May 14, 2026

Asbury Celebrates Final Day of 2026 Eagle Awards Winners

WILMORE, Ky.---  Asbury Athletics recently hosted the 2026 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 Monday night, April 27, to highlight and honor excellence achieved. 

The Asbury Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), led by President Owen Seymour, produced the event as their highlighted project for the 2025-26 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 broadcast live and is archived on the Asbury Athletics YouTube account. 

Special thanks to Fresh Ideas Food Service for providing amazing food service during the event. 

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

Congratulations to all 2026 Eagle Awards Winners! Asbury Athletics is proud of your commitment in the classroom, on the field of competition, and your love for others that has led to this honor.

View photos below from the 2026 Eagle Awards

2026 Eagle Awards Final Day Winners

Female Gamble/Walker Outstanding Senior

Hannah Muncie / Women's Soccer / Sr. / Biology

Stats/Details - Muncie has been a cornerstone of the women’s soccer program, excelling as both a leader and a top performer on the field. This season, she tied for a team-lead in points with 28, scoring 13 goals and adding 2 assists, while earning All-CCS First Team honors and being named a 2x NCCAA Second Team All-American. Muncie also served as a two-year team captain, consistently setting the standard in competition and leadership. Off the field, she completed her biology degree a semester early while maintaining a 4.0 GPA in the Honors Program, alongside extensive service work in healthcare clinics, churches, mentorship programs, and special needs camps.

Nominees

Brooke O'Carroll | Women's Cross Country and Track & Field

Riley McChord | Volleyball

Tori Giurgevich | Softball

Morgan Flannery | Women's Basketball

Joy Killingsworth | Women's Swimming

Male Gamble/Walker Outstanding Senior

Andrew Billington / Baseball / Sr. / Accounting

Stats/Details -  Billington was named CCS Player of the Week after going 6-for-10 with 7 runs, 3 RBIs, a Home Run, and 2 stolen bases in the series sweep over Dallas. He is a Multiple-time NCCAA Mideast Region Gold Glove Award winner with fielding percentages of .967–.986. He is a Multiple-time NCCAA Scholar-Athlete and Asbury Scholar-Athlete, and has repeated Asbury Honor Roll selections. This season Billington is second on the team with a .361 average, first in hits at 52 and first in stolen bases at 27, all top 7 in the CCS.

Nominees

Jon Gordon | Men's Soccer

Owen Seymour | Men's Swimming

Molly Harlin Servant Leadership Award - A leadership award given in memory of Molly Harlin that exemplifies servant leadership.

Wes Preston / XC and T&F Assistant Coach

Details - Coach Preston has served this season as an assistant coach for both Asbury Cross Country and Track & Field, bringing energy, passion, and steady leadership to the program. A former AU student-athlete and current graduate student, Wes has dedicated his time to practices and meets, consistently investing in student-athletes and their development. His faith in Christ is central to who he is— he openly shares it, frequently leads team prayer, and lives it out in his daily life. Outside of Asbury, Wes serves on mission trips to Paraguay, volunteers weekly at First Alliance Church, and works full-time on the Chick-fil-A management team.

Nominees

Cate VanMeter | Women's Soccer

Emily Zink | Softball

Spencer Harvey | Assistant Women's Basketball Coach

Addie Huebert | Women's Swimming

Male Stuart Smith Award

Josue Twizere / Men's Soccer / Fr. / Sport Management

Stats/Details - "Josue has made an immediate and lasting impact on the men’s soccer program in just one year, becoming a player coaches and teammates love” said head coach Ben Andrews. Known for his positivity and joy, he has been a locker room favorite and a steady source of encouragement throughout the season. Josue consistently seeks to honor Christ in the way he carries himself, and his outlook on life has been both uplifting and inspiring to those around him.

Nominees

Tyler Hall | Men's Basketball

Female Stuart Smith Award 

Emily Sizemore / Women's Basketball / Jr. / Elementary Education

Stats/Details - "Emily plays every game with a steadfast commitment to winning, while never compromising her faith or values, living as a true example of leadership and light for Christ” said head coach Chad Mayes. Off the court, Emily has demonstrated an extraordinary servant’s heart—partnering with Convoy of Hope to aid tornado victims in her hometown, working directly in affected neighborhoods to deliver supplies and assist with cleanup efforts. She also organized a homeless outreach winter drive through her church, mobilizing youth to collect donations, pack bags, and distribute food, clothing, and hygiene items in downtown Lexington

Nominees

Dorcus Lara | Women's Soccer

Brooke O'Carroll | Women's Cross Country and Track & Field

Female 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.

Emma Groff / Women's XC and T&F / So. / Elementary Education

Stats/Details - Emma has emerged as a leader early in her AU career, serving as a team captain in her sophomore season. She placed 3rd at the CCS Cross Country Championship to earn First-Team All-Conference honors in the fall, posting a personal record of 23:59 in the 6K. Last week, Emma claimed two gold medals at the CCS Track and Field Championships, winning the pole vault with a clearance of 2.75 meters & then capturing the 3000-meter steeplechase title in a school-record time of 12:10.5.Emma also holds a 3.95 GPA, serves as an Admissions Ambassador, Special Olympics coach, and is an active leader in her church and team devotions. 

Nominees

Lucy Kate Gray | Volleyball

Daegan Flamm | Softball

Leah Margraf | Women's Swimming

Male 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.

Owen Seymour / Men's Swimming / Sr. / Psychology

Stats/Details - Owen has been a steady and impactful leader for the men’s swimming team, setting the tone in and out of the pool,” said Head Coach Graham Duncan. He capped off his senior year with a runner-up finish in the 100-yard backstroke at the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships with a lifetime best time, while also earning two additional top 5 finishes in the 50 and 100 freestyles. Owen contributed on four relays, helping secure multiple Asbury podium finishes and was part of two record-setting relay teams, while maintaining a 3.54 GPA and serving as a team captain and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee President

Nominees

Bryce Snellen | Men's Basketball

Houston Porter | Men's Swimming

Eric Liddell Award - The Eric Liddel Award is given to an individual who actively embodies TeamAU’s mission of “Serve, Train, and Compete for the Glory of God”. This award is presented to a staff member who honors the pursuit of excellence and Christian Leadership of Eric Liddell, an Olympic gold medalist and a committed follower of Jesus.

Sarah Goul / Athletics Media Graduate Assistant

Stats/Details - “It has been great to watch Sarah grow into her role within the department and to hear her talk about how she uses photography to glorify God and honor our student-athletes,” said head swimming coach Graham Duncan. Asbury Director of Athletic Communications Matthew Johnson said about Sarah, “ Her care and intentionality are reflected in the quality of her work and in the way she represents Asbury across digital and social media platforms. As a department, we are incredibly grateful for the past two years Sarah has given us. She deserves to be celebrated for her servant’s heart, excellence, and dedication to TeamAU” 

Nominees

Chad Mayes | Women's Basketball

Sammy Fluck | Head Athletic Trainer

Spencer Harvey | Assistant Women's Basketball Coach

The Eagle Award - In 1992, the “Eagle Award” was introduced as a way of annually recognizing the individual, organization, company or group who has shown continuing and visible support for the athletic department. It is given with careful consideration to those who are dedicated to the development of character and excellence in young men and women through athletics. 

Emily Walsh / Faculty Athletics Representative

Details - Dr. Walsh has served as the TeamAU Faculty Athletics Representative with unwavering commitment, consistency, and care for the past five years. Throughout her time in this role, she has been a steady advocate for student-athletes, ensuring academic integrity, supporting their success, and faithfully representing the connection between athletics and the academic mission of the university. Her dedication, attention to detail, and genuine investment in the lives of students have left a lasting impact on the entire athletic department. 

Rita Pritchett Award - Highest overall GPA for Asbury male student-athlete. 

Ethan Kriesch / Men's Soccer / Sr. / Adventure Leadership

Rita Pritchett Award - Highest overall GPA for Asbury female student-athlete. 

Mary Hostetter / Women's Soccer / Sr. / Intercultural Studies, Minor in Adventure Education & Leadership

Rita Pritchett Award - Highest overall GPA for Asbury female student-athlete. 

Brooke O'Carroll / Women's XC and T&F / Sr. / Elementary Education