University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels Honor Award Winners, 2001 Champs
January 23, 2007 | Men's Soccer
Jan. 23, 2007
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Junior defender Andre Sherard claimed the Mike Thompson Most Valuable Player Award for the second straight season Friday, Jan. 19, as the University of North Carolina men's soccer team held its annual postseason banquet at the Carolina Inn. In addition to the usual award winners, several members of the Tar Heels' 2001 national championship squad were also in attendance to celebrate the fifth anniversary of their memorable season.
Other award winners in addition to Sherard were: Blake Beach (Nicholas Douglass Potter Coaches Award), Michael Harrington (Tom Evins, Jr. Most Improved Player Award), Chris Litchford (Mercer Reynolds Tar Heel Award) and Garry Lewis (Most Competitive Player Award).
All seven UNC seniors, Beach, Harrington, Corey Ashe, David Boole, Ben Hunter, Justin Hughes and Ted Odgers spoke, as did alumni Steve Scott (1978) and Rich Wachsman (1992). Athletic Director Dick Baddour also addressed the crowd, which featured parents and alumni, including members of the 2001 championship squad.
The 2001 team then held its reunion Saturday, Jan. 20 at Spice Street restaurant in Chapel Hill. Baddour again spoke to the crowd of around 50 people, which included team members, parents and staff. The group relived the memories of that special season by watching the 2001 national championship game against Indiana.
The 2007 Tar Heels will return three of its five award winners, including the first-team All-ACC pick Sherard. Carolina went 11-6-3 and reached its eighth consecutive NCAA Tournament in 2006.
