2019 aCATemy Awards - Female Athlete of the Year
Female Athlete of the Year Award Nominees
Samantha Armas, Women's Tennis
"Coming off last year being in and out of the lineup, Sam has had a tremendous year securing her spot in both singles and doubles. She has the second best record on the team with a 13-4 singles record and a 10-8 doubles record. Sam has been the rock for us this entire year and has come through for the team in many occasions. Against App. State she had match points against her, served an ace to stay in the match and then went on to clinch the match for us to gain a 4-3 win as a team. Against UNCA she clinched the doubles for us with a backhand poach winner on match point which took huge guts! She was 1 of only 2 players to win her singles matches against Winthrop, College of Charleston, and ECU all of who are nationally ranked. Against a strong A-10 Richmond team, with the team score at 3-3 and the last match on, down 2 match points Sam went all out and hit 2 winners in 2 consecutive points to stay in the match and then won the third set tiebreak to clinch the match for us as a team with a 4-3 decision."
Natalie Connell, Women's Soccer
"Natalie played nearly 1,300 minutes while starting and contributing in 16 of 17 games for the Wildcats. She represents what it means to be a scholar-athlete at Davidson, as she has excelled on the field as a captain and contributor on the team, and demonstrated her excellence in the classroom and by receiving the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship."
Justine Lyon, Women's Basketball
"Named 3rd Team All-Conference and the A-10 6th Woman of the year. She led the team in scoring in a break out year for the program that set records for most A-10 wins (11). Justine finished her career at Davidson 5th in points, 11th in scoring average, t7th field Goals made, 6th field goals attempted, 13th three-pointers, 10th three-point attempted, 11th rebounding, 10th steals, 5th free throws, 7th free throw attempted."
Mason Rooney, Volleyball
-Earned 2nd Team All A-10, 3 All-Tournament Team Awards, A-10 All-Academic, and was a runner-up to PrepVolleyball National Player of the Week
-Finished second in the nation in triple-doubles
-Ranked in the Top 10 in the A-10 in three categories
-Was a 2-time Davidson MVP and Captain
Sophia Sgroi, Lacrosse
-Senior captain
-"After running the midfield for three years, Sophia became a low attacker going into the spring season. She never complained and only cared about what was best for the team. Sophia leads the team in draw controls with 95, (something she has worked extremely hard at) and is one of the most important stats in lacrosse. She is currently 3rd in the conference in draws while the team as a whole is second in the behind UMASS. Sophia is tied for 3rd on the team in goals (22) and 5th on the team in points (29)."
Sarah Helen Shepherd, Women's Swimming
-"Sarah Helen was outstanding all season, leading the women’s team in both victories and points scored. At the A-10 Championship Meet, she established herself as one of our all-time best. In her first individual performance, she broke Davidson’s 200 Individual Medley Record by almost 2 seconds, swimming a personal best by two seconds and qualifying for the A final. In the 400 Individual Medley, Sarah Helen lowered her best time and the school record by an astonishing 7 1/2 seconds to take the A10s Bronze Medal. In the 200 Backstroke on the meet’s last day, Sarah Helen tied Davidson’s Record in the 200 Backstroke. She also swam personal best times on three relays for the Wildcats, and finished the weekend in the top 10 in points scored at the championship."
Caroline Yarbrough, Women's Cross Country & Track
-Top 10 All-Time in Atlantic 10 Track & Field Points Scored
-4-time All-Atlantic 10 in Cross Country
-10-time All-Atlantic 10 in Track & Field (3-time Conference Champion)
-6-time Atlantic 10 All-Academic
-NCAA Qualifier and School Record Holder in 5K
-A-10 Freshman of the Year in Cross Country in 2015 and A-10 Runner of the Year in Track & Field in 2017
-USTFCCA All-Academic, Google Chrome All-Academic
"Coming off last year being in and out of the lineup, Sam has had a tremendous year securing her spot in both singles and doubles. She has the second best record on the team with a 13-4 singles record and a 10-8 doubles record. Sam has been the rock for us this entire year and has come through for the team in many occasions. Against App. State she had match points against her, served an ace to stay in the match and then went on to clinch the match for us to gain a 4-3 win as a team. Against UNCA she clinched the doubles for us with a backhand poach winner on match point which took huge guts! She was 1 of only 2 players to win her singles matches against Winthrop, College of Charleston, and ECU all of who are nationally ranked. Against a strong A-10 Richmond team, with the team score at 3-3 and the last match on, down 2 match points Sam went all out and hit 2 winners in 2 consecutive points to stay in the match and then won the third set tiebreak to clinch the match for us as a team with a 4-3 decision."
"Natalie played nearly 1,300 minutes while starting and contributing in 16 of 17 games for the Wildcats. She represents what it means to be a scholar-athlete at Davidson, as she has excelled on the field as a captain and contributor on the team, and demonstrated her excellence in the classroom and by receiving the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship."
"Named 3rd Team All-Conference and the A-10 6th Woman of the year. She led the team in scoring in a break out year for the program that set records for most A-10 wins (11). Justine finished her career at Davidson 5th in points, 11th in scoring average, t7th field Goals made, 6th field goals attempted, 13th three-pointers, 10th three-point attempted, 11th rebounding, 10th steals, 5th free throws, 7th free throw attempted."
-Earned 2nd Team All A-10, 3 All-Tournament Team Awards, A-10 All-Academic, and was a runner-up to PrepVolleyball National Player of the Week
-Finished second in the nation in triple-doubles
-Ranked in the Top 10 in the A-10 in three categories
-Was a 2-time Davidson MVP and Captain
-Senior captain
-"After running the midfield for three years, Sophia became a low attacker going into the spring season. She never complained and only cared about what was best for the team. Sophia leads the team in draw controls with 95, (something she has worked extremely hard at) and is one of the most important stats in lacrosse. She is currently 3rd in the conference in draws while the team as a whole is second in the behind UMASS. Sophia is tied for 3rd on the team in goals (22) and 5th on the team in points (29)."
-"Sarah Helen was outstanding all season, leading the women’s team in both victories and points scored. At the A-10 Championship Meet, she established herself as one of our all-time best. In her first individual performance, she broke Davidson’s 200 Individual Medley Record by almost 2 seconds, swimming a personal best by two seconds and qualifying for the A final. In the 400 Individual Medley, Sarah Helen lowered her best time and the school record by an astonishing 7 1/2 seconds to take the A10s Bronze Medal. In the 200 Backstroke on the meet’s last day, Sarah Helen tied Davidson’s Record in the 200 Backstroke. She also swam personal best times on three relays for the Wildcats, and finished the weekend in the top 10 in points scored at the championship."
-Top 10 All-Time in Atlantic 10 Track & Field Points Scored
-4-time All-Atlantic 10 in Cross Country
-10-time All-Atlantic 10 in Track & Field (3-time Conference Champion)
-6-time Atlantic 10 All-Academic
-NCAA Qualifier and School Record Holder in 5K
-A-10 Freshman of the Year in Cross Country in 2015 and A-10 Runner of the Year in Track & Field in 2017
-USTFCCA All-Academic, Google Chrome All-Academic
