FMU Holds 39th-Annual Athletic Banquet

Francis Marion University held its 39th-annual Athletic Banquet, Monday, April 27, in the university’s Edward S. Ervin III Dining Hall. Most Valuable Player awards were given in 14 sports. An outstanding cheerleader award and a student-athlete award were also presented.

Gail Summersett Outlaw Outstanding Cheerleader Award – senior Jessica Hale (Clinton, NY)
Conyers O’Bryan M.V.P. Award for baseball – senior third baseman Keon Graves (Dillon, SC)
Howard Stokes M.V.P. Award for men’s basketball – senior forward Kevin Clark (Charlotte, NC)
Carroll Player Jr. M.V.P. Award for women’s basketball – sophomore guard Shannon Singleton-Bates (South Norwalk, CT)
Most Valuable Player Award for men’s cross country – junior Hillary Kiprop (Eldoret, Kenya)
Most Valuable Player Award for women’s cross country – senior Kelly May (Bowling Green, OH)
(May earned the award for the third time in four years)
Clifford Cormell Jr. M.V.P. Award for golf – senior Keith Crowley (Balincollig, Ireland)
Joe and Elease Webb M.V.P. Award for men’s soccer – senior back Willie Hunt (Greer, SC)
Most Valuable Player Award for women’s soccer – junior midfielder Angela Salem (Copley, OH)
(Salem earns the award for the second straight year)
Most Valuable Player Award for women’s softball – senior first baseman Tamela Bell (Covington, GA)
Lorin Mason M.V.P. Award for men’s tennis – sophomore Oshada Wijemanne (Colombo, Sri Lanka)
Gladys Hite M.V.P. Award for women’s tennis – sophomore Jitka Gavdunova (Vejprty, Czech Republic)
Jerry and Jean Lee M.V.P. Award for men’s track and field – junior Adam Wilson (Grahamsville, NY)
Most Valuable Player Award for women’s track and field – senior Kelly May (Bowling Green, OH)
Joseph B. DuRant M.V.P. for volleyball – senior middleblocker Jessica Lombardi (Massillon, OH)
Debra Lee Orander Academic Award – junior soccer goalkeeper Emily Brandenburg (West Columbia, SC)

Of the 10 FMU athletic teams that keep win-loss records, nine registered winning records this past year, and six appeared in national poll rankings. Five teams earned invitations to the NCAA national tournament, and four teams (softball, baseball, and men’s and women’s tennis) are still alive with hopes of NCAA Tournament bids.