GREENSBORO, N.C.- The UNCG athletics department celebrated a memorable 2022-23 season (with some more on the horizon) by recognizing several outstanding teams and standout individuals during the festive evening inside of the UNCG Theatre on last Wednesday night.
In addition to the individual accolades that were presented, each of UNCG's athletic teams honored their senior student-athletes.
A couple of additional highlights of the event included men's tennis Head Coach
Jeff Trivette being presented with the Cathy Roberts Legacy Award by Cathy Roberts and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee President
Excellanxt Greer. Men's golf junior
Parker Truesdale received the Minerva Wisdom Appreciation Award.
The following teams won awards: women's basketball (UNITY Award), baseball (Spartan Cup Award), men's tennis (Highest Male Team GPA), women's golf (Highest Female Team GPA), women's soccer (Community Engagement Award), and men's soccer (Team of the Year).
Gallery: (4-26-2023) Spiros Ball 2023
Here is more on each individual that won awards:
Female Player of the Year
Akira Wiggins, Women's Basketball
- Played an average of 31.8 minutes per game
- Led Spartans in scoring, averaging 11.8 points per game, 138 assists, and 40 steals
- Tallied a program record 15 assists in win over Virginia University of Lynchburg
- Led the conference in assists per game (4.6) and total assists and fifth in steals
- She earned Sports Media Association All-Southern Conference second team
Male Player of the Year
J.C. Ngando, Men's Soccer
- Signed with Vancouver Whitecaps FC in MLS Draft 1st round, 5th pick
- Named to 2023 Generation adidas Class & received invite to 2022 adidas MLS College Showcase
- United Soccer Coaches first team All-American
- Named United Soccer Coaches MAC Heremann Trophy Semifinalist
- United Soccer Coaches All-South Region first team
- SoCon Player of the Year
- SoCon first team
- Played & started in 21 games this season
- Scored 4 goals and a team-best 14 assists for 22 points
Female Rookie of the Year
Emma Malone, Women's Soccer
- All-SoCon Freshman Team
- Played in 11 games with seven starts
- Gave up one goal in SoCon play for 0.31 goals against
- Had nine saves with a 0.900 save percentage in the conference
- She earned her first career shutout in a 3-0 victory over Furman and has two combined clean sheets.
Male Rookie of the Year
Tymofiy Khrystyuk, Men's Tennis
- Led the Spartans with an 8-15 singles record
- Went 2-4 in singles during SoCon play
- Paired with Christopher Johns in doubles for a 9-8 mark overall and 3-2 in SoCon play
Comeback Player of the Year
Jalen Breath, Men's Basketball
- Played in 22 games this season with 156:48 minutes of playing time
- Made 45-percent of field goals (15-for-33)
- Made 47-percent of free throws (10-for-21)
- Had a career-high eight points and six rebounds in 59-48 win over Mercer
Female Spartan of the Year
Delaney Cumbie, Softball
- Batting .283 (39-for-138) with a team-best 47 runs
- Tallied 21 RBI
- Has a team-best 48 walks, 13 doubles (career best), .529 slugging percentage, & .492 on base percentage
- Has hit seven home runs
- 2x SoCon Player of the Week
Male Spartan of the Year
Nick Lyerly, Men's Golf
- SoCon All-Conference team (4th time in career)
- Ranked 107 in most recent Golfweek individual rankings
- Led the Spartans for the third season out of six.
- Averaged 70.73 strokes this season in 30 rounds played
- Had a career-low round 64 during the Advance Golf Partners Collegiate
- Earned his eighth-career individual title at the Advance Golf Partners Collegiate
- Placed in the top 15 seven times this season
