GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Carlos
Garcia and Vivian Lacy were named the
male and female athletes of the year at Tusculum College's annual
athletics banquet Monday night at Pioneer Arena. Over 350
student-athletes, coaches and guests were in attendance at the
event, which honors individuals for both on the field and off the
field success.
Garcia, a senior on the Pioneer men's team, was named the 2008
South Atlantic Conference Player of the Year where he posted an
18-1 singles record, including 7-0 in league matches. The Caracas,
Venezuela native was also named the SAC Tournament Most Valuable
Player, while becoming the first men's player in school history to
post an undefeated SAC career singles record (25-0). He was also a
four-time All-SAC selection, leading TC to SAC regular season and
tournament titles.
Lacy, a senior outside hitter on the Tusculum volleyball team, was
the SAC Player of the Year for her sport as she led the Pioneers
with 4.75 kills per game, which were ninth in the nation. The Palm
Bay, Fla. product was named the AVCA National Player of the Week
and became the first volleyball player in school history to earn
Division II All-America honors.
Women's Basketball coach Missy Tiber and tennis
coach Tommy Arnett are this year's co-recipients
of the Art Argauer Coach of the Year Award.
Tiber, who is in her third season at Tusculum, earns this honor
for the first time. Tiber led the Pioneers to its first 20-win
season in over a decade, posting a 26-5 record and winning the SAC
Championship. Three of her players earned All-Conference honors,
including Stephany Neptune, who earned All-America recognition.
Tiber guided TC to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school
history, while accounting for the program's third straight winning
season, all during her watch. For her efforts, she was named
Division II Region Coach of the Year.
Arnett, who is wrapping up his seventh year in Greeneville, earns
the Argauer Award for a second time. Arnett guided the Tusculum
tennis program to a combined 40-4 record, including a SAC Men's
Championship, while sweeping both the men and women's SAC
Tournament titles. Eight of his players earned All-Conference
honors and both his squads are nationally ranked. Both will also be
competing at next week's NCAA Tournament. Arnett was also named the
SAC Men's Tennis Coach of the Year, marking the third time in his
career that he has earned that accolade.
Senior volleyball player Alexis Rowles was the
recipient of the Walter T. Dette, Jr. Spirit Award. This award is
presented to the graduating senior who has excelled in several
areas while making outstanding contributions to Tusculum Athletics.
Rowles, a native of Simpsonville, S.C., earned All-SAC Second Team
honors in 2006 and was the SAC Scholar Athlete for volleyball in
2007. She was also tabbed to the ESPN the Magazine
Academic All-District IV First Team and is the school's all-time
leader in digs.
Soccer player Amanda Tripp was the female
recipient of the Duffield Award, which is given to the top male and
female student-athlete for academic achievement. Tripp earns this
honor for a first time posting a 3.9 cumulative grade point
average. There are two male recipients of the Duffield Award with
identical 3.94 GPAs. Honored this year are baseball player
Dustin Morrow and tennis standout Henrique
Rodrigues.
Academic achievement was also recognized with the presentation of
the Male and Female Freshman of the Year Academic Awards. Cross
country runner Simon Holzapfel is the male
recipient, while Blake Thompson of the women's
tennis