SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Converse University Athletic Department held their second annual Valkyries Choice Awards Show last night and presented a total of 21 awards to student-athletes, faculty and staff members.
 
The men's soccer team in just their second season of existence won the Team of the Year Award, Baye Williamson Male Athlete of the Year Award (Hayden Gensler), Coach of the Year Award (Rob Miller) and the Male Freshman of the Year Award (Kyle Lewis). The men's soccer team was the first Converse team in school history to win both the regular season championship, the tournament championship and advance to the NCAA Tournament.
 
Lotte Kanters won the Baye Williamson Female Athlete of the Year Award as she caps off a stellar sophomore season in the purple and gold. Kanters was named the National Offensive Player of the Year after she led the NCAA in points per game and goals per game. Kanters was also a consensus First Team All-American.
 
The Female Freshman of the Year award had co-winners this season as Josephine Jense and Ruth Spijker shared the honors. Spikjer was a two-time Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year selection and was a five-time Conference Carolinas Event Champion. Spijker was a six-time first team all-conference selection and helped the track and field team to a runner-up finish at the Conference Carolinas Outdoor Championships. Jense was a First Team All-American as a Freshman and was named the South Atlantic Conference Defensive Player of the Year for her efforts on the pitch. Jense helped the Valkyries win their second straight SAC Tournament Championship and helped them maintain a national ranking inside the top-10 all season long.
 
The first award of the night was the coveted Weisiger Cup award which is presented to a Converse graduating student-athlete each year. The selected individual for this honor has a proven record of leadership and community building skills, is a valuable member of the campus community and an asset to his or her team. Converse President Boone Hopkins presented the award to senior dual-sport athlete Jasmine Finkley. Finkley became the first volleyball player since Katherine Jean Buehler in 2011 to win the award.
 
The Scholar Athlete of the Year awards went to Teana Maloney from the field hockey team and Paul Berrouet from the men's tennis team. The Nancy Ellis Knox Scholar Athlete of the Year for equestrian was awarded to Megan Booty this season. Rounding out the academic awards Jovana Mitic was recognized as the Universities nominee for the Murphy Osborne Award.
 
The Male Breakout Athlete of the Year went to Uzziah Dawkins who was a third team all-conference selection and started all 30 games for the Valkyries. Dawkins set the school record for points in a season (439), field goals made (157), field goals attempted (309) and assists (117). Hailey Obenchain won Female Breakout Athlete of the Year after being named Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year and a second team all-conference selection. Obenchain finished top-10 in the country in assists and assists per game this season, also holds the school record for assists in a game and assists in a season.
 
The Valkyrie Cup which goes to the team with the most community service hours was awarded to the softball team. The lacrosse team won the Game Management Team of the Year award, Hannah Baker was named the Comeback Player of the Year, while Dawkins and Jordan Brown earned the Male and Female Iron Valkyrie awards.
 
The Support Staff of the Year award went to the Athletic Training Department, while the Fan of the Year award went to Madeleine Collier. The first ever Valkyrie Way Award was given to Faith Hauser from the softball team. The field hockey team's overtime South Atlantic Conference Tournament championship thriller won Game of the Year.
 
 
Full List of Award Winners
Team of the Year – Men's Soccer
Coach of the Year – Rob Miller (Men's Soccer)
Weisiger Cup – Jasmine Finkley (Volleyball)
Baye Williamson Male Athlete of the Year – Hayden Gensler (Men's Soccer)
Baye Williamson Female Athlete of the Year – Lotte Kanters (Field Hockey)
Male Freshman of the Year – Kyle Lewis (Men's Soccer)
Female Freshman of the Year – Josephine Jense (Field Hockey) & Ruth Spijker (Women's Track & Field)
Male Scholar Athlete of the Year – Paul Berrouet (Men's Tennis)
Female Scholar Athlete of the Year – Teana Maloney (Field Hockey)
Nancy Ellis Knox Scholar Athlete of the Year (Equestrian) – Megan Booty
Game of the Year – Field Hockey vs Mount Olive South Atlantic Conference Tournament Championship.
Valkyries Cup – Softball Team
Game Management Team of the Year – Lacrosse Team
Male Breakout Athlete of the Year – Uzziah Dawkins (Men's Basketball)
Female Breakout Athlete of the Year – Hailey Obenchain (Lacrosse)
Valkyrie Way Award – Faith Hauser (Softball)
Comeback Player of the Year – Hannah Baker (Acrobatics & Tumbling)
Support Staff of the Year – Athletic Training Staff
Best Fan – Madeleine Collier
Male Iron Valkyrie – Uzziah Dawkins (Men's Basketball)
Female Iron Valkyrie – Jordan Brown (Women's Basketball, Women's Track & Field)  
 
2022-2023 All-Converse Athletic Team
Chloe Cleland (Acrobatics & Tumbling)
Uzziah Dawkins (Men's Basketball)
Sydney Wilson (Women's Basketball)
Luis Rios Brena (Men's Cross Country)
Lauren Beatty (Women's Cross Country)
Nathan Jagh (Esports)
Grace Baum (Equestrian)
Lotte Kanters (Field Hockey)
Helena Noel (Golf)
Brenna Everette (Lacrosse)
Hayden Gensler (Men's Soccer)
Kaylee Couder (Women's Soccer)
Victoria Dichio (Softball)
Julia Beebe (Swimming)
Leopold Morel (Men's Tennis)
Tonya Glogowski-Watson (Women's Tennis)
Gavin McFadden (Men's Track & Field)
Ruth Spijker (Women's Track & Field)
Phoebe Myers (Women's Track & Field)
Jasmine Finkley (Volleyball)
 
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