May 4, 2022

Nielsen, Harris take home top honors at Ninth Annual Frosty Awards Ceremony

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - Carson-Newman men's golf's Jonathan Nielsen and softball's Emily harris brought home top honors as the Frosty Award winners for Male and Female Athlete of the Year, respectively, Tuesday evening at the Ninth Annual Frosty Awards ceremony inside Holt Fieldhouse.

VIDEO: 2022 Frosty Awards Ceremony

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - Carson-Newman men's golf's Jonathan Nielsen and softball's Emily harris brought home top honors as the Frosty Award winners for Male and Female Athlete of the Year, respectively, Tuesday evening at the Ninth Annual Frosty Awards ceremony inside Holt Fieldhouse.

Additionally, the men's golf program captured team of the year.

The winners, finalists and award history is all below.

Male Athlete of the Year, Jonathan Nielsen - Golf

VIDEO: Male Athlete of the Year Finalists

In just his second season in Mossy Creek, Jonathan Nielsen made an immediate impact on the course for the Eagles. Named First Team All SAC, he reached as high as number four in the nation in the Golfstat rankings, earning five top-10 finishes this season and averaging a one-under par score per round. Nielsen's 70.9 stroke average is good for a school record and the second best total in SAC history.

Other finalists: Thay Silva (Soccer), Joseph Oreva (Track), Marnix Van Dalen (Tennis)

Past winners:

2014: Ross Frame (Men's Soccer)

2015: Andy Hibbett (Football)

2016: Damian Baker (Football)

2017: Charles Clark (Basketball)

2018: Tanner Stepp (Track and Field)

2019: Luke Greer (Cross Country)

2020: Devon Moore (Track and Field), Desmond Fairell (Football)

2021: Brayden Coe (Baseball)

2022: Jonathan Nielsen (Golf)

Female Athlete of the Year, Emily Harris - Softball

VIDEO: Female Athlete of the Year Finalists

Emily Harris has been a hitting machine for the Carson-Newman softball program. The second baseman has more than 75 hits this season – one of the five best seasons in school history. Additionally, her batting average ranks in the top five for a single-season in SAC history. Harris has produced a multi-hit effort in more than 60 percent of the Eagles' games.

Other Finalists: Braelyn Wykle (Basketball), Ana Carla Resende (Tennis), Kailee Morgan (Swimming)

Past Winners:

2014: Kelli Hensley (Softball)

2015: Rachel Harper (Volleyball)

2016: Margaret Stansberry (Swimming)

2017: Lauren Wade (Women's Soccer)

2018: Lauren Wade (Women's Soccer)

2019: Averi Williams (Women's Soccer)

2020: Kayla Marosites (Basketball)

2021: Braelyn Wykle (Basketball)

2022: Emily Harris (Softball)

Team of the Year - Men's Golf

VIDEO: Team of the Year Finalists

Consistently ranked in the top five of both national golf polls, the men's golf program is the number one seed for the Southeast Regional. Freshman Elliot MacGregor was named SAC Freshman of the Year, while Jonathan Nielsen, Alex Hodge and Jake Mynatt were all named to the All-Conference team. The program has set a school record for lowest team stroke average, shaving off three strokes from the previous mark.

Other Finalists: Women's Basketball, Women's Swimming, Women's Tennis

Past winners:

2014: Men's Soccer

2015: Volleyball

2016: Volleyball

2017: Women's Soccer and Softball

2018: Women's Soccer

2019: Women's Soccer

2020: Volleyball

2021: Women's Swimming

2022: Men's Golf

Comeback of the Year - Women's Basketball at Anderson

VIDEO: Comeback of the Year Finalists Video

Trailing by 11 in the second half and by seven with 2:14 on the clock, Carson-Newman scored the game's final 10 points to win at Anderson 67-64. The Lady Eagles were 11-81 under Mike Mincey when trailing with two minutes to play in a game before completing the comeback to earn a fourth straight win over the Trojans. Campbell Penland led the Orange and Blue in scoring with 19 points going 6-for-10 from the field adding a trio of triples.

Other Finalists: Baseball at Anderson, Women's Basketball at Catawba, Softball v. Wingate

Past winners:

2014: Women's Basketball and Whitney Kyle at Newberry

2015: Women's Golf at the SAC Championships

2016: Men's Basketball at Newberry

2017: Women's Tennis v. Newberry

2018: Volleyball v. Anderson

2019: Women's Basketball at Newberry

2020: Softball at Tusculum

2021: Football at UVA Wise

2022: Women's Basketball at Anderson

Female Performance of the Year, Kailee Morgan - Swimming

VIDEO: Female Performance of the Year Finalists Video

Kailee Morgan became the second swimmer in program history to tally four All-America swims at an NCAA Championship meet. The Greenville, S.C. native captured her second career silver medal in the 200-yard breaststroke. She also set a new program record in the event. Morgan also finished fourth in the 100 breast and was a member of the 200 and 400 medley relays that finished fifth and fourth, respectively.

Other finalists: Kailee Morgan (Swimming), Hayden Barton (Volleyball), Braelyn Wykle (Basketball)

Past Winners:

2014: Tiana Mills (track and field)

2015: Kristen Pickett (Volleyball)

2016: Alli Webster (Softball)

2017: Elizabeth England (Golf)

2018: Maggie Melhorn (Swimming)

2019: Haris Price (Basketball)

2020: Kayla Marosites (Basketball)

2021: CJ Jensen (Swimming)

2022: Kailee Morgan (Swimming)

Upset of the Year - Men's Soccer v. #11 Limestone

VIDEO: Upset of the Year Finalists Video

Entering the match against Carson-Newman, Limestone was ranked 11th in the nation and had scored the most goals in the SAC. The Saints had lost just one match previously. After a scoreless first half, Tim Vercelli gave Carson-Newman a 1-0 lead in the 49th minute. In the 71st minute, Thay Silva connected with Harry Whitehead off of a corner to put the Eagles up 2-0. Bram Kaarsgaren recorded a diving save in the 79th minute on a penalty kick to preserve the shutout and Carson-Newman clinched the SAC regular season championship with a 2-0 shutout win over Limestone

Other Finalists: Baseball v. #7 Catawba, Baseball v. #11 Tusculum, Softball v. #13 Anderson

Past Winners:

2014: Men's Basketball v. #7 LMU

2015: Men's Basketball v. #1 LMU

2016: Women's Basketball v. #6 Columbus State

2017: Baseball v. #15 Catawba

2018: Baseball v. #2 Belmont Abbey

2019: Baseball v. #9 Newberry

2020: Baseball v. #1 Tampa

2021: Women's Tennis v. #18 Queens

2022: Men's Soccer v. #11 Limestone

Male Newcomer of the Year, DeQuan Dudley - Football

VIDEO: Male Newcomer of the Year Finalists Video

An all-region performer at return specialist, Dudley finished the year fourth in the country in yards per kickoff return with 33.5. He was one of six players in the nation to return two kicks for scores on the year. He finished the year with 641 combined return yards between kickoffs and punts, a figure that ranks 12^th in the country. Dudley is Carson-Newman's first all-region return specialist since 2014.

Other finalists: Tim Vercelli (Soccer), Maka Charamba (Track and Field), Igor Dantas (Swimming)

Past Winners:

2014: Ross Frame (men's soccer)

2015: Tanner Stepp (Track and Field)

2016: Kevin Snead (Track and Field)

2017: Shaun Jones (Basketball)

2018: Dillon Cate (Baseball)

2019: Mike Wroth (Baseball)

2020: Braxton Westfield (Football)

2021: Joseph Oreva (Track and Field)

2022: DeQuan Dudley (Football)

Male Performance of the Year, Elliot Macgregor - Golf

VIDEO: Male Performance of the Year Finalists

Elliot MacGregor recorded his first career individual championship at the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate in Sevierville. Macgregor fired a two-round total of 135 – nine under. It goes down as the best two-round score in event history and the best two-round total in Carson-Newman history. MacGregor has 11 birdies over the 36 holes.

Other Finalists: Maka Charamba (Track), Jonathan Nielsen (Golf), DeQuan Dudley (Football)

Past Winners:

2014: De'Andre Thomas (Football)

2015: Charles Clark (Men's Basketball)

2016: Andrew Hall (Men's Golf)

2017: Charles Clark (Men's Basketball)

2018: Tom Forster (Men's Golf)

2019: Tom Forster (Men's Golf)

2020: Tom Forster (Men's Golf)

2021: Tripp Davis (Men's Basketball)

2022: Elliot Macgregor (Men's Golf)

Play of the Year - Ryan Potts, Micah Genter and Matt Parkinson (Baseball)

VIDEO: Play of the Year Finalists

Micah Genter and Matt Parkinson bailed out Ryan Potts with a spectacular throw to retire the tying run at the plate all the way from left field against Lincoln Memorial

Other Finalists:Nic Carsh (Men's Soccer), Mary Vandergriff (Softball), Ren Dyer (Men's Basketball), Erin Edwards (Volleyball)

Past Winners:

2014: Rachel Harper (volleyball)

2015: Rurik Pereira (Men's Soccer)

2016: Zack Pangallo (Men's Basketball)

2017: Jake Headrick (Men's Golf)

2018: Tanner Stepp (Track and Field)

2019: Devon Moore (Track and Field)

2020: Braxton Westfield (Football)

2021: Charlie Brown, Micah Genter and Matt Parkinson (Baseball)

2022: Ryan Potts, Micah Genter and Matt Parkinson (Baseball)

Female Newcomer of the Year, Emily Harris - Softball

VIDEO: Female Newcomer of the Year Finalists

An All-American at Young Harris, Emily Harris has added noteworthy versatility to her game in her lone season at Mossy Creek. Harris has driven in as many runs and hit as many doubles as she did in her final three years for the Mountain Lions. The Cumming, Ga. native has consistently ranked in the top two in the country in hits this season

Other Finalists: Natalie Corbin (Softball), Julia Wheeler (Volleyball), Abbey Hildenbrand (Volleyball)

Past Winners:

2014: Combined male and female newcomer of the year was presented to men's soccer's Ross Frame

2015: Elizabeth England (Women's Golf)

2016: Jules Herrity (women's soccer)

2017: Lauren Wade (women's soccer)

2018: Kayla Marosites (women's basketball)

2019: Allison Rager (Softball)

2020: Kaina Roehrkasse (Volleyball)

2021: Lindsey Taylor (Women's Basketball)

2022: Emily Harris (Softball)

Coach of the Year, Randy Wylie - Men's Golf

VIDEO: Coach of the Year Finalists

The coach of the number one seed in the Southeast Region, Wylie has led the men's golf program to a consistent top five ranking nationally all season long. Carson-Newman counts wins at the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate and the Queens Fall Invitational. Wylie helped tutor three All-SAC golfers.

Other Finalists: Jordan Taylor (Swimming), Jim Frederick (Women's Tennis), Stephen Lyons (Men's Soccer)

Past Winnners:

2014: Richard Moodie (men's soccer)

2015: Vickee Kazee-Hollifield (Softball)

2016: Richard Moodie (women's soccer)

2017: Vickee Kazee-Hollifield (Softball)

2018: Simon Duffy (Women's Soccer) and Mike Mincey (Women's Basketball)

2019: Simon Duffy (Women's Soccer)

2020: Stephen Lyons (Men's Soccer)

2021: Chuck Benson (Men's Basketball)

2022: Randy Wylie (Men's Golf)

Male Freshman of the Year, Elliot Macgregor - Golf

VIDEO: Male Freshman of the Year Finalists

The SAC Freshman of the Year for men's golf, Elliot MacGregor recorded his first career individual championship at the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate in Sevierville. He recorded two top-20 finishes and was ranked inside the Golfstat Top 150 for three weeks during the 2022 spring season.

Other Finalists: Matthew Blackmon (Track and Field), Marnix Van Dalen (Tennis), Hobson Stelling (Swimming)

Past Winners:

2014: No award given

2015: No award given

2016: Carson Wise (football)

2017: Tom Forster (Golf)

2018: Devon Moore (Track and Field)

2019: Matt George (Swimming)

2020: Christian Shouse (Track and Field)

2021: Ren Dyer (Basketball)

2022: Elliot Macgregor (Golf)

Female Freshman of the Year, Hayden Dye - Softball

VIDEO: Female Freshman of the Year Finalists

Hayden Dye has raked in her first season with the softball program. The Powell product is one of just two freshmen in the SAC with more than 45 runs batted in this season. Dye has consistently batted north of .340 for the year. She homered twice in a game against regionally-ranked Lander on February 26.

Other Finalists: Nellie Bryneus (Soccer), Campbell Penland (Basketball), Blake Cherry (Volleyball)

Past Winners:

2014: No award given

2015: No award given

2016: Varin Ness (women's soccer)

2017: Lacie Rinus (Softball)

2018: CJ Jensen (Swimming)

2019: Maeve Cummins (Golf)

2020: Manon Compagner (Swimming) and Braelyn Wykle (Basketball)

2021: Macey Hughes (Softball)

2022: Hayden Dye (Softball)

Team Performance of the Year, Women's Basketball v. Anderson

VIDEO: Team Performance of the Year Finalists

For the third time in program history, Carson-Newman won a SAC tournament title. The Eagles laid claim to the crown by a record-setting 25 points, 83-58, over fourth-seeded Anderson. The 25-point differential matched the league's largest margin of victory in a title game. Four Lady Eagles scored in double figures with Abby Wilson providing the jolt with four trifectas.