By: Brian Howard, Sports Information Director
GRAMBLING, La. | The Grambling State University Department of Athletics held is Athletics Awards Show on Monday night at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.
Team awards were presented by the GSU Student-Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC), highlighted by a year where the Grambling State women's basketball team defeated an NCAA Division I tournament team, men's basketball reached the postseason for the first time since 1981, women's soccer won its first-ever SWAC regular season championship and softball posted more wins since the 2019 season.
Not only were there team accolades, but individual achievements also highlighted an outstanding year.
There were over 163 athletic honors this season, including De'Arius Christmas being selected one of 13 finalists for the National football Foundation (NFF) William V. Campbell Trophy. In addition, Shakyla Hill earned numerous accolades throughout the season and ended her collegiate career as the HBCU ESPN The Undefeated Women's Basketball Player of the Year and HBCU BOXTOROW National Player of the Year.
Grambling State saw plenty of milestones throughout the season with Hill surpassing the 2,000-point plateau, while Jazmin Boyd and Ivy Smith, Jr. became members of the 1,000-point club.
Donte' Jackson (Men's Basketball) earned his 150th win against Southern on Jan. 12 and
Freddie Murray (Women's Basketball) garnered his 50th coaching victory against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Feb. 2. Softball head coach
Nakeya L. Hall celebrated her 100th win against Lincoln (Mo.) on March 1 and baseball
James Cooper is approaching his 200th career coaching win.
During the Awards Show, Grambling State honored its Male and Female Athletes of the Year. This achievement goes the student-athletes who carries a minimum 2.7 GPA, has University/Community Involvement, earns conference and national recognition, shows good character and shows a significant impact with their team.
De'Arius Christmas was selected the 2019 Grambling State Male Athlete of the Year to become a two-time recipient winner of the award. Christmas earned several postseason accolades, but arguably the biggest honor he received during his senior season was being selected a finalist for the National Football Foundation (NFF) William V. Campbell Trophy, which represents academic excellence. He was one of 14 finalists and received a trip to New York City for the awards banquet.
The senior from Vicksburg, Miss. racked up 22 honors throughout the season, including becoming a two-time SWAC Defensive Player of the Year honoree. He was first on the team in sacks (5.5) and second in tackles for loss (11.0). Christmas ranked third on the team in tackles (55) and registered 30 solo stops, which was tied for tops on the team. In addition, he added seven quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, two interceptions, including a 66-yard touchdown return against Alabama State, and one blocked kick.
Shakyla Hill earned the 2019 Grambling State Female Athlete of the Year. Hill notched the honor after a tremendous season where she earned several accolades, including SWAC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors. She
led the SWAC in scoring (18.9 ppg.), assists (6.3 apg.) and steals (4.6 spg) and was the only player in the top 10 in the conference in scoring, rebounding (second at 7.6 rpg), assists, steals and field-goal percentage. She made national headlines in early February with her second-career quadruple-double as she poured in 21 points, grabbed 16 rebounds, dished out 13 assists and recorded 10 steals in a 77-57 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Hill, who surpassed the 2,000-point plateau against Alabama State, is the only player in NCAA Division I history to ever record two quadruple-doubles. Her 146 steals this season was second in the nation and made her the all-time leader in steals in SWAC history.
Grambling State also honored its Coach of the Year, as the criteria included preseason prediction versus postseason finish comparison, winning percentage, community involvement, display of character, APR improvement since last year and conference honors.
Justin Wagar was selected the 2019 Grambling State Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season. Wagar, who repeated as the SWAC Women's Soccer Coach of the Year guided the Lady Tigers to a 14-8 overall record and 9-1 mark in conference play. During the 2018 season, Wagar guided Grambling State to its first-ever SWAC regular season championship and just missed an opportunity to play in the NCAA Division I National Tournament.
The Team of the Year Award goes to the program with an overall team GPA, winning percentage, University/Community Involvement, improvement from the previous season and conference and postseason recognition.
The
Grambling State Women's Soccer team was selected the 2019 Grambling State Team of the Year for the second consecutive year. The Lady Tigers won their first-ever SWAC regular season championship on the final day of the regular season with a 3-0 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Grambling State went an amazing 901 minutes without surrendering a goal and had an impressive streak of nine shutouts from Oct. 5 to No. 2. The Lady Tigers reached the SWAC Women's Soccer Tournament Championship game for the second straight season, but fell just short in the title match to Howard.
The Scholar-Athletes of the Year goes to the student-athlete with a 4.0 GPA or higher. The student must be at least a junior and must have been enrolled a GSU for at least three semesters.
The 2019 Grambling State recipients of the Scholar-Athletes of the Year award went to Jalen Heath (baseball) and Jessica Miller-Ulmer (women's soccer).
In addition to those athletic honors, a new category was introduced this year ... Newcomer of the Year.
The 2019 Grambling State recipients of the Newcomer of the Year award went to Dallas Polk-Hilliard (men's basketball) and Rikkelle Miller (softball).
Student-Athletes were honored in the following award categories.
Female Student-Athlete of the Year: Shakyla Hill (Women's Basketball)
Male Student-Athlete of the Year: De'Arius Christmas (Football)
Coach of the Year: Justin Wagar (Women's Soccer)
Team of the Year: Women's Soccer
Scholar-Athletes of the Year
Female: Jessica Miller-Ulmer (Women's Soccer)
Male: Jalen Heath (Baseball)
Newcomer of the Year
Female: Rikkelle Miller (Softball)
Male: Dallas Polk-Hilliard (Men's Basketball)
Team Academic Excellence Award
Women's Cross Country (1,000 Four-Year APR Average)
Team Awards
Baseball
Wilbert Ellis Spirit Award: Phil Adams
Defensive Player of the Year: Trevin Bolden
Hitter of the Year: Isaiah Torres
Pitcher of the Year: Bryan Delgado
Women's Bowling
Most Valuable Player: Ariel Henderson
Most Improved Player: Lataya Bullock
Newcomer of the Year: Lataya Bullock
Team Spirit Award: Lataya Bullock
Men's Basketball
Most Valuable Player: Ivy Smith, Jr.
Offensive Player of the Year: Dallas Polk Hillard
Unsung Hero: Axel Mpoyo
Most Improved: Prince Moss
Women's Basketball
Most Valuable Player: Shakyla Hill
Defensive Player of the Year: Shakyla Hill
All-Around Player: Takerra Parsons
Heart of a Champion: Mylashia Yancey
Women's Soccer
Heart of a Champion: Florence David
Defensive Most Valuable Player: Haileigh Adams
Offensive Most Valuable Player: Kaylee Holt
Newcomer of the Year: Kailey Pena
Softball
Most Valuable Player: Rikkelle Miller
Defensive Player of the Year: Morgan Adams
Most Improved Player: D'Maria Matthews
Unsung Hero: Tia Coleman
Women's Tennis
Coach Wallace Bly Leadership Award: Keren Muswere
Newcomer of the Year: Imperia Mora
Most Improved Player: Tanya Magunje
Most Outstanding Player: Imperia Mora
Women's Track & Field Team
Newcomer of the Year: Angelica Brown
Most Valuable Field Performer: Victoria Walter
Most Valuable Distance Runner: Naomi Kiprop
Most Valuable Sprinter: Daneisha Curry
Men's Track & Field Team
Newcomer of the Year: Devyn Deckard
Most Valuable Field Performer: Rudolph Valentine
Most Valuable Distance Runner: Aaron Koech
Most Valuable Sprinter: Jonathan Sawyer
Women's Volleyball
Newcomer of the Year: Shelia Borders
Heart of the Team: L'Muriell Thrower
Offensive Player of the Year: Kevreion Ward
Defensive Player of the Year: Erineka Mollere
Managers
Chuck Dawson Equipment Manager of the Year: Devonta Smith
Sports Medicine Student Assistant of the Year: Willie Scott III
Highest Team GPA
Baseball: Jalen Heath
Women's Basketball: Hannah Henderson
Men's Basketball: Zavier Peart
Women's Bowling: Ariel Henderson
Men's Cross Country: Aaron Koech
Women's Cross Country: Halima Chepkwony
Football: De'Arius Christmas
Women's Soccer: Jessica Muller-Ulmer
Softball: Tia Coleman
Women's Tennis: Tanyaradzwa Magunje
Women's Track & Field: Jada Johnson
Men's Track & Field: Frederic Green
Women's Volleyball: Erineka Mollere
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