*NCCAA Baseball Player of the Year, First Team NCCAA All-American, All-Tournament NCCAA World Series selection 

*NCCAA Mideast region player of the year, NCCAA Mideast first team selection, NCCAA Mideast gold glove team, NCCAA player of week (week of Feb. 21),  NCCAA scholar-athlete.

*Paris followed his incredible 2021 campaign with another record-breaking season, being named the back-to-back Asbury Male Athlete of the Year.

Female Co-Athletes of the Year

AUTUMN HERRIFORD | Women's Basketball / Gr. / Learing & Behavior P-12

Stats/Details:

*Averaged 12.0 PPG, 8 RPG, 1 BPG

*Became the all-time leading scorer in Asbury women's basketball history (1,675)

*1st Team Mideast NCCAA All-Region, 2nd Team NCCAA All-American, NCCAA National Tournament All-Tournament Team, NCCAA Kathy Freese-Peadbody Award, NCCAA Game Plan 4 Life Character Award

*Autumn helped lead the Eagles to an incredible season (21-7), earning a trip to the NCCAA National Tournament, and named as the Asbury Women's Team of the Year

FAITH WILEY | Women's Golf / Sr. / Health & Physical Ed.

Stats/Details:

*NCCAA First Team All-American

*1st place finish where she one the tournament by 20 strokes, setting a new Asbury scoring record

*Third place finish in the NCCAA National Championship

*Second place finish in two tournaments

*Faith has had an incredible career at Asbury University, definitely leaving her mark on and off the course

Female Newcomer of the Year

MALIYA CRUMP | Women's Soccer / Fr. / Media Communication

Stats/Details:

*Recorded 123 saves in the regular season

*Starting 17 of 17 games for the Eagles as a freshman

*Named a member of the NCCAA National Tournament Team

“Maliya is constantly working to better herself and trains incredibly hard day in and day out”, said coach Elyse Overton. “She also works with younger goal keepers helping them to better themselves in the spring.”

Male Newcomer of the Year

GARRETT STURGES | Men's Golf / Fr. / Business Admin.

Stats/Details:

*NCCAA Regional Medalist (shooting 69)

*NCCAA All-American

*Two rounds under par and three top 10 finishes in his freshman season

“Without Garrett's play at Regionals, I'm not sure we make the National Tournament”, said head coach Scott Ferguson. Men's Golf went on to win the NCCAA National Championship, thanks to sensational play from their freshman Garrett Sturges.

Female Comeback Player of the Year

AMBER SCHULTE | Women's Swimming / Soph. / Psychology

*After spending the 2020-2021 season competing with a Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex tear in her

wrist that required surgery after the season, Amber recovered quickly and broke 6 school records at the

2022 Liberal Arts Conference Championship. 

Stats/Details:

*First female swimmer in the AU NCAA Division III era to achieve an NCAA Division III B Standard Conference

Champion in 4 Relay Events

*Conference Champion in 400 Freestyle, 200 Freestyle, 1650 Freestyle 

*Set new AU school records in 50 Freestyle, 100 Freestyle, 200 Freestyle, 500 Freestyle, 1000 Freestyle, 1650

Freestyle, owning school records in all 6 Freestyle Events

Male Comeback Player of the Year

TOMMY JOHNSON | Men's Swimming / Jr. / Exercise Science

*After suffering a broken collarbone in spring 2021, Tommy healed quickly and had the best season of his

career. Tommy was a Conference Champion in 3 Relay events, placed 4th in the 200 IM, was Conference

Champion in the 400 IM and was runner-up to Alex Wu in the 200 Butterfly.

Stats/Details:

*Conference Champion in 3 Relay events

*Placed 4th in the 200 IM

*Conference Champion in the 400 IM

*Runner-up to Alex Wu in the 200 Butterfly

Women's Frank B. and Lucille Fryman Award - This is an award for student-athletes that honors former staff members Frank and Lucille Fryman. Both gave loving service to Asbury University for several years. Mr. Fryman worked in the physical plant and Mrs. Fryman worked in the college bookstore. Their son, Bill, is a graduate of Asbury University and the father of Travis Fryman who played professionally for the Cleveland Indians.This award is for demonstrated excellence as a varsity student-athlete, for strong Christian witness and demonstrated attitude of service, and demonstrated potential for leadership. It is open to all academically eligible student-athletes.

ABBY FLETCHER | Softball / Jr. / Biology

Abby is a team leader on the AU softball team in many ways. She is a scholar athlete, a TAG Coordinator, the VP of Asbury Pre-Health Club, and the Treasurer of Sigma Zeta Math and Science. Abby is a member of the Honors Society and a softball team representative on the Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC). 

“Abby takes time out of each day to serve others and put them above her needs. She is the perfect example of a leader, and her character is beyond great”, said head coach Megan Curry.

Men's Frank B. and Lucille Fryman Award - This is an award for student-athletes that honors former staff members Frank and Lucille Fryman. Both gave loving service to Asbury University for several years. Mr. Fryman worked in the physical plant and Mrs. Fryman worked in the college bookstore. Their son, Bill, is a graduate of Asbury University and the father of Travis Fryman who played professionally for the Cleveland Indians.This award is for demonstrated excellence as a varsity student-athlete, for strong Christian witness and demonstrated attitude of service, and demonstrated potential for leadership. It is open to all academically eligible student-athletes.

WES PRESTON | Men's Cross Country / So. / Business Admin.

Wes is a leader on the cross-country team in every way. He leads by example with his off-season preparation, his effort in practice, his disciplined lifestyle, his vocal encouragement of his teammates, and his Christian character. Wesley also posts a strong 3.37 GPA

“He is also the most enthusiastic recruiter for others to attend Asbury that have every had on the team", said head coach Randy Crist. Preston was AU Cross Country's #1 runner, just missing All-American status in the fall of 2021. Wes is the Director of Member Relations for Phi Beta Lambda (the business club) and a Chick-fil-A team leader. He is an SLA in Johnson Hall and was our cross-country SAAC representative.

Women's Cecil C. Zweifel Award - Initiated in 1996, this award honors Cecil C. Zweifel who developed the major in health, physical education and recreation; was the catalyst for the initiation of the athletic program; holds the record for wins in collegiate soccer in the state of Kentucky; was primarily responsible for the raising of the funds for the Luce Center; and inspired all of us with his witness for Christ. This award is presented annually to student-athletes with a minimum GPA of 3.00 who have made significant contributions to their team.

CAROLINA TRUMPOWER | Women's Cross Country / Soph. / Creative Writing

3.79 GPA Trumpower completed another fantastic season for the Asbury Cross Country team in her second year at AU. Carolina posted a 5th place finish at NCCAA Nationals with a 5K time of 18:38 - second fastest in AU history. Trumpower was also named an NCCAA Cross Country All-American, and set a new school record of 4:59 in the 1500-meter run, taking 10 seconds off of the previous record which had stood since 2002. Carolina is the Opinion Editor for the Collegian, Assistant Swim Coach at Clearfork Swim Club, Writing Consultant for the Center of Academic Excellence, and is on the staff for the Asbury Review. She also posts a 3.79 GPA

“She displays incredible Christian character in all she says and does and was selected by her teammates to be a team captain this fall", said head coach Randy Crist.

Men's Cecil C. Zweifel Award - Initiated in 1996, this award honors Cecil C. Zweifel who developed the major in health, physical education and recreation; was the catalyst for the initiation of the athletic program; holds the record for wins in collegiate soccer in the state of Kentucky; was primarily responsible for the raising of the funds for the Luce Center; and inspired all of us with his witness for Christ. This award is presented annually to student-athletes with a minimum GPA of 3.00 who have made significant contributions to their team.

DAKOTA WALDEN | Men's Basketball / Soph. / Business Admin.

Dakota was the starting point guard for AU this season, helping lead the Eagles to a birth in the NCCAA National Tournament. He averaged 10 PPG, 2.4 APG, and 4 RPG. Walden also boasts a 3.5 GPA. “Dakota is a great representation of Asbury men's basketball. He loves the Lord, is coachable, and a great teammate.He is solid in the classroom and continues to strive to get better in all areas", said head coach Will Shouse.

Women's Team of the Year

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Asbury Women’s Basketball Finished the year with a 21-7 record and a Final Four berth in the NCCAA National Tournament. The Eagles achieved a national ranking of number 4 in the country and the 2 seed in the NCCAA National Tournament. Overall, this team was able to place three players on the Mid-East All-Region team and secured one All-American in Autumn Herriford. AU averaged an electric 82 points per game, 21-point scoring margin of victory, 16 team assists per game, 4 blocks per game, and an incredible 22 forced turnovers per game. 

“This team competed against NCAA D-1, D-2, D-3 and NAIA teams throughout the season. In 28 total games this season we were only able to play 6 home games while playing 22 road games. This group was still able to play at a high level and attain tremendous success", said head coach Chad Mayes.

Men's Team of the Year

MEN'S GOLF

The Asbury Men's Golf team put together an incredible 2021-22 season that was topped with an NCCAA National Championship. The Eagles gathered a total of three team wins (NCCAA Mid-West Regional, NCCAA National Championship, and Earlham Spring Invitational. AU also posted one runner-up finish, and two third place finishes.

Three members of men's golf were named NCCAA All-Americans (Marcos Ezcurra, Victory Vargas, Garrett Sturges). Sturges, Nathan Stine, and Juan Valdivieso were named to the NCCAA All-Region Team. Both Sturges and Ezcurra also took individual medalist honors during the season.