University of North Carolina Athletics
UNC Strength & Conditioning Honors Top Performers
May 20, 2019 | Baseball, Field Hockey, General, 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
The UNC Strength & Conditioning staff has announced team awards for the 2018-19 school year, recognizing student-athletes from Olympic sports who excelled as part of in-season and out-of-season programs. Tar Heels were selected for Most Improved, Newcomer and Iron Ram honors.
The Iron Ram Award recognizes all-around performance, and each year's winners are honored with photos hanging in the Loudermilk Center Olympic sports weight room.
Two student-athletes – Blaine Boyden from men's tennis and Marissa Creatore from field hockey – were recognized as their teams' Iron Rams for the third year in a row. Six student-athletes were honored for the second year in a row. They were Tyler Baum (baseball), Jackie Litynski (women's fencing), Brittany Pickett (softball), Greg Brocato (men's swimming & diving), Alex Cooke (women's track & field) and Katharine Esterley (volleyball).
2018-19 UNC Strength & Conditioning Awards
Baseball
Iron Ram: Hansen Butler (pitcher), Tyler Baum (pitcher), Ike Freeman (position)
Most Improved: Austin Love (pitcher), Clemente Inclan (position)
Newcomer: Nik Pry (pitcher), Cameran Brantley (position)
Men's Cross Country
Iron Ram: Jake McEneaney
Women's Cross Country
Iron Ram: Morgan Ilse
Most Improved: Blair Ramsey
Newcomer: Olivia Bene
Men's Fencing
Iron Ram: Bernard Witek
Most Improved: Firoz George
Newcomer: James Mulligan
Women's Fencing
Iron Ram: Jackie Litynski
Most Improved: Clara Somfelean
Newcomer: Claire Harmon
Field Hockey
Iron Ram: Marissa Creatore
Most Improved: Yentl Leemans
Newcomer: Erin Matson
Men's Golf
Iron Ram: Joshua Martin
Most Improved: Austin Hitt
Newcomer: Dougie Ergood
Women's Golf
Iron Ram: Brynn Walker
Most Improved: Kelly Whaley
Newcomer: Nicole Lu
Gymnastics
Iron Ram: Madison Hargrave
Most Improved: Mekyllah Williams
Newcomer: Leah Gneco
Men's Lacrosse
Iron Ram: Michael Nathan
Most Improved: Andy Matthews
Newcomer: Caton Johnson
Women's Lacrosse
Iron Ram: Katie Hoeg
Most Improved: Taylor McDaniels
Newcomer: Brooklyn Neumen
Rowing
Iron Ram: Margaret High
Most Improved: Lauren Ferner
Newcomer: Alessandra De Vito
Men's Soccer
Iron Ram: Raul Aguilera
Most Improved: David Mejia
Newcomer: Jaxson Watermann, Roman Knox
Women's Soccer
Iron Ram: Rachael Dorwart
Most Improved: Lotte Wubben-Moy, Morgan Goff
Newcomer: Brianna Pinto
Softball
Iron Ram: Brittany Pickett (pitcher), Destiny DeBerry (position), Berlynne Delamora (position)
Most Improved: Katie Grace Olinger (pitcher)
Newcomer: Hannah George (pitcher), Abby Settlemyre (position)
Men's Swimming
Iron Ram: Greg Brocato
Most Improved: Daniel Koenigsperger
Newcomer: Eli Coan
Women's Swimming
Iron Ram: Caroline Hauder
Most Improved: Grace Countie
Newcomer: Sophie Lindner
Men's Tennis
Iron Ram: Blaine Boyden
Most Improved: Benjamin Sigouin
Newcomer: Brian Cernoch
Women's Tennis
Iron Ram: Jessie Aney
Most Improved: Chloe Ouellet-Pizer
Newcomer: Sophia Patel
Men's Track & Field
Iron Ram: Marcus Krah (track), Jared Martin (field), Zay Paschall (field)
Most Improved: Dontavian Smith (track), Daniel McArthur (field)
Newcomer: Qhiyal Towns
Women's Track & Field
Iron Ram: Anna Keefer (track), Alex Cooke (field)
Most Improved: Peighton Simmons (track), Nicole Kiszenia (field)
Newcomer: Lauryn Hall (track), Nicole Barnes (field)
Volleyball
Iron Ram: Katharine Esterley, Mia Fradenburg,
Most Improved: Skylar Wine
Newcomer: Annabelle Archer
Wrestling
Iron Ram: Gino Esposito
Most Improved: A.C. Headlee
Newcomer: Gary Wayne Harding
The Iron Ram Award recognizes all-around performance, and each year's winners are honored with photos hanging in the Loudermilk Center Olympic sports weight room.
Two student-athletes – Blaine Boyden from men's tennis and Marissa Creatore from field hockey – were recognized as their teams' Iron Rams for the third year in a row. Six student-athletes were honored for the second year in a row. They were Tyler Baum (baseball), Jackie Litynski (women's fencing), Brittany Pickett (softball), Greg Brocato (men's swimming & diving), Alex Cooke (women's track & field) and Katharine Esterley (volleyball).
2018-19 UNC Strength & Conditioning Awards
Baseball
Iron Ram: Hansen Butler (pitcher), Tyler Baum (pitcher), Ike Freeman (position)
Most Improved: Austin Love (pitcher), Clemente Inclan (position)
Newcomer: Nik Pry (pitcher), Cameran Brantley (position)
Men's Cross Country
Iron Ram: Jake McEneaney
Women's Cross Country
Iron Ram: Morgan Ilse
Most Improved: Blair Ramsey
Newcomer: Olivia Bene
Men's Fencing
Iron Ram: Bernard Witek
Most Improved: Firoz George
Newcomer: James Mulligan
Women's Fencing
Iron Ram: Jackie Litynski
Most Improved: Clara Somfelean
Newcomer: Claire Harmon
Field Hockey
Iron Ram: Marissa Creatore
Most Improved: Yentl Leemans
Newcomer: Erin Matson
Men's Golf
Iron Ram: Joshua Martin
Most Improved: Austin Hitt
Newcomer: Dougie Ergood
Women's Golf
Iron Ram: Brynn Walker
Most Improved: Kelly Whaley
Newcomer: Nicole Lu
Gymnastics
Iron Ram: Madison Hargrave
Most Improved: Mekyllah Williams
Newcomer: Leah Gneco
Men's Lacrosse
Iron Ram: Michael Nathan
Most Improved: Andy Matthews
Newcomer: Caton Johnson
Women's Lacrosse
Iron Ram: Katie Hoeg
Most Improved: Taylor McDaniels
Newcomer: Brooklyn Neumen
Rowing
Iron Ram: Margaret High
Most Improved: Lauren Ferner
Newcomer: Alessandra De Vito
Men's Soccer
Iron Ram: Raul Aguilera
Most Improved: David Mejia
Newcomer: Jaxson Watermann, Roman Knox
Women's Soccer
Iron Ram: Rachael Dorwart
Most Improved: Lotte Wubben-Moy, Morgan Goff
Newcomer: Brianna Pinto
Softball
Iron Ram: Brittany Pickett (pitcher), Destiny DeBerry (position), Berlynne Delamora (position)
Most Improved: Katie Grace Olinger (pitcher)
Newcomer: Hannah George (pitcher), Abby Settlemyre (position)
Men's Swimming
Iron Ram: Greg Brocato
Most Improved: Daniel Koenigsperger
Newcomer: Eli Coan
Women's Swimming
Iron Ram: Caroline Hauder
Most Improved: Grace Countie
Newcomer: Sophie Lindner
Men's Tennis
Iron Ram: Blaine Boyden
Most Improved: Benjamin Sigouin
Newcomer: Brian Cernoch
Women's Tennis
Iron Ram: Jessie Aney
Most Improved: Chloe Ouellet-Pizer
Newcomer: Sophia Patel
Men's Track & Field
Iron Ram: Marcus Krah (track), Jared Martin (field), Zay Paschall (field)
Most Improved: Dontavian Smith (track), Daniel McArthur (field)
Newcomer: Qhiyal Towns
Women's Track & Field
Iron Ram: Anna Keefer (track), Alex Cooke (field)
Most Improved: Peighton Simmons (track), Nicole Kiszenia (field)
Newcomer: Lauryn Hall (track), Nicole Barnes (field)
Volleyball
Iron Ram: Katharine Esterley, Mia Fradenburg,
Most Improved: Skylar Wine
Newcomer: Annabelle Archer
Wrestling
Iron Ram: Gino Esposito
Most Improved: A.C. Headlee
Newcomer: Gary Wayne Harding
Players Mentioned
M
/ Men's Soccer
/ Women's Tennis
S
/ Volleyball
Sprints/Hurdles/Jumps
/ Track & Field
RHP
/ Baseball
Distance
/ Track & Field
/ Men's Tennis
OF
/ Baseball
Free, Fly
/ Swimming & Diving
RHP
/ Baseball
/ Men's Tennis
Fly, Free
/ Swimming & Diving
Throws
/ Track & Field
Free, Back
/ Swimming & Diving
Forward
/ Field Hockey
/ Women's Rowing
OF
/ Softball
3B
/ Softball
Forward/Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
/ Men's Golf
/ Wrestling
MH
/ Volleyball
Varsity
/ Women's Rowing
L/DS
/ Volleyball
SS/2B
/ Baseball
Sabre/Right Hand
/ Fencing
P
/ Softball
UB, BB
/ Women's Gymnastics
Defender/Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Sprints
/ Track & Field
/ Wrestling
V, BB, F
/ Women's Gymnastics
Epee/Left Hand
/ Fencing
Breast, IM, Back
/ Swimming & Diving
/ Wrestling
Varsity
/ Women's Rowing
/ Men's Golf
Attacker
/ Women's Lacrosse
Distance
/ Track & Field
3B
/ Baseball
Goalkeeper
/ Men's Lacrosse
Sprints/Jumps
/ Track & Field
Throws
/ Track & Field
M
/ Men's Soccer
Sprint Free
/ Swimming & Diving
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Track & Field
Midfielder
/ Field Hockey
Fly, Back, Free
/ Swimming & Diving
Sabre/Right Hand
/ Fencing
RHP
/ Baseball
/ Women's Golf
Javelin
/ Track & Field
/ Men's Golf
Forward/Midfield
/ Field Hockey
Attackman
/ Men's Lacrosse
Throws
/ Track & Field
Attacker
/ Women's Lacrosse
Distance
/ Track & Field
M
/ Men's Soccer
Foil/Left Hand
/ Fencing
Defenseman
/ Men's Lacrosse
Midfielder
/ Women's Lacrosse
P
/ Softball
/ Women's Tennis
Sprints/Jumps
/ Track & Field
/ Women's Tennis
P/1B
/ Softball
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Distance
/ Track & Field
IF
/ Softball
/ Men's Tennis
Sprints/Jumps
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sabre/Right Hand
/ Fencing
Sprints
/ Track & Field
/ Women's Golf
F
/ Men's Soccer
/ Women's Golf
UB, BB
/ Women's Gymnastics
OH
/ Volleyball
Sabre/Right Hand
/ Fencing
Defender
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