PEMBROKE – Four teams were celebrated for winning conference championships in February, another was lauded for winning just the second region championship in the NCAA Division II history of the UNC Pembroke athletics department and the show went on for the Braves on Wednesday evening with an online showing of the Seventh Annual Golden Braves.

Soccer's Gina Ryan was decorated with Most Well-Rounded Female Student-Athlete, while wrestling's Tyler Makosy took home the award on the men's side. Alex Simpson (baseball) and sisters Gina Ryan and Katy Ryan (soccer) were named the Athletic Performance Student-Athletes of the Year for their work in the weightroom.
 
Adolphus Lee Turner, a military veteran and long-time supporter of UNCP Athletics, was awarded Braves Club Member of the Year honors, while Mark Hunt and Dr. Bryan Winters shared the Changing Lives Through Education Award. Hunt serves as director of academic advising at UNCP, while Winters chairs the Kinesiology Department on campus.
 
A complete list of Wednesday evening's award recipients is below. Five traditional awards – the male and female athlete of the year, male and female rookie of the year and the Dan Kenney Coach of the Year – will be presented at the Student-Athlete Welcome Back event in August.
 

2020 Golden Braves Awards
Athletic Performance Male Student-Athlete of the Year	Alex Simpson, Baseball
Athletic Performance Female Student-Athlete of the Year	Gina Ryan / Katy Ryan, Soccer
Athletic Training Male Comeback Athlete of the Year	Quay Threatt, Football
Athletic Training Female Comeback Athlete of the Year	Savannah Bean, Volleyball
SAAC Most Well-Rounded Male Student-Athlete	Tyler Makosy, Wrestling
SAAC Most Well-Rounded Female Student-Athlete	Gina Ryan, Soccer
Changing Lives Through Education Award	Mark Hunt / Dr. Bryan Winters
Braves Club Member of the Year	Mr. Adolphus Lee Turner
Baseball
Most Valuable Player	River Ryan
Most Valuable Pitcher	J.J. Oxendine
Men's Basketball
Most Improved	Tyrell Kirk
Most Valuable Player	Akia Pruitt
Women's Basketball
Defensive Most Valuable Player	ShaNiya Lester
Offensive Most Valuable Player	Melanie Horne
Men's Cross Country
5th Man Award	Tirus Kirwa
Most Valuable Runner	Joshua Chepkesir
Women's Cross Country
5th Woman Award	Sam Badami
Most Valuable Runner	Erman Jepleting
Men's Track & Field
Track Performer of the Year	Joshua Chepkesir
Field Performer of the Year	Caleb Coles
Leadership Award	Mason Crawford
Women's Track & Field
Track Performer of the Year	Erman Jepleting
Field Performer of the Year	Breze Ervin
Leadership Award	Jacques Tucker
Football
Most Valuable Defensive Player	Domenique Davis
Most Valuable Offensive Player	Josh Sheridan
Golf
Most Valuable Player	Katy Flax
Teammate of the Year	Casey Burroughs
Soccer
Most Valuable Offensive Player	Alexis Pittman
Most Valuable Defensive Player	Katy Ryan
Softball
Coach's Award	Mary Sells
Most Valuable Player	Malerie Leviner
Spirit Squad
Coach's Award	Kayla Street
Most Valuable Player	Peyton Fisher
Swimming
Freshman of the Year	Ketlyn Rodriguez Matos
Most Valuable Swimmer	Nathalia Silva
Volleyball
Impact Player of the Year	Brianna Warren
Offensive Player of the Year	Ashley Caesar
Wrestling
Most Improved	Kaleb Warner
#BRAVETOUGH Award	Jayquon McEntyre