University of North Carolina Athletics
2019-20 John Lotz Award
April 23, 2020 | Football, Women's Soccer, Student-Athlete Development
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Brooke Bingham (women's soccer) and Rontavius Groves (football) are the winners of UNC's John Lotz Award for 2019-20. The honor goes to student-athletes who succeed under adverse circumstances, overcoming difficulties while maintaining a positive attitude.
The award is given in honor of the late John Lotz, who served as UNC's Assistant Athletic Director of Campus and Community Relations and also was an assistant basketball coach for the Tar Heels as part of his long career in coaching.
Bingham is a junior defender from West Jefferson, N.C. She didn't play during the 2019 season after suffering the second ACL tear of her career the previous spring, but contributed to the team's NCAA runner-up season with her positive attitude and energy.
"Brooke has such an incredible energy about her that is so infectious and is such a big reason why we were so successful in the fall," said Tar Heel women's soccer captain Taylor Otto. "To go through what she's been through and have such a positive attitude, let alone spreading it across 34 girls, is such a testament to who she is as a person."
Groves, known as Toe, is a junior wide receiver from Nashville, Tenn. During his time at UNC he has overcoming two major injuries but battled back to be in the best shape of his career. Last season, he appeared in all 13 games and ranked fourth on the team with 27 catches and 250 receiving yards.
"We constantly talk in our program about taking crises and turning them into positives," UNC football coach Mack Brown said. "There's no better example of that anywhere in the country."
The award is given in honor of the late John Lotz, who served as UNC's Assistant Athletic Director of Campus and Community Relations and also was an assistant basketball coach for the Tar Heels as part of his long career in coaching.
Bingham is a junior defender from West Jefferson, N.C. She didn't play during the 2019 season after suffering the second ACL tear of her career the previous spring, but contributed to the team's NCAA runner-up season with her positive attitude and energy.
"Brooke has such an incredible energy about her that is so infectious and is such a big reason why we were so successful in the fall," said Tar Heel women's soccer captain Taylor Otto. "To go through what she's been through and have such a positive attitude, let alone spreading it across 34 girls, is such a testament to who she is as a person."
Groves, known as Toe, is a junior wide receiver from Nashville, Tenn. During his time at UNC he has overcoming two major injuries but battled back to be in the best shape of his career. Last season, he appeared in all 13 games and ranked fourth on the team with 27 catches and 250 receiving yards.
"We constantly talk in our program about taking crises and turning them into positives," UNC football coach Mack Brown said. "There's no better example of that anywhere in the country."
🏆John Lotz Award – Toe Groves🏆
Toe Groves is our men's John Lotz Award winner. Toe is a junior receiver on the Carolina football team from Nashville, TN. Toe has overcome a pair of injuries to become an important part of the Tar Heel receiving squad. pic.twitter.com/7OA9PKCQRK
— UNC Tar Heels (@GoHeels) April 23, 2020
Players Mentioned
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Wide Receiver
/ Football
Midfielder
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