University of North Carolina Athletics
The Loudermilk Center strength and conditioning area.
Photo by: UNC Athletic Communications
UNC Strength & Conditioning Announces Annual Awards
June 1, 2018 | Baseball, Field Hockey, Men's Golf, Men's Lacrosse, Men's Soccer, Men's Tennis, Softball, Women's Golf, Women's Gymnastics, Women's Lacrosse, Women's Rowing, Women's Soccer, Women's Tennis, Volleyball, Wrestling, Cross Country, Track & Field, Fencing, Swimming & Diving, Athletics
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – In recognition of effort and improvement throughout the past year, the North Carolina Strength and Conditioning staff has announced team awards for 2017-18. Honorees from each of UNC's Olympic sports teams have been selected based on performance during in-season and out-of-season programs.
The top award for each team is the Iron Ram Award, which goes to the student-athlete with the best overall performance during the year. The Most Improved Award goes to the student-athlete who has made the greatest strides during the year, regardless of start or finish point. The final award is the Newcomer Award, for best performance by a first-year member of the team.
All Iron Ram winners will be honored with photos hanging in the Loudermilk Center weight room. Six student-athletes earned Iron Ram honors for the second year in a row. Back-to-back winners are Julia Ashley (women's soccer), Blaine Boyden (men's tennis), Marissa Creatore (field hockey), Justine de Grasse (women's fencing), Ryan Macri (men's lacrosse) and Madison Nettles (gymnastics).
Each team's 2017-18 honorees are as follows:
Baseball
Iron Ram: Tyler Baum (pitcher), Kyle Datres (position)
Most Improved: Hansen Butler (pitcher), Brandon Martorano (position)
Newcomer: Caden O'Brien (pitcher), Kip Brandenburg (position)
Men's Cross Country
Iron Ram: Carl Geiger
Most Improved: Brandon Tubby
Newcomer: Jake McEneaney
Women's Cross Country
Iron Ram: Lauren Moody
Most Improved: Ashley Smith
Newcomer: Kathryn Mayo
Men's Fencing
Iron Ram: Samuel Tate
Most Improved: Andrew Fregenal
Newcomer: Bernard Witek
Women's Fencing
Iron Ram: Justine de Grasse, Jackie Litynski
Most Improved: Amelia Cuomo
Newcomer: Charlotte Smith
Field Hockey
Iron Ram: Marissa Creatore
Most Improved: Megan DuVernois, Catherine Hayden
Newcomer: Feline Guenther
Men's Golf
Iron Ram: Preyer Fountain
Most Improved: Joshua Martin
Newcomer: Mason Elmore
Women's Golf
Iron Ram: Mariana Ocano
Most Improved: Brynn Walker
Newcomer: Ava Bergner
Gymnastics
Iron Ram: Madison Nettles
Most Improved: Lauren Weisel
Newcomer: Lily Dean
Men's Lacrosse
Iron Ram: Ryan Macri
Most Improved: Michael Nathan
Newcomer: Ara Atayan
Women's Lacrosse
Iron Ram: Gianna Bowe
Most Improved: Marisa DiVietro
Newcomer: Ally Mastroianni
Rowing
Iron Ram: Kathryn Johnson
Most Improved: Jackie Kenny
Newcomer: Liz Finnessy
Men's Soccer
Iron Ram: Alex Comsia
Most Improved: Jack Skahan
Newcomer: John Nelson
Women's Soccer
Iron Ram: Julia Ashley
Most Improved: Taylor Otto
Newcomer: Alessia Russo
Softball
Iron Ram: Brittany Pickett (pitcher), Taylor Wike (position)
Most Improved: Kellyn Daly (pitcher), Hailey Cole (position)
Newcomer: Kiani Ramsey
Men's Swimming & Diving
Iron Ram: Greg Brocato
Most Improved: J.T. Casey
Newcomer: Coleman Manchester
Women's Swimming & Diving
Iron Ram: Zhada Fields
Most Improved: Caroline Baldwin
Newcomer: Caroline Hauder
Men's Tennis
Iron Ram: Blaine Boyden
Most Improved: Ladd Harrison
Newcomer: Benjamin Sigouin, Mac Kiger
Women's Tennis:
Iron Ram: Makenna Jones
Most Improved: Marika Akkerman
Newcomer: Anna Harmon
Men's Track & Field
Iron Ram: Kenny Selmon (track), Darryl Shaw (field)
Most Improved: Cory Nicholls (track), Zay Paschall (field)
Newcomer: Dontavian Smith
Women's Track & Field
Iron Ram: Emily Godwin (track), Alex Cooke (field)
Most Improved: Brianna Duncan (track), Nicole Greene (field)
Newcomer: Anna Keefer, Jill Shippee
Volleyball
Iron Ram: Katharine Esterley
Most Improved: Kendra Koetter
Newcomer: Raleigh Clark
Wrestling
Iron Ram: A.J. Rechenmacher
Most Improved: Sawyer Davidson
Newcomer: Gino Esposito
The top award for each team is the Iron Ram Award, which goes to the student-athlete with the best overall performance during the year. The Most Improved Award goes to the student-athlete who has made the greatest strides during the year, regardless of start or finish point. The final award is the Newcomer Award, for best performance by a first-year member of the team.
All Iron Ram winners will be honored with photos hanging in the Loudermilk Center weight room. Six student-athletes earned Iron Ram honors for the second year in a row. Back-to-back winners are Julia Ashley (women's soccer), Blaine Boyden (men's tennis), Marissa Creatore (field hockey), Justine de Grasse (women's fencing), Ryan Macri (men's lacrosse) and Madison Nettles (gymnastics).
Each team's 2017-18 honorees are as follows:
Baseball
Iron Ram: Tyler Baum (pitcher), Kyle Datres (position)
Most Improved: Hansen Butler (pitcher), Brandon Martorano (position)
Newcomer: Caden O'Brien (pitcher), Kip Brandenburg (position)
Men's Cross Country
Iron Ram: Carl Geiger
Most Improved: Brandon Tubby
Newcomer: Jake McEneaney
Women's Cross Country
Iron Ram: Lauren Moody
Most Improved: Ashley Smith
Newcomer: Kathryn Mayo
Men's Fencing
Iron Ram: Samuel Tate
Most Improved: Andrew Fregenal
Newcomer: Bernard Witek
Women's Fencing
Iron Ram: Justine de Grasse, Jackie Litynski
Most Improved: Amelia Cuomo
Newcomer: Charlotte Smith
Field Hockey
Iron Ram: Marissa Creatore
Most Improved: Megan DuVernois, Catherine Hayden
Newcomer: Feline Guenther
Men's Golf
Iron Ram: Preyer Fountain
Most Improved: Joshua Martin
Newcomer: Mason Elmore
Women's Golf
Iron Ram: Mariana Ocano
Most Improved: Brynn Walker
Newcomer: Ava Bergner
Gymnastics
Iron Ram: Madison Nettles
Most Improved: Lauren Weisel
Newcomer: Lily Dean
Men's Lacrosse
Iron Ram: Ryan Macri
Most Improved: Michael Nathan
Newcomer: Ara Atayan
Women's Lacrosse
Iron Ram: Gianna Bowe
Most Improved: Marisa DiVietro
Newcomer: Ally Mastroianni
Rowing
Iron Ram: Kathryn Johnson
Most Improved: Jackie Kenny
Newcomer: Liz Finnessy
Men's Soccer
Iron Ram: Alex Comsia
Most Improved: Jack Skahan
Newcomer: John Nelson
Women's Soccer
Iron Ram: Julia Ashley
Most Improved: Taylor Otto
Newcomer: Alessia Russo
Softball
Iron Ram: Brittany Pickett (pitcher), Taylor Wike (position)
Most Improved: Kellyn Daly (pitcher), Hailey Cole (position)
Newcomer: Kiani Ramsey
Men's Swimming & Diving
Iron Ram: Greg Brocato
Most Improved: J.T. Casey
Newcomer: Coleman Manchester
Women's Swimming & Diving
Iron Ram: Zhada Fields
Most Improved: Caroline Baldwin
Newcomer: Caroline Hauder
Men's Tennis
Iron Ram: Blaine Boyden
Most Improved: Ladd Harrison
Newcomer: Benjamin Sigouin, Mac Kiger
Women's Tennis:
Iron Ram: Makenna Jones
Most Improved: Marika Akkerman
Newcomer: Anna Harmon
Men's Track & Field
Iron Ram: Kenny Selmon (track), Darryl Shaw (field)
Most Improved: Cory Nicholls (track), Zay Paschall (field)
Newcomer: Dontavian Smith
Women's Track & Field
Iron Ram: Emily Godwin (track), Alex Cooke (field)
Most Improved: Brianna Duncan (track), Nicole Greene (field)
Newcomer: Anna Keefer, Jill Shippee
Volleyball
Iron Ram: Katharine Esterley
Most Improved: Kendra Koetter
Newcomer: Raleigh Clark
Wrestling
Iron Ram: A.J. Rechenmacher
Most Improved: Sawyer Davidson
Newcomer: Gino Esposito
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's Lacrosse
Back/Free
/ Swimming & Diving
RHP
/ Baseball
/ Women's Golf
Attack/Midfield
/ Women's Lacrosse
/ Men's Tennis
OF/1B
/ Baseball
Free, Fly
/ Swimming & Diving
RHP
/ Baseball
Sprint Free
/ Swimming & Diving
MH
/ Volleyball
IF
/ Softball
D
/ Men's Soccer
Throws
/ Track & Field
Forward
/ Field Hockey
Sabre/Left Hand
/ Fencing
P
/ Softball
3B
/ Baseball
/ Wrestling
Epee/Right Hand
/ Fencing
V, BB, F
/ Women's Gymnastics
Midfielder
/ Women's Lacrosse
Sprints/Jumps
/ Track & Field
Forward
/ Field Hockey
/ Men's Golf
/ Wrestling
MH
/ Volleyball
Back/Free
/ Swimming & Diving
/ Women's Rowing
/ Men's Golf
Epee/Right Hand
/ Fencing
Distance
/ Track & Field
Multis/Jumps
/ Track & Field
High Jump
/ Track & Field
Midfield
/ Field Hockey
/ Women's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
Breast, IM, Back
/ Swimming & Diving
Midfield/Forward
/ Field Hockey
Varsity
/ Women's Rowing
/ Women's Tennis
Sprints/Jumps
/ Track & Field
Varsity
/ Women's Rowing
/ Men's Tennis
S
/ Volleyball
Sabre/Right Hand
/ Fencing
Defenseman
/ Men's Lacrosse
Butterfly, Freestyle
/ Swimming & Diving
/ Men's Golf
C/OF
/ Baseball
Midfielder
/ Women's Lacrosse
Distance
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
Mid-Distance
/ Track & Field
Defenseman
/ Men's Lacrosse
D/M
/ Men's Soccer
AA
/ Women's Gymnastics
Mid-Distance
/ Track & Field
LHP
/ Baseball
/ Women's Golf
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Sprints/Jumps
/ Track & Field
P/1B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
/ Wrestling
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Track & Field
Jumps
/ Track & Field
Throws
/ Track & Field
/ Men's Tennis
M
/ Men's Soccer
Distance
/ Track & Field
Foil/Right Hand
/ Fencing
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sabre/Right Hand
/ Fencing
Distance
/ Track & Field
/ Women's Golf
V, F
/ Women's Gymnastics
SS/2B
/ Softball
Sabre/Right Hand
/ FencingBill Belichick Coach's Corner - Episode 6 - October 15, 2025
Wednesday, October 15
MBB: Jarin Stevenson Intro Press Conference
Tuesday, October 14
Bill Belichick Pre-Cal Press Conference - October 13, 2025
Tuesday, October 14
Carolina Insider - Interview with Jarin Stevenson (Full Segment) - October 13, 2025
Monday, October 13