BOONE, N.C. – App State celebrated the 2022-23 year of student-athlete and athletic achievements with the annual APPSPYs awards show this week.
The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) organized the event, with
Ellie Murphy (tennis) and
Jelonnie Smith (women's track & field) serving as the primary co-hosts. SAAC members voted on the various awards.
Jon Jon Millner (wrestling) repeated as Male Athlete of the Year, and
Friederike Stegen (field hockey) was named Female Athlete of the Year. Millner became a four-time NCAA qualifier by winning his school-record fourth SoCon title at 149 pounds, and Stegen was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Year after leading App State's conference finalist team with 12 goals.
Coach of the Year honors went to another repeat winner in
JohnMark Bentley, who led App State to a No. 20 final national ranking during a season in which the Mountaineers went 12-2 overall, won the SoCon regular season title with an 8-0 dual record and claimed the SoCon tournament title by a decisive margin of 24.5 points.
Craig McFarland (football) received the prestigious Brakefield Award. Established by legendary App State football coach Jim Brakefield and his wife, Eloise, this award is given to a graduating student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average among all student-athletes. An offensive line and special teams contributor during his career, McFarland has a GPA of 3.957.
Ethan Oakley (wrestling) received the Goodyear Family Athletic Scholarship. George and Anne Goodyear founded the scholarship in 1994 for a rising junior who has a minimum GPA of 2.0 and demonstrates strength of character in all that he or she does.
The Rick Edmundson Memorial Scholarship was presented to
Ruby Clark (field hockey). This scholarship is awarded annually to a rising junior or senior who has exhibited loyalty and dedication to App State. Candidates give evidence of leadership potential and intelligence, exhibit sound and purposeful ambition, are vigorous and diligent in pursuit of duty and show compassion for others.
The Team Academic Excellence Awards went to soccer (spring 2022 GPA) and volleyball (fall 2022 GPA).
Riley Collins (tennis) won the Laps for Apps Award, while cheerleaders
Angelo Scionti and Gabby Rodrigues won Julia Adams Scholarships. Women's basketball won the Mountaineer Moves Community Service Award, Addie McGinnis was the winner of the Ron "Doc" Kanoy Award and Joe Tolbert received the Jack Branch Award.
Along with SAAC members presenting awards,
Alec Quinn (volleyball) performed a stand-up comedy routine, and Director of Athletics Doug Gillin provided the closing remarks.
All for App Awards:
Baseball –
Luke Drumheller
Cheerleading –
Emma Conley
Dance Team — Ana Duncan
Field Hockey –
Addie Clark
Football –
Chase Brice
Men's Cross Country –
Oliver Wilson-Cook
Men's Basketball –
Donovan Gregory
Men's Golf –
Addison Beam
Men's Track & Field —
Dwayne Lillie (track),
Niejel Wilkins (field)
Soccer –
Skyler Walk
Softball –
Taylor Thorp
Tennis –
Riley Collins
Women's Basketball –
Emily Carver
Women's Cross Country –
Linnea Maynard
Women's Golf –
Jacquelyn Taylor
Women's Track & Field –
Jasmine Donohue (track),
Graysen Arnold (field)
Wrestling –
Chopper Mordecai
Volleyball –
Sarah Missroon
