PEMBROKE – Nine teams were celebrated for making NCAA postseason appearances, including six that brought home conference championships, as the UNC Pembroke athletics department lauded its student-athletes at the 10th annual Golden Braves awards show on Tuesday evening at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court.
Swimming's Nathalia Silva was decorated with Most Well-Rounded Female Student-Athlete, while cross country/track & field's Gabe Blackwelder took home the award on the men's side. LaTrell Jewsome (football) and swimming's Ketlyn Rodriguez Matos were named the Athletic Performance Student-Athletes of the Year for their work in the weightroom, while softball's Kaci Roberson and men's basketball's Cortez Marion-Holmes were crowned as the Comeback Student-Athletes of the Year
Longtime supporter Lenore Taylor picked up Braves Club Member of the Year honors, while Kinesiology chair Dr. Mike Kozub was presented with the Changing Lives Through Education Award.
A complete list of Tuesday 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.
| 2023 Golden Braves Awards |
| Athletic Performance Male Student-Athlete of the Year |
LaTrell Jewsome, Football |
| Athletic Performance Female Student-Athlete of the Year |
Ketlyn Rodriguez Matos, Swimming |
| SAAC Most Well-Rounded Male Student-Athlete |
Gabe Blackwelder, Cross Country/Track & Field |
| SAAC Most Well-Rounded Female Student-Athlete |
Nathalia Silva, Swimming |
| Changing Lives Through Education Award |
Dr. Mike Kozub |
| Braves Club Member of the Year |
Lenore Taylor |
| Baseball |
| Most Valuable Hitter |
Christian Jayne |
| Most Valuable Pitcher |
Trent Harris |
| Men's Basketball |
| Lacey Gane Leadership Award |
K.J. Walker |
| Joe Gallagher Co-Most Valuable Player |
JaJuan Carr / Bradlee Haskell |
| Women's Basketball |
| Defensive Most Valuable Player |
Aniah McManus |
| Offensive Most Valuable Player |
Courtney Smith |
| Men's Cross Country |
| Coach's Award |
Norman Junker |
| Most Valuable Runner |
Joshua Chepkesir |
| Women's Cross Country |
| Coach's Award |
Julia Van Dine |
| Most Valuable Runner |
Jackline Kosgei |
| Men's Indoor Track & Field |
| Track Athlete of the Year |
Joshua Chepkesir |
| Field Athlete of the Year |
Kendrick Lewis |
| Women's Indoor Track & Field |
| Track Athlete Of The Year |
Kathryn Anderson |
| Field Athlete of the Year |
Raigan Evans |
| Football |
| Defensive Most Valuable Player |
Marcus Davis |
| Offensive Most Valuable Player |
Josh Jones |
| Golf |
| Most Valuable Golfer |
Georgia Page |
| Braves Award |
Samantha DeBusk |
| Soccer |
| Offensive Co-Most Valuable Player |
Anna Grossheim / Ashleigh Harris |
| Defensive Most Valuable Player |
Brianna De Coteau |
| Softball |
| Championship Mindset Award |
Lauren Hilbourn |
| Most Valuable Player |
Samantha Allred |
| Spirit Squad |
| Coach's Award |
Aiyana Lynch |
| Most Valuable |
Mahala Treish |
| Swimming |
| Most Improved |
Sarah Morden |
| Most Valuable Swimmer |
Mariel Mencia Martinez |
| Volleyball |
| Impact Player |
Vanja Przuli |
| Coach's Award |
Morgan Gibbs |
| Wrestling |
| Most Improved |
Shylik Scriven |
| #BraveTough Award |
Logan Seliga |
