Nineteen Tar Heels Honored as Leaders of Distinction

June 12, 2020 | Field Hockey, Football, Women's Basketball, Women's Golf, Women's Gymnastics, Women's Lacrosse, Women's Rowing, Women's Soccer, Women's Tennis, Cross Country, Track & Field, Fencing, Swimming & Diving, Leadership Academy

All-Time LOD Winners Leadership Academy Overview

By: UNC Athletic Communications

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Nineteen UNC student-athletes have been recognized as Tar Heel Leaders of Distinction, honoring their excellence within the framework of the Richard A. Baddour Carolina Leadership Academy. The 2019-20 class brings the total number of award winners to 310 over UNC's 16 years of Leadership Academy programing.

The Leader of Distinction Award is the highest honor bestowed by the Leadership Academy and recognizes student-athletes for extraordinary leadership. Nominations may be submitted by coaches, staff and fellow student-athletes.

"It's a highlight of the year to announce and honor our Leaders of Distinction," said Shelley Johnson, Executive Director of the Leadership Academy. "Through their leadership, they've all made enormous impacts on their teams. These student-athletes have proven themselves to be outstanding leaders on and off the field, court, track, course, strip and water, and they have skills that will serve them well as they move on after graduation from UNC."

Two of the honorees – Taylor Otto (women's soccer) and Brynn Walker (women's golf) – were recognized for the second year in a row. Most Leaders of Distinction are seniors, so two-time winners are rare, with Otto and Walker bringing the all-time total of two-time recipients to 27.

This year's Leaders of Distinction span 13 different teams, with rowing (three), women's cross country/track and field (two), football (two), gymnastics (two) and women's lacrosse (two) boasting multiple winners.

Over the course of the Leadership Academy's history, Leaders of Distinction have come from all 28 of UNC's varsity sports.

2019-20 Tar Heel Leaders of Distinction
Jamie Antinori
Gymnastics • Park City, Utah
Katie Bell
Rowing • Rutherfordton, N.C.
Mady Clahane
Women's Cross Country/Track & Field • Mechanicsburg, Pa.
Ari Cogdell
Men's Track & Field • Miami Gardens, Fla.
Trevor Collins
Football • Ramseur, N.C.
Marissa Creatore
Field Hockey • Chapel Hill, N.C.
Sara Daavettila
Women's Tennis • Williamston, Mich.
Justine de Grasse
Women's Fencing • Denver, Colo.
Katie Hoeg
Women's Lacrosse • Mattituck, N.Y.
Maddie Hoffer
Women's Lacrosse • Stony Brook, N.Y.
Taylor Koenen
Women's Basketball • Savage, Minn.
Jake Lawler
Football • Charlotte, N.C.
Elizabeth Mitchell
Rowing • Winston-Salem, N.C.
Taylor Otto
Women's Soccer • Apex, N.C.
Andrew Owsiany
Men's Swimming & Diving • Spring City, Pa.
Ashley Smith
Women's Cross Country/Track & Field • Clemmons, N.C.
Bridget Tarnowski
Rowing • Bethlehem, Pa.
Brynn Walker
Women's Golf • St. David's, Pa.
Mekyllah Williams
Gymnastics • Warner Robbins, Ga.