Reinhardt Celebrates its Student-Athletes at the 2025 RESPY Awards; Hall of Fame Announced
Waleska, GA - On Monday evening at a packed house in the Brown Athletic Center, Reinhardt Athletics honored the student-athletes from the 2024-25 season. The athletes were greeted with the gym decked out with navy and gold decorations, great food, and music, all set up to celebrate their achievements.
The night was led by Eryn Lee (softball), the president of the Association of Student Athletes (ASA), Taylor Wade (softball), and Lorenzo Robinson, a former Reinhardt Football player and current broadcaster for Reinhardt Athletics. Several student-athletes also presented the awards during the night, along with doing all the preparation for the event under the leadership of Kelley Horton (Instructor of Sports Studies). The ASA put on the perfect night to honor Reinhardt's student-athletes.
The highlight of the ceremony was the induction of three outstanding Eagles from the past. Two athletes and one administrator were honored by having their names placed among the most elite in Reinhardt Athletics history. Each one had a different path and gave something unique to the athletic program. Randi Wimpy (softball), Tevin McCoy (football), and the legendary Bill Popp (baseball and former athletic director) were each recognized midway through the ceremony with their names placed on the historic Wall of Fame in the athletic center. For more information on these three, please see our Hall of Fame article: https://reinhardteagles.com/general/2025-26/releases/20250817f45rzr
Below is the complete lsit of winners for the 2024-25 RESPY awards.
2024 – 2025 RESPY AWARDS
Breakthrough Team of the Year
Presented to one men's team and one women's team, regardless of sport or time of season, adjudged to have made the best or most significant progress with its program within a given year.
Women's Breakthrough Team of the Year
- RU Women's Track & Field Team
Men's Breakthrough Team of the Year
- RU Men's Golf
Freshman of the Year
Presented to one male and one female student-athlete who is competing at Reinhardt in his/her first season, adjudged to have made the biggest difference or had the most significant impact on his/her respective team. Transfer students and redshirt performance are not eligible for this award.
Female Freshman of the Year
-
Silvia Aguado , Softball
Male Freshman of the Year
-
Louis Dion, Baseball
Fan of the Year
Presented to a single person or small group of dedicated individuals who continuously support multiple Reinhardt programs throughout the calendar year. This fan is a mainstay at RU home contests and typically a season ticket holder for one or more programs.
- Reinhardt FCA
Newcomer of the Year
Presented to one male and one female student-athlete who competed in their first season as a Reinhardt Eagle since transferring from another school, regardless of sport, adjudged to have made the best or most significant impact on his/her respective team.
Female Newcomer of the Year
- Anslie Pettit, RU Softball
Male Newcomer of the Year
- Robert Phelps, Baseball
Assistant Coach of the Year
Presented to one assistant coach, regardless of sport, gender or tenure, adjudged to have made the biggest contribution to their respective program.
- Hayden Lee, Assistant Coach of RU Wrestling
Highest Team GPA
Presented to one men's team and one women's team, regardless of sport or time of season, who had the highest cumulative team Grade Point Average among all offered competitive sports within the year.
- Women's Golf
- Men's Golf
Faculty Mentor Award
Presented to a Reinhardt University faculty member who has demonstrated dedication, support, and guidance to student- athletes and the institution's athletic programs.
- Dr. Joe Mullins
Thelma Rogers Silver Eagle Award
Presented to one male and one female student-athlete, regardless of sport, who displayed a tremendous amount of loyalty and team spirit. Winners of this award must be in good academic standing, play a significant role on their respective teams, and have been at RU for at least two competition seasons.
Women's Silver Eagle
- Jenna Smith – RU Women's Volleyball
Men's Silver Eagle
- Sam Grayson James – RU Men's Track & Field
Stat Stuffer Award
Presented to one male and one female student-athlete, regardless of the sport or classification, adjudged to have completed the most impressive and most complete statistical season in his/her respective sport.
Female Stat Stuffer
- Noelle Lavery – RU Women's Basketball
Male Stat Stuffer
- Andrew Herbert – RU Baseball
CB5 Faithful Eagle
In Memory of Coach Brian Goodhind, this award is for the Reinhardt Eagle who has shown enduring faith and strength in the face of adversity and the way they live their lives every day. They look to and trust in the Lord in the good and bad and exemplify faith in His plan through all things.
- Gabe Anderson
Best Championship Performance by a Team
Presented to one men's team and one women's team, regardless of sport or time of season, adjudged to have had the best or most outstanding performance in a championship event of any kind in that respective sport.
Women's Best Championship Performance Team
- RU Softball
Men's Best Championship Performance Team
- RU Baseball
Comeback Player of the Year
Presented to one male and one female student-athlete, regardless or sport, classification or gender, adjudged to have made the most significant or impressive comeback from illness, injury, hardship, retirement or loss of form.
Female Comeback Player of the Year
- Abigail Cruz – RU Women's Track & Field
Male Comeback Player of the Year
- Angel Banda - RU Wrestling
Head Coach of the Year
Presented to one head coach, regardless of sport, adjudged to have made the biggest contribution to their respective program or deemed to have put the best product on the playing field that represents Reinhardt University and its values in an appropriate manner, as voted on by his/her peers.
- Matthew Wright
Record-Breaking Performance
Presented to the record-breaking single play, game, or season performance by one male athlete or team and one female athlete or team adjudged to be the most remarkable, significant, or impressive within a given year.
Female Record-Breaking Performance
- Ashlyn Barnes – RU Women's Volleyball
Male Record-Breaking Performance
- Andrew Paolozzi – RU Men's Track & Field
Soar Award
Presented to any Reinhardt University employee or employee group who goes above and beyond in their support of, and dedication to, student-athletes and the athletic program.
- Russell Fletcher
Coach Bill Popp Golden Eagle Award
Presented to one male and one female, regardless of sport or classification, adjudged to have had the best or most significant success on the playing field compared to his/her peers. The winner of this award is considered Reinhardt University Player of the Year.
Women's Golden Eagle
- Anslie Pettit – RU Softball
Men's Golden Eagle
- Alex Sanchez – RU Men's Volleyball
Team of the Year
Presented to one men's team and one women's team, regardless of sport or time of season, adjudged to be the most outstanding team throughout a given calendar year.
Women's Team of the Year
- RU Softball
Men's Team of the Year
- RU Men's Golf
Champions of Character Recognition
Women's Basketball - Julia Craft, Women's XC - Sara James, Women's Golf - Caroline Goddard, Women's Lacrosse - Lawna Henry, Women's Volleyball - Lacey Smith, Softball - Emma Scott, Women's Track – Abigail Bell, Women's Soccer – Haley Sturla, Men's XC – Braniff Mahoney, Baseball - Ryan Stephens, Men's Golf - Pride Dyer, Men's Soccer - Hayden Adams, Men's Volleyball - Denny Martinez, Men's Track - Carson Frizzell, Football – Lorenzo Robinson, Wrestling – Trevor Burdick, Men's Basketball – Nekhi Fisher, Men's Lacrosse – Zach Dixon
Hall of Fame Inductees
Randi Wimpy, Softball
Tevin McCoy, Football
Bill Popp, Head Baseball Coach, Executive Director of Athletics, Vice-President for Enrollment Management and Athletics