BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. -- The Mountain East Conference today announced the male and female finalists for the league's annual Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award. The winners of the 2022-23 MEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards will be announced next Wednesday (June 28).
Each institution in the MEC selected one female and one male as finalists for the Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, which recognizes outstanding academic and athletic performance for the previous academic year. Each finalist will receive a plaque. The criteria to be nominated are: (1) a 3.30 cumulative grade-point average; (2) participated in at least 50 percent of the team's contests in a MEC-sponsored sport; (3) minimum of one year in residence at the institution.
The female finalists are:
Hailee Culbertson (Alderson Broaddus, Softball),
Emma Groe (Charleston, Softball),
Hannah Altizer (Concord, Cross Country/Track & Field),
Anya Miller (Davis & Elkins, Cross Country/Track & Field),
Taylor Kennedy (Fairmont State, Soccer),
Abbey Dennis (Frostburg State, Soccer),
Holly Brehm (Glenville State, Softball),
Brooke Dobrzanski (Notre Dame, Swimming),
Nyia Setla (West Liberty, Volleyball),
Kiersten Eggleton (W.Va. State, Volleyball),
Hannah Hudson (W.Va. Wesleyan, Softball),
Kimbria Lance (Wheeling, Track & Field).
The male finalists are:
Dwayne Johnson (Alderson Broaddus, Wrestling),
Tyler Dellerman (Charleston, Baseball),
John Merica (Concord, Football),
Enrique Garcia (Davis & Elkins, Swimming),
Elia Barozzi (Fairmont State, Tennis),
Dayne Koontz (Frostburg State, Football),
Ian Pomeroy (Glenville State, Football),
Nate Moore (Notre Dame, Football),
Cole Laya (West Liberty, Wrestling),
Tyler Lafferty (W.Va. State, Baseball),
Khalil Smith (W.Va. Wesleyan, Football),
Richard Afolayanka (Wheeling, Soccer).
The Scholar-Athlete of the Year award winners are determined by a vote of the administrators in the Mountain East Conference and the league office.
Additionally, the MEC will also be announcing several of its annual awards over the coming weeks, including Male Sports Coach of the Year, Female Sports Coach of the Year, Male Athlete of the Year, Female Athlete of the Year and Play of the Year.
Previous Winners – MEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Male
2015: Conor Branson (Charleston, Soccer)
2016: Conor Branson (Charleston, Soccer)
2017: Dan Monteroso (West Liberty, Basketball)
2018: Dan Monteroso (West Liberty, Basketball)
2019: John Cominsky (Charleston, Football)
2020: Tony Vezzetti (Notre Dame, Wrestling)
2021: Dalton Bolon (West Liberty, Basketball)
2022 (co-): Cole Laya (West Liberty, Wrestling)
2022 (co-): Anthony Stehlin (Concord, Baseball)
Female
2015: Nichole Perry (Charleston, Basketball)
2016: Lauren Langenderfer (Notre Dame, Basketball)
2017: Kayce Krucki (Wheeling Jesuit, Volleyball)
2018: Mackenzie Harrison (Fairmont State, Volleyball)
2019: Kristine Gegeshidze (Charleston, Tennis)
2020: Haley Kramer (Wheeling, Volleyball)
2021: Sierra Kotchman (Fairmont State, Basketball)
2022: Audrey Tingle (West Liberty, Basketball)
