BEAUFORT — The University of South Carolina Beaufort athletics department held its annual awards ceremony Monday night at the Center for the Arts on USCB's Historic Beaufort Campus.

The highlight of the evening was the announcement of the inaugural winner of the Jane T. Upshaw Outstanding Senior Student-Athlete Award, so named in honor of USCB Chancellor Dr. Jane T. Upshaw. 

Baseball star Erik Armstrong was named the first winner of the award, which will be given annually to the senior student-athlete who best embodies the qualities that make a champion — on the field, in the classroom and in the community.  

In addition, the student-athletes with the highest grade-point averages over the previous year were honored, and each head coach selected three superlative awards to honor standout student-athletes on their teams. 

JANE T. UPSHAW OUTSTANDING SENIOR STUDENT-ATHLETE

Erik Armstrong, Baseball

GPA AWARDS

Men's XC — Connor Appel

Women's XC — Meleah Powers

Men's T&F — Chase Rhodus

Women's T&F — Meleah Powers

Women's Soccer — Claire Kennedy, Steph Moldenhauer

Men's Golf — Alexandru Mihai

Women's Golf — Lina Sekerkova

Softball — Melanie Goolsby

Baseball — Charlie McGinnis

Highest Overall Male GPA — Charlie McGinnis

Highest Overall Female GPA — Meleah Powers

Highest Men's Team GPA — Men's Golf

Highest Women's Team GPA — Women's XC

TEAM SUPERLATIVES

Men's XC/T&F

MVP — Anthony Vecchio

Rookie of the Year — Nic O'Neill

Sand Shark Spirit Awards — Josh Roper, Ricky Williams, Darryl Dunham

Women's XC/T&F

MVP — Melissa Carder, Joyce Miller

Rookie of the Year — Jaime Thomas

Sand Shark Spirit Awards — Sarah Turrubiate, Taylor Keen, Rachelle Toth

Women's Soccer

MVP — Alexa Muffley

Newcomer of the Year — Bridgette Noonan

Rise, Defy, Excel Award — Pascale Rocca

Men's Golf

Mr. Golf (MVP) — Alan Cooke

Mr. Go-Low (Low Round of the Year) — Brian Langley

Most Impressive Shot — Brad Curren

Women's Golf 

MVP — Kendra Collins

Champion of Character — Samantha O'Donnell

Spirit Award — Lina Sekerkova

Softball

Champion of Character — Maddie Byrd

For LOVE of the GAME Award — Melanie Goolsby

Coaches Award — Caroline Pastre

Baseball

Offensive Player of the Year — JJ Crespo

Pitcher of the Year — Stephen Richards

Iron Shark Award — Erik Armstrong