Ettrick, VA - The Virginia State University Athletics Department honored the extraordinary achievements and honors of its student-athletes and athletic teams during the annual Spring Athletic Banquet on May 1 at Gateway Dining and Event Center.
2023 VSU Athletics Banquet Photo Album
At the ceremony, volleyball's Najlaa Williams was recognized as the Female Student-Athlete of the Year and men's track & field's Atrell Williams was named the Male Student-Athlete of the Year.
Najlaa Williams was a second-team All-CIAA selection and a finalist for the Kings Dominion Female Athlete of the Year. The sophomore from Union, NJ became Virginia State's all-time single season digs leader, leading the CIAA in digs with 458. Williams also finished third on the team in assists (83) and service aces (39).
Atrell Williams helped the Trojans become repeat CIAA champions in outdoor track & field while being named the CIAA's Men's Field Co-MVP. He was a gold medalist in the discus at the 2023 CIAA Outdoor Championship and a gold medalist in the shot put at the 2023 CIAA Indoor Championship.
The Highest Team GPA Award is presented to the team with the highest combined cumulative GPA, the Men's Golf Team earned the award for the second consecutive year in a row with a GPA of 3.52.
Over 150 student-athletes earned VSU's scholar-athlete status maintaining 3.0 grade point averages or better, while 67 student-athletes received VSU's Orange Team (3.71 or higher) or Blue Team (3.5-3.7 GPA) Award.
The Award segment of the program continued with the presentation of team specific awards presented by each head coach. Award recipients by team are listed below:
BASEBALL
MVP – Tahraun Hammond
Newcomer of the Year – Joseph Hastings
Coaches Choice – Ryan Messer
BOWLING
MVP: Jeane' Robinson
Coaches Choice: Keannu Grant
Rookie of the year: Alexis Seymore
GOLF
MVP: Juan Ruiz Patino
Most Improved: Esteban Arango Suarez
Coaches Award: Tylen Wallace
FOOTBALL
Offensive Player of the Year: Darius Hagans
Defensive Player of the Year: Willie Drew
Most Valuable Player: Jordan Davis
MEN'S BASKETBALL
MVP: Francis BJ Fitzgerald
Best Offensive: Terrence Hunter-Whitfield
Coaches Choice: Zack Newkirk
MEN'S TENNIS
MVP: Jalen Felix
Rookie of the Year: Justin Brown-Russell
Coaches Choice: Melvin Cooper Jr.
SOFTBALL
MVP: Alaijah Pratt
Rookie of the Year: Skye Corum
Defensive: Reina Washington
VOLLEYBALL
MVP: Najlaa Williams
Coaches Choice: Alexis McNair
Rookie of the year: Amaya Cooper
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
MVP: Sommer Blakemore?
Most Improved: Kylah Webb
Coaches Choice: Kamryn Anthony
WOMEN'S TENNIS
MVP: Makensie Pago
Rookie of the Year: Jalyn Jones
Coaches Choice: Jayce Gaither
WOMEN CROSS COUNTRY
MVP: Manuelene Deigh
Most improved: Alandina Hyppolite
Coaches Choice: Manuela Deigh
WOMEN'S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
MVP: Emoni Coleman
Rookie of the Year: Elisha Barnes
Coaches Choise: Manuelene Deigh
WOMEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD
MVP: Emoni Coleman
Most Improved: Manuelene Deigh
Coaches Choice: Elisha Barnes
MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
MVP: JaPrince Gaines, Jr.
Most Improved: Gabriel Miles
Coaches Choice: Jalen Brownlee
MEN'S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
MVP: Jahaz Morgan
Most Improved: Jaelan Black
Coaches Choice: Atrell Williams
MEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD
MVP: Atrell Williams
Most Improved: Joseph Briscoe
Coaches Choice: Jahaz Morgan
WOO-WOO CHEERLEADERS
MVP: Ty Watkins
Rookie of the Year: London Joseph
With a season of great scholarly and on-field achievements, VSU Athletics continues to embody the tagline: Greater Happens Here!
For more information on VSU Athletics, follow Trojans Athletics on Twitter @VSUsports, or call 804-524-5030.
