University of North Carolina Athletics
Strength & Conditioning Staff Announces 2020-21 Awards
May 17, 2021 | 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. – The UNC Strength and Conditioning staff has selected team award winners for the 2020-21 school year, recognizing performance, effort and improvement. The awards honor student-athletes from Olympic sports team who excelled as part of in-season and out-of-season programs.
Tar Heels were selected for Iron Ram, Most Improved and Newcomer awards.
The Iron Ram Award goes to the top all-around performer on each team, and winners are honored with photos hanging in the Olympic Sports weight room in the Loudermilk Center. Sara Daavettila (women's tennis), Santiago Herrera (men's soccer) and Taylor Puetz (softball) each earned the Iron Ram honor for the second year in a row.
Nicole Barnes (women's track) and Angel Zarate (baseball) earned Iron Ram honors in 2021 after being named Most Improved in 2020. Ryan Shannon (volleyball) was selected as Iron Ram after winning the Newcomer Award in 2020.
2020-21 UNC Olympic Sports Strength & Conditioning Awards
Baseball
Iron Ram: Nik Pry and Connor Ollio (Pitchers), Clemente Inclan and Angel Zarate (Position Players)
Most Improved: Chris Joyner (Pitcher), Jake Holtzapple (Position)
Newcomer: Cannon Pickell (Pitcher), Brandon Eike (Position)
Men's Cross Country
Iron Ram: Brandon Tubby
Most Improved: Will Coogan
Newcomer: Patrick Anderson
Women's Cross Country
Iron Ram: Morgan Ilse
Most Improved: Alex Morris
Newcomer: Taryn Parks
Men's Fencing
Iron Ram: Noah Shepanek
Most Improved: Will Palazzolo
Newcomer: Reza Merchant
Women's Fencing
Iron Ram: Sarah Followill
Most Improved: Abigale Parker
Newcomer: Erica Oake
Field Hockey
Iron Ram: Cassie Sumfest
Most Improved: Eva Smolenaars
Newcomer: Katie Dixon
Men's Golf
Iron Ram: George McNeely
Most Improved: Austin Greaser
Newcomer: Peter Fountain
Women's Golf
Iron Ram: Ava Bergner
Most Improved: Jennifer Zhou
Newcomer: Nicole Adam
Gymnastics
Iron Ram: Emery Summey
Most Improved: Hannah Nam
Newcomer: Allison LaNasa
Men's Lacrosse
Iron Ram: Connor Maher
Most Improved: Ryan O'Leary
Newcomer: Collin Krieg
Women's Lacrosse
Iron Ram: Emma Trenchard
Most Improved: Jamie Ortega
Newcomer: Caitlyn Wurzburger
Rowing
Iron Ram: Alessandra De Vito
Most Improved: Hannah Fisher
Newcomer: Gigi Maroney
Men's Soccer
Iron Ram: Santiago Herrera and Giovanni Montesdeoca
Most Improved: Cameron Fisher
Newcomer: Garrett Kessel, J.P. Philpot and Riley Thomas
Women's Soccer
Iron Ram: Aleigh Gambone and Alexis Strickland
Most Improved: Tori Hansen
Newcomer: Sam Meza and Abby Allen
Softball
Iron Ram: Gaby Katz (Pitcher), Taylor Puetz (Position)
Most Improved: Katie Perkins
Newcomer: Taylor Greene
Men's Swimming & Diving
Iron Ram: Daniel Koenigsperger
Most Improved: Jacob Rauch
Newcomer: Kendall Ewing
Women's Swimming & Diving
Iron Ram: Sophie Lindner
Most Improved: Lilly Higgs
Newcomer: Brieanna Romney and Kat Ward
Men's Tennis
Iron Ram: Brian Cernoch
Most Improved: Anuj Watane
Newcomer: Peter Murphy
Women's Tennis
Iron Ram: Sara Daavettila
Most Improved: Cameron Morra
Newcomer: Sara McClure
Men's Track & Field
Iron Ram: Isaiah Palmer (Track), James Joycey (Field)
Most Improved: Ryan Saint-Germain (Track), Tom Watson (Field)
Newcomer: Craig Saddler II (Track), Isaac Young and Troy Yearwood (Field)
Women's Track & Field
Iron Ram: Nicole Barnes (Track), Jill Shippee (Field)
Most Improved: Kayla Hunt (Track), JoEllen Driscoll (Field)
Newcomer: Keygan Pettigrew (Track), McKenna Brunick (Field)
Volleyball
Iron Ram: Ryan Shannon
Most Improved: Olivia Diaz
Newcomer: Kaya Merkler
Wrestling
Iron Ram: Devin Kane
Most Improved: Wil Guida
Newcomer: Cade Lautt
Tar Heels were selected for Iron Ram, Most Improved and Newcomer awards.
The Iron Ram Award goes to the top all-around performer on each team, and winners are honored with photos hanging in the Olympic Sports weight room in the Loudermilk Center. Sara Daavettila (women's tennis), Santiago Herrera (men's soccer) and Taylor Puetz (softball) each earned the Iron Ram honor for the second year in a row.
Nicole Barnes (women's track) and Angel Zarate (baseball) earned Iron Ram honors in 2021 after being named Most Improved in 2020. Ryan Shannon (volleyball) was selected as Iron Ram after winning the Newcomer Award in 2020.
2020-21 UNC Olympic Sports Strength & Conditioning Awards
Baseball
Iron Ram: Nik Pry and Connor Ollio (Pitchers), Clemente Inclan and Angel Zarate (Position Players)
Most Improved: Chris Joyner (Pitcher), Jake Holtzapple (Position)
Newcomer: Cannon Pickell (Pitcher), Brandon Eike (Position)
Men's Cross Country
Iron Ram: Brandon Tubby
Most Improved: Will Coogan
Newcomer: Patrick Anderson
Women's Cross Country
Iron Ram: Morgan Ilse
Most Improved: Alex Morris
Newcomer: Taryn Parks
Men's Fencing
Iron Ram: Noah Shepanek
Most Improved: Will Palazzolo
Newcomer: Reza Merchant
Women's Fencing
Iron Ram: Sarah Followill
Most Improved: Abigale Parker
Newcomer: Erica Oake
Field Hockey
Iron Ram: Cassie Sumfest
Most Improved: Eva Smolenaars
Newcomer: Katie Dixon
Men's Golf
Iron Ram: George McNeely
Most Improved: Austin Greaser
Newcomer: Peter Fountain
Women's Golf
Iron Ram: Ava Bergner
Most Improved: Jennifer Zhou
Newcomer: Nicole Adam
Gymnastics
Iron Ram: Emery Summey
Most Improved: Hannah Nam
Newcomer: Allison LaNasa
Men's Lacrosse
Iron Ram: Connor Maher
Most Improved: Ryan O'Leary
Newcomer: Collin Krieg
Women's Lacrosse
Iron Ram: Emma Trenchard
Most Improved: Jamie Ortega
Newcomer: Caitlyn Wurzburger
Rowing
Iron Ram: Alessandra De Vito
Most Improved: Hannah Fisher
Newcomer: Gigi Maroney
Men's Soccer
Iron Ram: Santiago Herrera and Giovanni Montesdeoca
Most Improved: Cameron Fisher
Newcomer: Garrett Kessel, J.P. Philpot and Riley Thomas
Women's Soccer
Iron Ram: Aleigh Gambone and Alexis Strickland
Most Improved: Tori Hansen
Newcomer: Sam Meza and Abby Allen
Softball
Iron Ram: Gaby Katz (Pitcher), Taylor Puetz (Position)
Most Improved: Katie Perkins
Newcomer: Taylor Greene
Men's Swimming & Diving
Iron Ram: Daniel Koenigsperger
Most Improved: Jacob Rauch
Newcomer: Kendall Ewing
Women's Swimming & Diving
Iron Ram: Sophie Lindner
Most Improved: Lilly Higgs
Newcomer: Brieanna Romney and Kat Ward
Men's Tennis
Iron Ram: Brian Cernoch
Most Improved: Anuj Watane
Newcomer: Peter Murphy
Women's Tennis
Iron Ram: Sara Daavettila
Most Improved: Cameron Morra
Newcomer: Sara McClure
Men's Track & Field
Iron Ram: Isaiah Palmer (Track), James Joycey (Field)
Most Improved: Ryan Saint-Germain (Track), Tom Watson (Field)
Newcomer: Craig Saddler II (Track), Isaac Young and Troy Yearwood (Field)
Women's Track & Field
Iron Ram: Nicole Barnes (Track), Jill Shippee (Field)
Most Improved: Kayla Hunt (Track), JoEllen Driscoll (Field)
Newcomer: Keygan Pettigrew (Track), McKenna Brunick (Field)
Volleyball
Iron Ram: Ryan Shannon
Most Improved: Olivia Diaz
Newcomer: Kaya Merkler
Wrestling
Iron Ram: Devin Kane
Most Improved: Wil Guida
Newcomer: Cade Lautt
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Distance
/ Track & Field
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Track & Field
/ Women's Golf
Pole Vault
/ Track & Field
/ Men's Tennis
Distance
/ Track & Field
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Rowing
L/DS
/ Volleyball
Midfielder/Back
/ Field Hockey
Throws
/ Track & Field
3B/RHP
/ Baseball
Breast, Free
/ Swimming & Diving
M
/ Men's Soccer
Varsity
/ Women's Rowing
Foil/Right Hand
/ Fencing
/ Men's Golf
Midfielder/Forward
/ Women's Soccer
C
/ Softball
/ Wrestling
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
Breast, IM
/ Swimming & Diving
3B
/ Baseball
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
1B/3B
/ Baseball
Throws
/ Track & Field
LHP
/ Baseball
/ Wrestling
M
/ Men's Soccer
Sprint Free
/ Swimming & Diving
Goalkeeper
/ Men's Lacrosse
AA
/ Women's Gymnastics
/ Wrestling
Fly, Back, Free
/ Swimming & Diving
Defensive Midfielder
/ Men's Lacrosse
/ Women's Rowing
/ Women's Tennis
Epee/Right Hand
/ Fencing
MH/OH
/ Volleyball
F
/ Men's Soccer
/ Women's Tennis
Distance
/ Track & Field
/ Men's Tennis
AA
/ Women's Gymnastics
Defensive Midfielder
/ Men's Lacrosse
Epee/Right Hand
/ Fencing
RHP
/ Baseball
Attacker
/ Women's Lacrosse
Foil/Right Hand
/ Fencing
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sabre/Right Hand
/ Fencing
Distance
/ Track & Field
UT
/ Softball
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Track & Field
GK
/ Men's Soccer
RHP
/ Baseball
C/OF
/ Softball
Breast, IM
/ Swimming & Diving
Sprint Free, Fly
/ Swimming & Diving
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
L/DS
/ Volleyball
Sabre/Right Hand
/ Fencing
Throws
/ Track & Field
Midfielder
/ Field Hockey
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Back
/ Field Hockey
V, UB, BB
/ Women's Gymnastics
D
/ Men's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Lacrosse
Distance
/ Track & Field
Breast, IM
/ Swimming & Diving
/ Men's Tennis
Javelin
/ Track & Field
Attacker
/ Women's Lacrosse
Throws
/ Track & Field
Combined
/ Track & Field
OF
/ Baseball
/ Women's Golf
Hubert Davis post-NC Central Press Conference
Saturday, November 15
Carolina Insider: Rapid Reactions – Men’s Basketball vs. NC Central – November 14, 2025
Saturday, November 15
UNC Men's Basketball: Tar Heels Ground Eagles, 97-53
Saturday, November 15
UNC Volleyball: Carolina Beats Virginia in Four Sets
Saturday, November 15