PEMBROKE – A total of 10 conference championships and three runner-up team finishes were among the celebrations, as the UNC Pembroke athletics department lauded its student-athletes at the 11th annual Golden Braves awards show on Tuesday evening at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court.
Soccer's Anna Grossheim was decorated with Most Well-Rounded Female Student-Athlete, while wrestling's Scott Joll took home the award on the men's side. Massimo Sulluvan (wrestling) and softball's Jai Deese were named the Athletic Performance Student-Athletes of the Year for their work in the weightroom, while women's basketball's Courtney Smith was crowned as the Comeback Student-Athletes of the Year.
Longtime supporter's Karen L. and Kelvin Sampson picked up Braves Club Member of the Year honors, while Dr. Jeff Bolles and Laurel Collins were 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.
| 2024 Golden Braves Awards |
| Athletic Performance Male Student-Athlete of the Year |
Massimo Sullivan, Wrestling |
| Athletic Performance Female Student-Athlete of the Year |
Jai Deese, Softball |
| SAAC Most Well-Rounded Male Student-Athlete |
Scott Joll, Wrestling |
| SAAC Most Well-Rounded Female Student-Athlete |
Anna Grossheim, Soccer |
| Changing Lives Through Education Award |
Dr. Jeff Bolles and Laurel Collins |
| Braves Club Member of the Year |
Karen L. and Kelvin Sampson |
| Baseball |
| Most Valuable Hitter |
Joey Rezek |
| Most Valuable Pitcher |
Chase Jernigan |
| Men's Basketball |
| Freshman of the Year |
Dallas Gardner |
| Joe Gallagher Most Valuable Player |
Elijah Cobb |
| Women's Basketball |
| Defensive Most Valuable Player |
Aniah McManus |
| Offensive Most Valuable Player |
Kalaya Hall |
| Men's Cross Country |
| Coach's Award |
Hunter Levy |
| Most Valuable Runner |
Jack Phieffer |
| Women's Cross Country |
| Coach's Award |
Malea Bennewitz |
| Most Valuable Runner |
Moureen Kimaiyo |
| Men's Indoor Track & Field |
| Track Athlete of the Year |
Tayvon Callahan |
| Field Athlete of the Year |
Cole Thomas |
| Women's Indoor Track & Field |
| Track Athlete Of The Year |
Raven Haston |
| Field Athlete of the Year |
Alycia Artman |
| Football |
| Most Valuable Player |
Raydarius Freeman |
| Newcomer of the Year |
Sincere Baines |
| Golf |
| Most Valuable Golfer |
Chessa Lee |
| Braves Award |
Toni Blackwell |
| Soccer |
| Offensive Most Valuable Player |
Mercy Bell |
| Defensive Most Valuable Player |
Nicole Cook |
| Softball |
| Championship Mindset Award |
Charlotte Rose |
| Most Valuable Player |
Chloe Locklear |
| Spirit Squad |
| Coach's Award |
D'Amrah Rowdy |
| Newcomer of the Year |
Caroline Cummings |
| Swimming |
| Most Improved |
Katie Raleigh |
| Most Valuable Swimmer |
Benedetta Pepe Pugliese |
| Volleyball |
| Most Valuable Player |
Vanja Przuli |
| Coach's Award |
Katie Pressley |
| Wrestling |
| Most Valuable Wrestler |
Scott Joll |
| Freshman of the Year |
Avery Buonocore |
