MORROW, Ga. – With an impressive 2018-19 season still producing tremendous honors, Clayton State Athletics recognized the more than 140 student-athletes that have made it possible during the 29th Annual Athletics Awards Banquet held at the Student Activities Center Ballrooms on Friday, April 26.

Each team was featured with a season recap video prior to the presentation of team awards while the night kicked off with a season highlight video and wrapped with an outtake reel from each head coach's season recap that was produced by the Sports Information Office.
 
Highlighting the specialty awards were the Male and Female Laker Award Winners as the Student-Athletes of the Year. This year those prestigious awards went to Manoly Baquerizo (Guayaquil, Ecuador) of women's soccer for a second straight year and T.J. Witherspoon (Thomasville, Ga.) of men's cross country and track & field. For Baquerizo, it is the first time in the history of either award that an individual has won in consecutive years.
 
In a new set of awards, women's track & field's Nia Elmore (Hinesville, Ga.) was named the Female Athlete of the Year while basketball redshirt-senior Aubrey McRae (Augusta, Ga.) won the Male Athlete of the Year.
 
Also among the special presentations were two memorial awards that honor the contributions of three long standing members of Clayton State Athletics and celebrate the highest academic and athletic achievement by one male student-athlete and one female student-athlete.
 
The Dotty H. Bumbalough and Pat Keane Academic Award and H. Mason Barfield Academic Award each are presented to an individual who has achieved the highest Grade Point Average while having been enrolled at Clayton State for at least four traditional semesters (Fall/Spring) and competing in a minimum of 20-percent of their team(s) contests.
 
This year Pat Keane presented the women's award to Elmore while men's soccer's Jordan Knight (Javea, Spain) earned the Barfield for a second straight year. Elmore posted a 3.87 GPA while Knight came in at 3.79.
 
In addition to those awards, Senior Associate Athletics Director Merlene Aitken-Smith presented women's soccer with the Team Academic Award for a second straight year. That award goes to the program with highest team GPA, coming in this year at 3.7 GPA. It is the fourth all-time honor for the program, and first back-to-back honors for the team since winning the first two in 1996 and 1997.
 
What used to be known as the Laker Leadership Award became The President's Cup and added a competition component to the original areas of Academics, Community Service and Leadership over the past season. This year that prestigious award went to women's basketball
 
Women's soccer redshirt-junior Marie Durr (Stockbridge, Ga.) received the only award that is not presented every year as he was recognized as the 2019 Triumphant Laker Award. Presented by the Clayton State Athletic Training Staff, the award is an honor presented to a student-athlete who has suffered a season-ending injury while participating as a member of a Lakers athletic program and, through hard work, dedication and commitment, returned to full participation.
 
Another new award would come on the scene – and do it in style – as former Clayton State men's soccer student-athlete Waynee Hyman presented the Dress for Success Award. The inaugural award was one by the women's track & field program as they exhibited high fashion and professional attire throughout the 2018-19 season.
 
The evening would then cap with one of the most important recognitions that a student-athlete can receive – the presentation of stolls honoring their upcoming graduation. This year a total of 16 current or former student-athletes had that accoutrement bestowed upon them by Aitken-Smith.
 
Receiving stolls were Monica Alexander (Women's Basketball), Chevaun Blake (Men's Soccer), Nick Bracey (Men's Soccer), Hailey Budd (Women's Cross Country and Track & Field), Marie Durr (Women's Soccer), Kayla Futrell (Cheerleading), Fran Hernandez (Men's Golf), Deriyon Johnson (Men's Basketball, Manager), Aubrey McRae (Men's Basketball)
Shaquoria Miles (Women's Basketball), Andrew Omoregbe (Men's Track & Field)
Kevin Otokore (Men's Soccer), Brittany Pettus (Cheerleading), A.J. Rials (Men's Basketball), Luke Spooner (Men's Basketball), T.J. Witherspoon (Men's Cross Country/Track & Field).
 
With nearly 200 individuals enjoying the evening, the event was well attended at the Student Activities Center Ballrooms and highlighted a very successful year on the fields, courts and tracks for Clayton State Athletics.
 
2019 Clayton State Athletics Awards Banquet Recipients
Men's Basketball
Charlie Frazier, Jr. Laker Award – Justin Tuckson
Most Valuable Player – Aubrey McRae
 
Women's Basketball
Marie St. Fort Award – TaKwana Bland
Most Valuable Player Award – Aleisha Merriweather
 
Cheerleading
Most Improved Award – Erin Pettigrew
Most Spirited Award – Dacia Daniel
 
Men's Cross Country
Hugh Toro Coaches Award – Na'im Allen
Most Valuable Runner – Evan Ortiz
 
Women's Cross Country
Coaches Award – Stephanie Escobar
Most Valuable Runner – Ariel Boyd-Ghani
 
Men's Golf
Most Valuable Newcomer – Augusto Oliva
Most Valuable Player – Andres Caballero
 
Men's Soccer
Offensive Most Valuable Player – Kwaku Dwamena
Defensive Most Valuable Player – Jordan Knight
 
Women's Soccer
Most Improved Award – Natalie Barbara
Most Valuable Player – Moa Loftman
 
Men's Track & Field
Clive Caesar Coaches Award – T.J. Witherspoon
Most Valuable Player – Chris Florence
 
Women's Track & Field
Clive Caesar Coaches Award – Jasmine Radford
Most Valuable Player – Nia Elmore
 
Dress for Success Award
Women's Track & Field
 
Triumphant Laker Award
Marie Durr, Women's Soccer
 
Team Academic Award
Women's Soccer – 3.7 GPA
 
Dotty H. Bumbalough & Pat Keane Academic Award
Nia Elmore (Women's Track & Field)
 
H. Mason Barfield Academic Award
Jordan Knight (Men's Soccer)
 
Male Laker Award (Student-Athlete of the Year)
T.J. Witherspoon, Men's Cross Country and Track & Field
 
Female Laker Award (Student-Athlete of the Year)
Manoly Baquerizo, Women's Soccer
 
Male Athlete of the Year
Aubrey McRae, Men's Basketball
 
Female Athlete of the Year
Nia Elmore, Women's Track & Field
 
The President's Cup
Women's Basketball
 
Graduation Stolls
Monica Alexander (Women's Basketball)
Chevaun Blake (Men's Soccer)
Nick Bracey (Men's Soccer)
Hailey Budd (Women's Cross Country and Track & Field)
Marie Durr (Women's Soccer)
Kayla Futrell (Cheerleading)
Fran Hernandez (Men's Golf)
Deriyon Johnson (Men's Basketball, Manager)
Aubrey McRae (Men's Basketball)
Shaquoria Miles (Women's Basketball)
Andrew Omoregbe (Men's Track & Field)
Kevin Otokore (Men's Soccer)
Brittany Pettus (Cheerleading)
A.J. Rials (Men's Basketball)
Luke Spooner (Men's Golf)
T.J. Witherspoon (Men's Cross Country/Track & Field)

2019 ATHLETICS BANQUET TEAM VIDEOS
 





























































































































































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