From Staff Reports

 

AMERICUS – It was a time to give honor to whom honor is due. Several Georgia Southwestern State University student-athletes received academic and athletic awards at the Hurricane Honors Banquet held on Tuesday, April 30, at GSW.

Michelle Gustavsen, a member of the GSW women’s soccer team, received one of two female scholar athlete awards. Autumn Tripp, a pitcher on the softball team, was the other. Both Gustavsen and Trip carry a 4.0 GPA.

Both the Hurricane and Lady Hurricane President’s Cup awards were issued to the teams with the highest yearly GPA. This year, the Hurricane President’s Cup went to the men’s tennis team. The team carried a GPA of 3.22. The Lady Hurricane President’s Cup went to the women’s tennis team. They carried a GPA of 3.61.

The Susan K. Smith and Roy Lee Awards were also given out. They go to the senior male and female athletes who are the best all-around representatives of GSW athletics. Hayley Tierce, a shortstop/third baseman on the softball team, was the recipient of the Susan K. Smith Award. Tierce is an Elementary Education Major and carries a 3.33 GPA. Chris Avery, a member of the GSW men’s soccer team, was the recipient of the Roy Lee Award. Avery is a Dramatic Art/Communications & Media Arts Major and carries a 3.43 GPA.

The Hurricane Cup is awarded to the athletic team who receives the most points for its GPA, how many players are on the honor roll and how many community service hours they participate in. This year’s recipient went to the GSW men’s golf team.

Peach Belt All-Academic honors were also given out at the banquet. For men’s soccer, Chris Avery, Manuel Duran, Thiago Elias and Julian Rugel received PBC all-academic honors. For women’s soccer, the honors went to Michelle Gustavsen, Leila Hamed and Ella Hawkins. Three female cross country athletes received PBC all-academic honors. They went to Connie Lewis, Katherine McGarr and Savannah Ross.

The Lady Hurricane softball representatives were KayLynn Church, Shannon Gibson, Madason Messer, Hayley Tierce and Chloe Zoeller. For baseball, PBC all-academic honors went to Jared Donalson, Jacob Harrell, Hayden Martin, Tucker Smith, Stewart Tyler and Jamison Wilks. Charlie Allen, Kendall Crew, Celia del Castillo and Alexandria Rhodes received PBC all-academic honors for women’s tennis. Beau Millwood received the honors for men’s tennis, and both Elias Birkeland and Wil Hernandez earned PBC all-academic honors for the GSW golf team.

Other scholar athlete awards were given out as well. To be considered for the award, a student-athlete has to have been at GSW for at least two full semesters and carry the highest cumulative GPA. The scholar athlete award winners were Michelle Gustavsen (women’s soccer 4.0 GPA), Autumn Tripp (softball 4.0 GPA), Tucker Smith (baseball 3.945 GPA), Thiago Elias (men’s soccer 3.827 GPA), Wil Hernandez (Golf 3.757 GPA), Kendall Crew (women’s tennis 3.685 GPA), Connie Lewis (women’s cross country 3.600), Beau Millwood (men’s tennis 3.550 GPA), Kya Cochran (women’s basketball 3.200 GPA) and Devin Watson (men’s basketball 2.778 GPA).

The Male and Female Athletic Performers of the Year for GSW were Hayley Tierce and Tucker Smith. Other GSW student-athletes received PBC recognitions for their performances. Vincent Norman, a member of the GSW golf team, was a four-time recipient of the Peach Belt Golfer of the Week. He was also named First Team All-Conference and is an NCAA Regional Qualifier.

R.J. Sessions, a member of the GSW men’s basketball team, was a Peach Belt Conference Preseason All-Conference selection. Hayley Tierce was a PBC Preseason All-Conference selection. Hunter Foster, a freshman outfielder on the GSW baseball team, was named the PBC Freshman of the Week once this season. His teammate, Andy Moore, also earned PBC Player of the Week honors.