SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Converse University Athletic Department held their fifth annual Valkyries Choice Awards Show this past weekend and presented a total of 21 awards to student-athletes and staff members.
 
The men's track & field team won Team of the Year. This past spring the men's track & field team was runner-up at both the indoor and outdoor Conference Carolinas Championships. Dorian Bomar and Devron Davis were both named the Conference Carolinas Track Athlete of the Year for the Indoor season, while Omarion belton was named the Field Athlete of the Year. Marti Ruiz Barreda was named the Conference Carolinas Elite 26 Award winner at the conclusion of the indoor season. During the Outdoor season, Devron Davis was once again named the Track Athlete of the Year, while Neale Johnson was named Freshman of the Year. In total the men's track & field team won 11 individual championships and had 30 All-Conference selections and six All-Region selections.   
 
Head track & field coach Brandon Morton was named Coach of the Year at the VCA's. Morton was named the USTFCCCA Southeast Region Coach of the Year. Under his guidance both the men's and women's track and field teams finished runner-up in both the indoor and outdoor Conference Carolinas Championships. Freshman Grace Davis won the 60-meter National Championship and was named the Southeast Region Track Athlete of the Year. Grace Davis and Dorian Bomar were both named All-Americans at the conclusion of the NCAA Indoor National Championships. At the Indoor Championships, Dorian Bomar & Devron Davis were named Co-Track Athletes of the Year and Omarion Belton was named Field Athlete of the Year. At the Outdoor Championships Devron Davis was named Track Athlete of the Year, while Neale Johnnson was named Freshman of the Year. Bella Martin and Marti Ruiz Barreda were both named Conference Carolina Elite 26 Award winners. Between the Indoor and Outdoor Championships the track & field team and 17 individual conference championships. The men's and women's track & field teams combined to have 62 All-Conference selections and 9 All-Region selections.
 
Grace Davis was named both the Baye Williamson Female Athlete of the Year and the Female Freshman of the Year. Davis won the National Championship in the 60-meter dash event and was named an All-American for her performance. Also, Davis was the Conference Carolinas 60-meter dash champion, setting both the meet and conference records in the event.   
 
The Baye Williamson Male Athlete of the Year Award was a tied between track & field athletes Dorian Bomar and Devron Davis. Bomar and Davis were the Conference Carolinas Co-Track Athletes of the Year at the Indoor Championships. Bomar went on to become a Second Team All-American and competed at the Indoor National Championships. Davis, also won the Conference Carolina Track Athlete of the Year at the Outdoor Championships. Davis won the 200 meter championship at the Indoor Championship and set a new meet record in the process.    
 
Skylar Lund won the prestigious Weisiger Cup on Friday evening. Lund is a Biology major who has excelled both on the field and in the classroom. Lund helped the women's soccer to back-to-back postseason appearances in 2024 and 2025. Lund was a Second Team All-Conference selection this past year. She is also an active campus leader, serving on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Treasurer for Tri Beta and is the Vice Chair of the Valkyries Club.    
 
AJ Robinson won the second ever Converse Cup on Friday night. Robinson is a politics and history major who made an impact both in competition and across campus. As captain of the Converse esports Valorant team, Robinson led his team to a National Championship and multiple Peach Belt Conference titles. On the other side of campus, Robinson is a History and politics peer tutor, supports fellow students as a worker in Valkyrie Supply, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Model NATO and Model Arab League.
 
The Male Newcomer of the Year award went to Tre Locklear of the men's basketball team. Played in 25 games this season and made 22 starts for the Valkyries in his first season. Tallied 290 points, 61 rebounds, 86 assists, 28 steals and 3 blocks. Tied the school record for three-pointers in a game with 7.
 
The Female Newcomer of the Year award went to Bree Lyons of the volleyball team. Was a Second Team All-Conference selection and was named the Conference Carolinas Offensive Player of the Week. Appeared in 26 matches and 21 starts for the Volleyball team this season. Led the team with 276 kills and helped the Valkyries reach the Conference Tournament Semifinals for a second straight season.
 
Jacob Bandel was named the male freshman of the year following a stellar campaign on the pitch this season. Bandel was a D2CCA Second Team All-Region selection and a First Team All-Conference selection. He led the men's soccer team with 27 points and helped the Valkyries to a fifth straight postseason appearance.
 
Full List of Award Winners
Team of the Year – Men's Track & Field
Coach of the Year – Brandon Morton (Track & Field)
Weisiger Cup – Skylar Lund (Women's Soccer)
Converse Cup – AJ Robinson (esports)
Baye Williamson Male Athlete of the Year – Dorian Bomar & Devron Davis (Men's Track & Field)
Baye Williamson Female Athlete of the Year – Grace Davis (Women's Track & Field)
Male Newcomer of the Year – Tre Locklear (Men's Basketball)
Female Newcomer of the Year – Bree Lyons (Volleyball)
Male Freshman of the Year – Jacob Bandel (Men's Soccer)
Female Freshman of the Year – Grace Davis (Women's Track & Field)
Male Scholar Athlete of the Year – Jacobi Cherry (Men's Basketball)
Female Scholar Athlete of the Year – Bella Martin (Women's Track & Field)
Nancy Ellis Knox Scholar Athlete of the Year (Equestrian) – Anna Mallen   
Game of the Year – Men's Basketball vs Lees-McRae
Valkyrie Cup – Equestrian
Male Breakout Athlete of the Year – Omarion Belton (Men's Track & Field)
Female Breakout Athlete of the Year – Halle Aho (Equestrian)
Male Sports Medicine All-Star – Isaac Gilmore (Men's Track & Field)
Female Sports Medicine All-Star – Emily Vargas (Women's Soccer)
Male Iron Valkyrie – Jordyn Surratt (Men's Basketball)
Female Iron Valkyrie – Madison Seymour (Acrobatics & Tumbling)
 
2025-26 All-Converse Athletic Team
Brenna Kudlas (Acrobatics & Tumbling)
Jordyn Surratt (Men's Basketball)
Tatiana Brown (Women's Basketball)
Ander Vera Moleres (Men's Cross Country)
Evie De Roos (Women's Cross Country)
William Cronin (esports)
Shannon Goldy (Equestrian)
Kilee Bradeen (Field Hockey)
Ellie Lim (Golf)
Becky Reinhard (Lacrosse)
Jacob Bandel (Men's Soccer)
Skylar Lund (Women's Soccer)
Kiarra Thomas (Softball)
Gurjot Bahia (Spirit Squad)
Henry Stockton (Men's Swimming)
Kayla Smith (Women's Swimming)
Takuma Furumaki (Men's Tennis)
Khushi Kharb (Women's Tennis)
Dorian Bomar & Devron Davis (Men's Track & Field)
Grace Davis (Women's Track & Field)
Alysha Arroyo (Volleyball)
 
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