ASU Athletics honor student-athletes at annual banquet
Albany State University Golden Rams student-athletes were honored for their outstanding academic and athletic achievements during the 43rd Annual All-Sports Banquet at ASU’s Health, Physical Education and Recreation Complex. Student -athletes who participate in the 11 sports and two activities were honored during the event.
“The banquet was an opportunity to honor our student-athletes for their accomplishments during the 2012-2013 season,” said ASU Athletics Director Dr. Richard H. Williams.
“Each year, we honor our Lady Rams and Golden Rams teams for their athletic and academic accomplishments," Williams said. "This is our opportunity to thank them for their dedication and service to the university."
More than 100 student athletes were honored, including Adrienne Morris and Dexter Moody, who received ASU’s top awards, the 2013 Female and Male Athlete-of-the-Year awards. Vanessa Jones and Janell Jones received the RAM awards, which are presented to the student-athletes who exhibit school spirit, dedication, leadership and service to the community.
A senior three-sport athlete, Morris led the Lady Rams’ softball team to the 2013 SIAC East Division and tournament championships, which was the program’s second title in four years. She also led the Lady Rams to a second-place finish in the 2012 SIAC Women’s Volleyball Tournament after the team won the regular season title. She was named to the 2012 SIAC All-Conference team for her stellar defensive play in volleyball. Morris was also a member of the Lady Rams’ tennis team.
Moody, a junior defensive leader on the ASU football team, led the SIAC and ranked 3rd in the nation in interceptions. After being named to SIAC’s All-Conference Defensive Team, Moody also earned a spot on the 2012 Daktronics All-South Region Team. In the spring, Moody joined the ASU baseball team and led the Golden Rams to the 2013 East Division title. For his outstanding season on the diamond, he was named to 2013 SIAC All-Conference Baseball Team.
As the ASU Women’s Softball shortstop, Vanessa Jones led the team to the 2013 SIAC championship and the program’s first win in the NCAA tournament. She is president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and a charter member of the Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society (Eta Chapter). Janell Jones was a wide receiver for the Golden Rams football team. This school year, he served as the SAAC Male Representative and was selected as the only SIAC student-athlete to attend the first-ever NCAA Identity Workshop. He is also a charter member of Chi Alpha Sigma.
On the offensive side of the gridiron, the Golden Rams football team awarded Nathan Hoyte with the Most Valuable Player and the Best Running Back trophies. Jessie Atkins was named Best Wide Receiver, while Victor Moli received the Best Lineman Award. Cessel Taylor was named Most Improved Player, and Taylor Benchoff received the Best Freshman Award.
On defense, Marcavius Dudley was named the Most Valuable Player, Most Improved Player and Best Linebacker. Justin Blash received the Best Lineman Award, and Moody was named Best Defensive Back. Tavarius Washington was named Best Freshman, while Quintory Braswell received the Best Special Team Player Award. Football Academic Achievement Awards went to Devante Hines, Janell Jones and Jonathan McLain-Jones.
Top Golden Rams baseball awards went to Moody as the Homerun King, RBI King and Newcomer of the Year . Outfielder Jacob Campbell received the Golden Glove Award. Clifford Peterson was named the Pitcher of the Year, and Darmarkus Green was named the Freshman of the Year. Kareem Hayes received the Coach’s Award, and Corbin Williams received the Golden Spikes Award. Catcher Robert Latner was awarded the Iron Man Award. Hector Carrasquillo received an Academic Achievement Award.
The Lady Rams softball team’s Best Defensive Player Award went to catcher Chaconna Marks, and Chelsea Hicks and Shelby Gale received the Co-Best Offensive Player Awards. Vanessa Jones and Domonique Bryant received Team Captain Awards. Vanessa Jones, Chelsea Hicks, Anria Peterson and Sierra Gaines earned Academic Achievement Awards.
ASU guard April Thomas was named ASU’s Best Offensive Women’s Basketball Player for the second year in a row, while the Defensive Player of the Year Award went to forward Kedeemya Cooper. Guard Danielle Colson received the Team Captain Award. Academic awards also went to Thomas, Cooper and Colson.
Guard Jaren Harris was named the Best Offensive Player for men’s basketball, and forward Eric Martin received the Best Defensive Player Award. Guard Andrew Covin received the team’s Most Improved Award, and he also joined Harris and Justin Wilcox with receiving the Captain’s Award.
ASU tennis player Reanah Kellogg was named the team’s Most Valuable Player. Jessica Mann won the Newcomer of the Year Award, and Sharme Ridley was the Most Improved Player. Jasmine Livingston earned the Senior Award as well as the Academic Achievement Award.
ASU men's track and field awards went to Albert Murrey as the Most Valuable Track Runner, and Isaiah Leggett as the Most Valuable Field Performer. Robert Smith received the Senior Award, and the Track and Field Freshman of the Year Award went to Jared Jordan. On the women's side, Olivia Traylor was named Most Valuable Track Runner and CreeAnn Perkins was the Most Valuable Field Performer.
Traylor was named the Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Year, and the Best Men’s Cross Country Runner award went to Smith. Academic Achievement Awards went to female athletes Ebony Stone, Sherinna Lewis, Andrea Fullmore and Britney McBride and male performer Timothy Jackson.
The Co-Offensive Volleyball Player Award went to Jillian Anderson and Ashley Johnson, and Adrienne Morris received the Best Defensive Player Award. Jennifer Johnson was named the Most Outstanding Player. Anderson, Janeka Reid, Sharme Ridley and Desiree Hardy earned Academic Achievement Awards.
For the ASU cheerleading squad, Ashley Chunn received the Most Dedicated Cheerleader Award, and Subrica Redding was named Freshman of the Year. Camille Houston was named the Most Outstanding Cheerleader, and Ashley Griffin received the Most Improved Award.
Natalia Willis was named Most Outstanding Platinum Diva Dancer, and Apracia Martin was named Most Dedicated. Allegra Dillard received the Most Improved Award.
The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee honored SAAC President Vanessa Jones with the first-ever Edythe Y. Bradley Leadership Award. Nehemyah Price, James Lodman, Jr. and Reanah Kellogg were presented with Community Service Awards, while Janell Jones and Danielle Colson received Advisors’ Awards.
Albany State University
2012-2013
43rd Annual All-Sports Banquet Awards List
Department of Athletics
Male Athlete of the Year- Dexter Moody
Female Athlete of the Year- Adrienne Morris
Male Ram Award- Janell Jones
Female Ram Award- Vanessa Jones
Football
Offense
Most Valuable Player- Nathan Hoyte
Most Improved Player- Cessel Taylor
Best Freshman- Taylor Benchoff
Best Lineman- Victor Moli
Best Running Back- Nathan Hoyte
Best Wide Receiver- Jessie Atkins
Defense
Most Valuable Player, Best Linebacker & Most Improved Player- Marcavius Dudley
Best Freshman- Tavarius Washington
Best Lineman- Justin Blash
Best Defensive Back- Dexter Moody
Best Special Team Player- Quintory Braswell
Women’s Volleyball
Best Defensive Player- Adrienne Morris
Co- Offensive Players- Jillian Anderson and Ashley Johnson
Most Outstanding Player- Jennifer Johnson
Men/Women’s Cross Country
Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Year- Robert Smith
Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Year- Olivia Traylor
Women’s Basketball
Team Captain Award- Danielle Colson
Best Offensive Player- April Thomas
Best Defensive Player- Kedeemya Cooper
Men’s Basketball
Best Offensive Player- Jaren Harris
Best Defensive Player- Eric Martin
Most Improved Player- Andrew Covin
Team Captain Awards- Harris, Covin & Justin Wilcox
Women’s Track & Field
Most Valuable Track- Olivia Traylor
Most Valuable Field- CreeAnn Perkins
Men’s Track & Field
Most Valuable Track- Albert Murrey
Most Valuable Field- Isaiah Leggette
Senior Award- Robert Smith
Freshman of the Year- Jared Jordan
Baseball
Golden Glove- Jacob Campbell
Pitching Award- Clifford Peterson
Homerun King- Dexter Moody
Iron Man Award- Robert Latner
RBI King- Dexter Moody
Coach’s Award- Kareem Hayes
Golden Spikes- Corbin Williams
Freshman of the Year- Damarkus Green
Newcomer of the Year- Dexter Moody
Women’s Softball
Best Defensive Player- Chaconna Marks
Co-Offensive Player- Chelsea Hicks & Shelby Gale
Team Captain Award- Vanessa Jones & Domonique Bryant
Women’s Tennis
Senior Award- Jasmine Livingston
Most Valuable Player- Reanah Kellogg
Most Improved- Sharme Ridley
Newcomer of the Year- Jessica Mann
Cheerleading
Most Outstanding Cheerleader- Camille Houston
Freshman of the Year- Subrica Redding
Most Dedicated- Ashley Chunn
Most Improved- Ashley Griffin
Platinum Divas
Most Outstanding Dancer- Natalia Willis
Most Dedicated Dancer- Apracia Martin
Most Improved Dancer- Allegra Dillard
Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
Edythe Y. Bradley Leadership Award- Vanessa Jones
Male Advisor’s Award- Janell Jones
Female Advisor’s Award- Danielle Colson
Male Community Service Award- Nehemyah Price & James Lodman, Jr.
Female Community Service Award- Reanah Kellogg
