University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville Athletics Hosts 2024-25 ASHPYs Banquet
05.02.2025 | Baseball, Cross Country, General, Men's Basketball, Men's Soccer, Men's Tennis, Track and Field, Women's Golf, Women's Soccer, Women's Swimming & Diving, Women's Tennis, Women's Volleyball, Women's Basketball, Athletics News
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - UNC Asheville Athletics hosted its annual ASHPYs Athletics Awards banquet Friday night (May 2) at The Venue in downtown Asheville.
The accolades and accomplishments of UNC Asheville student-athletes and teams throughout the 2024-25 season were celebrated all night, culminating in several awards being handed out to student-athletes representing several of Asheville's 16 NCAA Division I athletic teams.
"Tonight was a great celebration of how our student-athletes, coaches, and staff are Dreaming Bigger and Achieving More in competition, in the classroom, and in the community," said Director of Athletics Janet R. Cone. "I am so proud of each and every one of our Bulldogs."
Male Newcomer of the Year
Paul Kiprotich – Men's Cross Country
Rylen Stockton – Baseball
Louis Beckett – Men's Soccer
Kameron Taylor – Men's Basketball
Shemarr Session – Track and Field
Sai Gandepalli – Men's Tennis
Female Newcomer of the Year
Payton Rolfsen – Women's Volleyball
Aneta Kucerova – Cross Country
Andie Quisuming – Women's Swimming and Diving
Deborah Orianegbena – Women's Basketball
Mercedes McNabb – Women's Soccer
Julia Caffarena – Women's Tennis
Morgan Guepet – Women's Golf
Nikole Baikova – Track and Field
Alec Fangman – Spirit
Female Student-Athlete of the Year
Caroline Patterson – Women's Golf
Michelle Thao – Women's Volleyball
Angelina Joy Hug – Women's Tennis
Ella Moore – Cross Country
Riley Edmundson – Women's Swimming and Diving
Abigail Wilson – Women's Basketball
Isabel Richardson – Track and Field
Anna Doane – Women's Soccer
Simone Timol – Spirit
Male Student-Athlete of the Year
Charlie Farrar – Men's Soccer
Fletcher Abee – Men's Basketball
Adam Hessler – Cross Country
Demarr Harvey – Track and Field
Tarek Erlewein – Men's Tennis
Clay Edmondson – Baseball
Female Most Improved
Ava Bjorkman-Tracy – Women's Soccer
Julie Lahiff – Women's Swimming and Diving
Ella Moore – Cross Country
Keira Stewart – Women's Tennis
Savannah Thessing – Women's Golf
Payton Rolfsen – Women's Volleyball
Jaelyn Arnold – Track and Field
Abigail Wilson – Women's Basketball
Alice Benbow – Spirit
Male Most Improved
Toyaz Solomon – Men's Basketball
Jonas Roach – Cross Country
Owen Michelson – Baseball
Benian Yao – Men's Soccer
Cian Ingles – Men's Tennis
Chris Owens – Track and Field
Female Bulldog of the Year
Isabel Richardson – Cross Country
Riley Edmundson – Women's Swimming and Diving
Dakota McCaughan – Women's Basketball
Anna Doane – Women's Soccer
Valeria Centeno – Women's Tennis
Fran Cergol – Track and Field
Caroline Patterson – Women's Golf
Kylie Cackovic – Women's Volleyball
Male Bulldog of the Year
Clay Edmondson – Baseball
Nate Sullivan – Cross Country
Brendan Herb – Men's Soccer
Greg Gantt Jr. – Men's Basketball
Adam Hessler – Track and Field
"It has been another successful year for Bulldog Athletics," continued Cone. "Our student-athletes continue to show us how they are striving to be Champions in Athletics and Leaders in Life."
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The accolades and accomplishments of UNC Asheville student-athletes and teams throughout the 2024-25 season were celebrated all night, culminating in several awards being handed out to student-athletes representing several of Asheville's 16 NCAA Division I athletic teams.
"Tonight was a great celebration of how our student-athletes, coaches, and staff are Dreaming Bigger and Achieving More in competition, in the classroom, and in the community," said Director of Athletics Janet R. Cone. "I am so proud of each and every one of our Bulldogs."
Male Newcomer of the Year
Paul Kiprotich – Men's Cross Country
Rylen Stockton – Baseball
Louis Beckett – Men's Soccer
Kameron Taylor – Men's Basketball
Shemarr Session – Track and Field
Sai Gandepalli – Men's Tennis
Female Newcomer of the Year
Payton Rolfsen – Women's Volleyball
Aneta Kucerova – Cross Country
Andie Quisuming – Women's Swimming and Diving
Deborah Orianegbena – Women's Basketball
Mercedes McNabb – Women's Soccer
Julia Caffarena – Women's Tennis
Morgan Guepet – Women's Golf
Nikole Baikova – Track and Field
Alec Fangman – Spirit
Female Student-Athlete of the Year
Caroline Patterson – Women's Golf
Michelle Thao – Women's Volleyball
Angelina Joy Hug – Women's Tennis
Ella Moore – Cross Country
Riley Edmundson – Women's Swimming and Diving
Abigail Wilson – Women's Basketball
Isabel Richardson – Track and Field
Anna Doane – Women's Soccer
Simone Timol – Spirit
Male Student-Athlete of the Year
Charlie Farrar – Men's Soccer
Fletcher Abee – Men's Basketball
Adam Hessler – Cross Country
Demarr Harvey – Track and Field
Tarek Erlewein – Men's Tennis
Clay Edmondson – Baseball
Female Most Improved
Ava Bjorkman-Tracy – Women's Soccer
Julie Lahiff – Women's Swimming and Diving
Ella Moore – Cross Country
Keira Stewart – Women's Tennis
Savannah Thessing – Women's Golf
Payton Rolfsen – Women's Volleyball
Jaelyn Arnold – Track and Field
Abigail Wilson – Women's Basketball
Alice Benbow – Spirit
Male Most Improved
Toyaz Solomon – Men's Basketball
Jonas Roach – Cross Country
Owen Michelson – Baseball
Benian Yao – Men's Soccer
Cian Ingles – Men's Tennis
Chris Owens – Track and Field
Female Bulldog of the Year
Isabel Richardson – Cross Country
Riley Edmundson – Women's Swimming and Diving
Dakota McCaughan – Women's Basketball
Anna Doane – Women's Soccer
Valeria Centeno – Women's Tennis
Fran Cergol – Track and Field
Caroline Patterson – Women's Golf
Kylie Cackovic – Women's Volleyball
Male Bulldog of the Year
Clay Edmondson – Baseball
Nate Sullivan – Cross Country
Brendan Herb – Men's Soccer
Greg Gantt Jr. – Men's Basketball
Adam Hessler – Track and Field
"It has been another successful year for Bulldog Athletics," continued Cone. "Our student-athletes continue to show us how they are striving to be Champions in Athletics and Leaders in Life."
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Players Mentioned
G
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M
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M
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/ Women's Tennis
D
/ Women's Soccer
RHP/OF
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Fly/Breast/IM
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
/ Men's Tennis
GK
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M
/ Men's Soccer
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/ Women's Tennis
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IM/Breast/Fly
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/ Women's Basketball
F
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C
/ Baseball
Distance
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F
/ Women's Basketball
/ Women's Golf
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Distance
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/ Women's Volleyball
Hurdles/Sprints
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