June 20, 2023

Asbury Announces Day One of 2023 Eagle Awards Winners

WILMORE, Ky.---  Asbury Athletics announced day one of the 2023 Eagle Awards winners on #TeamAU social media platforms and asburyeagles.com on June 20th. Ten TeamAU student-athletes and five teams were honored in the awards, highlighting student-athletes that embody the AU mission to use college athletics to serve, train, and compete in a way that gives glory to God. 

Congratulations to day one 2023 Eagle Awards Winners! Asbury Athletics is proud of your actions in the classroom and field of competition that has led to this honor. 

Day two of award winners will be announced Wednesday, June 21 to complete the 2023 Eagle Awards.

Men's Athlete of the Year

Nick Fort / Men's Basketball / Gr. / MBA

Stats/Details:

Awards | NCCAA Mideast Region Player of the Year (2x), NCCAA All-American, NCCAA Men's Basketball Student-Athlete of the Week, NCCAA Scholar-Athlete, Asbury Scholar-Athlete

Averaged 23.9 points (second in NCCAA), 10.6 rebounds (first in NCCAA), and shot 51.8 percent from the floor to score 645 points (both career-highs). He made 111 free throws and 32 threes (career-high) on 36 percent shooting from three. He grabbed 285 rebounds and dished out 84 assists (career-high) with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.8 (14th in NCCAA). He had 14 blocks (team-high) and recorded 34 steals. He also tallied 18 double-doubles with five games of 15 or more rebounds. He had 12 games with 25 or more points and five 30-point games.

Women's Athlete of the Year

Carolina Trumpower / Women's Cross Country / Sr. / English

Stats/Details:

Awards | NCCAA All-American, NCCAA Scholar-Athlete, Asbury Scholar-Athlete

Set a new Asbury school record in the two-mile with a time of 11:58.5. Took a first place finish in the Run with the Lions Meet with a 6k time of 24:40. Became the fastest Asbury runner ever on the Asbury home course with a time of 19:18.19, securing her second first-place finish of the season in the Asbury Chick-fil-A Invitational. Ran her fastest time ever at 18:26.6 to be the second fastest performer in Asbury history, finishing fourth of 54 runners in Joplin, Mo., at NCCAA Nationals to become an NCCAA All-American for the second straight season. 

Women's Newcomer of the Year

Ava Miller / Women's Cross Country / Fr. / Elementary Education

Stats/Details:

Awards | Asbury Scholar-Athlete

Placed second in Run with the Lions Meet behind Carolina Trumpower. Became the fifth fastest Asbury runner ever on the Asbury home course with a third place finish in the Chick-fil-A Invitational (20:38.75). Knocked 40 seconds off her previous personal best and is now the fifth fastest performer ever for Asbury women's cross country in Nationals (19:33.4). Ran a (20:26.5) at Live in Louisville Classic. 

Men's Newcomer of the Year

Caleb Wallis / Men's Basketball / Jr. / Business Administration

Stats/Details:

Awards | NCCAA First Team All-Mideast Region, NCCAA Scholar-Athlete, Asbury Scholar-Athlete

Averaged 12.5 points (second on team) and 3.6 assists (team-high). Dished 102 assists with only 40 turnovers for a 2.6 assist-to-turnover ratio (sixth in the NCCAA). Made 50 three's while shooting 37% from deep and 42% from the field. Tied Nick Fort with total minutes on the season (893), scoring 337 points (second on team) and grabbing 104 rebounds. Collected a career-high nine assists on 12/29/22 and scored 21 points three times.

Female Comeback Player of the Year

Cheyenne Fullwood / Women's Basketball / Sr. / Exercise Science

"Cheyenne's dedication to her recovery inspired not only her teammates but the entire Asbury community", said Asbury Associate Head Athletic Trainer Kelsey Lang. “Her perseverance and commitment during the entire process led all the way to a strong performance on senior day in front of friends and family.”

Men's Comeback Player of the Year

Yannick Landwehr / Men's Soccer / Sr. / Exercise Science

“Yannick's love for his teammates and the sport of soccer surpassed any hardships he encountered during his time at Asbury”, said Asbury Associate Head Athletic Trainer Kelsey Lang. “His passion for his sport and desire to lead his teammates drove his recovery process throughout. Despite these struggles he has been such a light to our athletics department and our entire campus. We cannot wait to see where God leads him next."

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.

Maliya Crump / Women's Soccer / So. / Media Communications

“Maliya is a massive part of our team and contributes on and off the field in a strong leadership role”, said head women's soccer coach Zach Welch. “The last season she was called upon in goal constantly and answered the call on multiple occasions. Maliya is always sharpening her craft and is a key leader in our Asbury women's soccer program.”

Had 194 saves seeing 288 shots on goal. She is currently 51 goals away from tying the all-time saves record for Asbury women's soccer in a career.

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.

John Shoulders / Men's Basketball / Sr. / Business Administration

Awards | NCCAA Men's Basketball Scholar-Athlete, Asbury Scholar-Athlete

Averaged 10.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. Made 58 three's (second on team) at 34% shooting behind the line and made 100 total field goals. Went 24-27 from the line on the year and dished 56 assists while grabbing 18 steals. Scored a career-high 29 points on 10-20 shooting with four made three's on 2/17/23 against CU-Harrodsburg. Made a three in every game but two on the season.

Women's Team of the Year

Asbury Women's Cross Country

Awards | 4th Place at NCCAA Nationals, NCCAA All-American, Asbury Women's Athlete of the Year, Four Top-Five Finishes

Asbury women's cross country finished the season with a strong fourth place finish at NCCAA Nationals including an NCCAA All-American and the Asbury Women's Athlete of the Year, Carolina Trumpower. Placed first place in the Asbury Chick-fil-A Invitational with four total top-five finishes on the season. Received six NCCAA Scholar-Athletes following the 2022 fall semester. 

Veteran head coach Randy Crist continues to lead the Asbury cross-country program with intentionality and integrity that leads to success on and off the course. Coach Crist values providing the whole student-athlete experience to his runners, leading them to grow in their faith in Christ while excelling in the classroom and on the course. Heading into the 2023 fall season, Crist enters his 16th year leading Asbury cross-country and his 40th overall in coaching. 

Men's Team of the Year

Asbury Men's Basketball

Awards | 21-7 Record, NCCAA Mideast Region Champions, 5th Place Finish in the NCCAA National Tournament, NCCAA Mideast Region Player of the Year, NCCAA All-American, Asbury Male Athlete of the Year (Nick Fort), Best Start in School History (7-0) 

In the 2022-23 season Coach Will Shouse led Asbury to the highest winning percentage (21-7) and best start to a season with (7-0) in school history. Coach Shouse led AU to an NCCAA Mideast Region Championship and a trip to the NCCAA National Tournament where the Eagles finished fifth place. Three Asbury men's basketball student-athletes were named to the NCCAA All-Mideast Region Team, including Nick Fort as the Mideast Region Player of the Year for the second consecutive season and an NCCAA All-American.

On January 28, 2023 Coach Shouse reached 300 career victories as a college head coach when he led AU past Boyce College, 92-83.

In the last three seasons Asbury men's basketball is 52-25 with over 15 wins in all each of the three seasons.