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Golden Claws Major Award Winners
Hailey Franklin

General Turner Kirby - Director of Athletic Communications

Lander Athletics Hosts 7th Annual Golden Claw Awards

GREENWOOD – The Lander Athletics Department held its annual Golden Claw Awards Ceremony on Monday evening, April 28, at Finis Horne Arena. The event, started in the 2017-18 school year, is held each April to honor the achievements and accomplishments of student-athletes throughout the year.

Each year, the department presents four major awards: the Boyce M. Grier Award, the M.V. Wells Male Athlete of the Year Award, the Dr. Samuel C. Hodges Female Athlete of the Year Award, and the Bell/Williams Team Award. The names of all four award winners are engraved on plaques and displayed in the main lobby of Horne Arena.

Luke Johnson, a redshirt junior baseball player from Anderson, S.C., received the Boyce M. Grier Award as the Lander student-athlete who best exemplifies sportsmanship, integrity, pride in the university, and a positive attitude. As a student-teacher and vice president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Johnson has also pitched to a 4-1 record this season. Off the field, he organized the baseball team's first-ever Red, White, and Code Blue game to honor military personnel and first responders in the community.

Carter Wilcox, a senior from Harrisburg, N.C., received the M.V. Wells Award, given annually to Lander's Male Athlete of the Year. The award recognizes a male student-athlete of athletic ability, outstanding character, academic achievement, and leadership that extends beyond sports.

Wilcox has excelled on the field as a four-time All-Peach Belt First Team selection, the 2025 PBC Offensive Player of the Year, a two-time All-Region honoree (2023, 2024), and a USILA All-American in 2024. Off the field, he holds a 3.60 GPA and serves as president of the Lander Rotaract Club.

Katie Miller, a junior from Sugar City, Idaho, was named the Dr. Samuel C. Hodges Female Athlete of the Year. The award honors a female student-athlete for her athletic ability, character, academic achievement, and leadership both on and off the field.

Miller served as team captain for the Lander volleyball team, which won its first-ever Peach Belt title in the fall and advanced to its first NCAA Southeast Region Championship Game in program history. She became the first Bearcat to earn PBC Player of the Year honors and has been named PBC Player of the Week more times than any player in conference history. Miller currently holds every major school record for hitting statistics.

The volleyball team also received the Bell/Williams Award, presented annually to the team with the highest overall score based on winning percentage, grade point average, and campus and community involvement. The award, established in 2007, honors two longtime university employees: Cheryl Bell, former women's tennis coach and associate athletic director/SWA, and Betty Williams, former faculty athletic representative. This marks the second time the volleyball program has received the award (2014-15).

Individual Team Awards

 
Sport MVP Sportsmanship Academic
Women's Soccer Emma Sexton Maren White Kaitlyn Thompson
Men's Soccer Zach Meyer Drew Singletary Kyle Nicholl
Women's Cross Country Carly Fuel Kayla Barnhardt Rachel Schenck
Men's Cross Country Noah Chevalier Trey Sloan --
Volleyball Katie Miller Sam Alwardt Ellyn Adams
Men's Basketball Inady Legiste Terry Leonard Jr Will Stewart
Women's Basketball Quadaija Langley Abby Carter Quadaija Langley
Women's Golf Kajsa Lindqvist Victoria Callahan Elizabeth Bradley
Men's Golf Gaston Edberg Eddie Rahm Charlie Beiers
Women's Tennis Maria Zarza Hannah Panchal Hannah Panchal
Men's Tennis Harry Pugh Ismail Elshafei Mouad Naoui
Softball Emily Allen Sam Bumgarner Linda Moore
Baseball Evan Wickeri Luke Johnson Tyler Johnson
Cheer Kristen Davis Summer Tinnell Rileigh Hill
Dance Lillie McCloy Karlie Dean Kaitlyn Beaudreau
Men's Rugby Nathan Charbonnel Jacob Gregory Zachary Banks
Women's Rugby Kaitlyn Ausmus Carmen Spears Kacey Reynoso
Acrobatics and Tumbling Avery Marquis Madison Owens Rhianna Philcox
Men's Lacrosse Carter Wilcox Jack Kinney Nicholas Paige
Women's Lacrosse Kara Krusbe Jenna Paolozzi Jenna Paolozzi
Wrestling David Hunsberger Isham Peace Hayden Lawter
Bass Fishing Anderson Jones Gabriel Allen Hampton Shull
E-Sports Brandon Pack Harrison Bell Auron Moore
Women's Track and Field Jakeira Anderson Tymia Willis --
Men's Track and Field Michael Balkman Khalil Wright Matthew Peach
Equestrian Klaire Rice Riley Gunter Emma King
Women's Field Hockey Victoria Hulst Victoria Hulst Isabel Elenga

Strength and Conditioning Awards

 
Male Iron Claw  Josh Davies  
Female Iron Claw  Zoe Cotheran  
Finkbeiner Family Team Iron Claw  Men's Lacrosse  
Special Awards

Play of the Year - Women's Soccer GWG vs Lenior-Rhyne for First-Ever NCAA Tournament Win
Best Celebration - Volleyball after clinching share of PBC Title vs Augusta
Male Freshman of the Year - Christian Davis - Wrestling
Female Freshman of the Year - Caroline Nicholson - Women's Lacrosse
Male Breakout Athlete of the Year - Isham Peace - Wrestling
Female Breakout Athlete of the Year - Carly Fuel - Cross Country/Track and Field
Most Involved Student-Athlete - Puck Hoenderdos - Field Hockey
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Players Mentioned

Tyler Johnson

#10 Tyler Johnson

Freshman
Ellyn Adams

#3 Ellyn Adams

S
5' 5"
Senior
Katie Miller

#15 Katie Miller

OH
6' 1"
Junior
Sam Alwardt

#8 Sam Alwardt

L/DS
5' 4"
Freshman
Emma Sexton

#8 Emma Sexton

F
5' 4"
Senior
Kaitlyn Thompson

#19 Kaitlyn Thompson

M/D
Senior
Maren White

#18 Maren White

M
5' 9"
Senior
Isabel Elenga

#1 Isabel Elenga

GK
5' 7"
Junior
Victoria Hulst

#2 Victoria Hulst

D
5' 9"
Junior
Puck Hoenderdos

#6 Puck Hoenderdos

M
5' 7"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Tyler Johnson

#10 Tyler Johnson

Freshman
Ellyn Adams

#3 Ellyn Adams

5' 5"
Senior
S
Katie Miller

#15 Katie Miller

6' 1"
Junior
OH
Sam Alwardt

#8 Sam Alwardt

5' 4"
Freshman
L/DS
Emma Sexton

#8 Emma Sexton

5' 4"
Senior
F
Kaitlyn Thompson

#19 Kaitlyn Thompson

Senior
M/D
Maren White

#18 Maren White

5' 9"
Senior
M
Isabel Elenga

#1 Isabel Elenga

5' 7"
Junior
GK
Victoria Hulst

#2 Victoria Hulst

5' 9"
Junior
D
Puck Hoenderdos

#6 Puck Hoenderdos

5' 7"
Freshman
M