May 8, 2025

Asbury Highlights Day One of 2025 Eagle Awards Winners

WILMORE, Ky.---  Asbury Athletics recently hosted the 2025 Asbury Eagle Awards, celebrating a year of serving, training, and competing for the glory of God. AU student-athletes, coaches, staff, faculty, and families gathered in the Shaw CLC Luce Auditorium on Tuesday night, April 29, to highlight and honor excellence achieved. 

The Asbury Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), led by President Hagen Webb, produced the event as their highlighted project for the 2024-25 year. SAAC is comprised of two leading student-athletes from each of the 16 TeamAU programs, and is committed to serving Asbury student-athletes. 

The event was broadcasted live, and is archived on the Asbury Athletics Youtube Account. 

Special thanks to Fresh Ideas Food Service and Los Altos Authentic Mexican Restaurant, for providing amazing food during the event. 

Awards will be released on asburyeagles.com and @asburyeagles social media platforms (Instagram, X, Facebook) throughout the week.

Congratulations to day one 2025 Eagle Awards Winners! Asbury Athletics is proud of your commitment in the classroom, on field of competition, and love for others that has led to this honor. Day two of award winners will be announced Friday, May 9 to complete the 2025 Eagle Awards.

View photos below from the 2025 Eagle Awards

2025 Eagle Awards Day One Winners

Male Athlete of the Year

Ethan Bonow / Men's Swimming / Fr. / Business Admin.

Stats/Details - Bonow made history as Asbury’s first NCAA DIII National Qualifier and became a 2x NCAA DIII All-American this season. He set three individual school records, and was a part of two record setting relays. He was also a 3x individual conference champion, and named the Male Swimmer of the Meet at the Liberal Arts Conference Championship.

Nominees

Clayton Winter | Men's Basketball

Wes Preston | Men's Cross Country & Track and Field

Kaden Dugle | Baseball

Dalton Fleshood | Men's Soccer

Female Athlete of the Year

Bailey Gassmann / Women's Cross Country and Track & Field / So. / Social Work

Stats/Details -  Bailey was an NCCAA National Champion in the Mile for Indoor Track this season with a time of 5:05.91. She earned 1st Team All-CCS in Cross Country and was voted the CCS Track Athlete of the Week six times this spring, setting numerous school records and meet victories. She also earned two gold medals and a silver medal at the CCS Outdoor Track Championships.

Nominees

Abby Moffat | Softball

Ariadna Zegarra | Women's Tennis 

Haleigh Releford | Women's Basketball

Hannah Muncie | Women's Soccer

Isabelle VandeSchraaf

Female Newcomer of the Year

Isabelle VandeSchraaf / Volleyball / Fr. / Equine Science

Stats/Details - In her first season at Asbury, Izzie was named the CCS Freshman of the year and the AVCA Region 6 Freshman of the Year. She recorded a school-record 28 Kills against Top-25 Centre. She was also named an NCCAA First team All American, 5X CCS Rookie of the Week, and First Team All-CCS.

Nominees

Grant Slater | Men's Soccer

Emily Sizemore | Women's Basketball

Katherine Nova | Women's Tennis

Emma Groff | Women's Cross Country & Track and Field

Male Newcomer of the Year

Ethan Bonow / Men's Swimming / Fr. / Business Admin.

Stats/Details - Bonow made history as Asbury’s first NCAA DIII National Qualifier and became a 2x NCAA DIII All-American this season. He set three individual school records, and was a part of two record setting relays. He was also a 3x individual conference champion, and named the Male Swimmer of the Meet at the Liberal Arts Conference Championship.

Nominees

Grant Slater | Men's Soccer

Jackson Raby | Golf

Manny Dutt | Men's Track and Field

Female Comeback Player of the Year

Kaylee Strunk / Softball / Sr. / Biology

Stats/Details - Kaylee had an injury that caused her to miss almost all of the 2024 season, only making one appearance. This season, Kaylee has started in 11 games with 13 total appearances, earning 7 wins and holding a 3.74 ERA. She has thrown 7 complete games, throwing a total of 67.1 innings so far this season.

Nominees

Trinity Britton | Women's Basketball

Maris Wainright | Women's Swimming

Male Comeback Player of the Year

Cayden Devine  / Baseball / Jr. / Sport Management

Stats/Details - In 2024, Cayden was in and out of the lineup all year due to injury and sickness. This season on the mound, he has been a weekend conference starter with 10 appearances and 8 starts. Cayden threw a complete game shutout against Hiram College with four strikeouts to help secure Asbury a series win.

Female 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.

Morgan Flanagan / Women's Basketball / Sr. / Business Admin. and Spanish

Stats/Details -  Morgan was an Asbury Scholar-Athlete, NCCAA Scholar-Athlete, and on the Asbury Honor Roll. AU women’s basketball Head Coach Chad Mayes said, “Morgan continually sees the best in others and works to build their strengths and confidence. Morgan was never too proud for any task and made sure her teammates were always taken care of on and off the court. When Morgan was re-injured and no longer able to play, She instead asked her teammates “What do you need” and asked her coaches “what can I do to help”".

Nominees

Moira Tinsley | Softball

Ariadna Zegarra | Women's Tennis

Lucy Kate Gray | Volleyball

Maggie Perry | Women's Soccer

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.

Austin Dunlap / Men's Soccer / Gr. / MBA

Stats/Details - Austin was a four-year starter and former captain for Asbury men’s soccer. In 2024, he earned NCCAA National Tournament –All-Tournament Team, and scored five goals while dishing five assists. Men’s Soccer Head Coach Ben Andrews said, “Austin’s energy and ability to change a game proved to be vital in our success. Now as a GA, his servant leadership has been evident in the way he responsibly provides leadership and guidance in various logistics in the department."

Nominees

Jonathan Combs | Men's Basketball

Women's Team of the Year

Asbury Volleyball | Head Coach Tiffany Horton

During the 2024 season, Asbury volleyball doubled their win-total from last year and were crowned CCS Regular Season Champions with a 21-8 overall record and 15-1 mark in the CCS. The Eagles went on a stretch of nine consecutive wins that included five straight sweeps. The ladies produced a Setter, Rookie, and Defender of the Year in the CCS, with 5 CCS All-Conference Players. 

Nominees

Women's Basketball

Women's Cross Country

Men's Team of the Year

Asbury Men's Tennis | Head Coach Jarred Miller

The men finished as CCS Regular Season and Tournament Champions with a perfect 8-0 record in their first season in the CCS. The Eagles completed the regular season at an 11-2 record and had four all-conference student-athletes in the CCS. They joined the AU women’s tennis team as the first-ever Asbury teams that will compete in a NCAA National Tournament. 

Nominees

Men's Soccer