COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Benedict College athletic department honored its student-athletes at its annual athletic awards banquet on Monday evening.
 
A pair of standout athletes received the John E. Brown Award, Benedict's top student-athlete award. The award is named after the former legendary coach and athletic director who spent 32 years serving Benedict College, where he coached football, baseball and basketball for the Tigers. This award is given to the most outstanding student-athlete.
 
Megan Thompson from women's cross country and track and field, and men's football player Loobert Denelus were this year's recipients.
 
Thompson finished third overall at the 2022 SIAC cross country championship, helping Benedict win the conference championship. In track and field, she has distinguished herself as one of the top 400-meter hurdlers in the country.
 
Denelus was one of the many defensive standouts for the Benedict football team, which ranked as one of the top defenses in Division II and helped lead the Tigers to their first ever football championship. He was named the SIAC Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association, the first Benedict player to earn first-team honors. In the classroom, he has distinguished himself as well. He was a first-team Academic All-American, just the second Benedict player in school history to earn that distinction.
 
The Lucius F. Clark Champion of Character Award was presented to women's cross country standout Purity Kibet and men's track and field standout Shemar Miller. The award is named after the former coach who resurrected the Benedict golf program and is given to any student-athlete who has shown outstanding character and has brought national exposure to the college and athletic program. The recipient also has provided leadership within their sport area, and has shown dedication to help other student-athletes grow.
 
Miller has been one of the nation's top triple jumpers during his time at Benedict. He became Benedict's first national champion, winning the outdoor title in 2021. This year, he finished third in the indoor national championship and was named All-American for a second time.
 
Kibet helped the Lady Tigers to the 2022 SIAC women's cross country championship, finishing second overall. She later finished 41st overall at the South Region meet, helping Benedict to an 11th place finish, their best-ever team finish in the regionals.

The winner of the Jimmy Green Memorial Inspiration Award was women's volleyball player Jordan Gilbert. The award is named in honor of one of Benedict's outstanding football alumni, and is presented to a student-athlete who has been confronted with life-altering experiences and has utilized perseverance, dedication, and determination to overcome the event. This award is presented in recognition of Mr. Green's dedication and commitment to Benedict College.
 
In August, Gilbert had to be rushed to the hospital after being found collapsed in her dorm room and underwent emergency surgery. After she was discharged from the hospital, she returned home to Alabama, and did her class work online. She was able to return to campus in late September and was cleared to return to practice and competition a couple of weeks later.
 
The Dr. David H. Swinton Power For Good Award, presented to a student-athlete who demonstrates leadership, hard work and determination, community service, and academic achievement, was presented to women's tennis player Sofia Gomez.
 
Gomez has been one of the top players for the women's tennis team during her career, which won the 2022 SIAC Championship. She gives back by teaching tennis at youth clinics. She also excels in the classroom, with a 3.88 cumulative GPA.
 
The department also recognized 13 student-athletes with a perfect 4.0 cumulative GPA, as well as 188 student-athletes with a 3.0 GPA or higher. GPAs are through the fall 2022 term.
 
The Central Midlands Booster Club presented its special awards to men's and women's volleyball coach Gwendolyn Rouse and head football coach Chennis Berry.
 
The Benedict Booster Club Individual of the Year Award went to Anthony Robertson.
 
Cheereleading / Poms
Most Outstanding Team leader: A'Laysia Davis
Most Valuable Senior: Mecca Austin
Dedicated Cheerleader: Dedrionna Wilson
Most Outstanding Flyer: Kayla Bowman
Outstanding Cheer Newcomer: Teeonna Wade
 
Poms Most Outstanding Team leader: Autumn Tisdale
Poms Dedicated Senior Pom: Jakayla McCray
Valuable Poms Newcomer: Maleah Screen
MVP: Taylor Christmas
Defensive Award: Malayah Montgomery
Most Improved: Amaya Ashby
Offensive Award: Mahogany Randall
 
Baseball
MVP: Taj Bates
Best Newcomer: Justin Murray
Freshman of the Year: Tymon Holloman
Coaches Award: Jalen McDuffie
 
Men's Volleyball
Best Newcomer: Kendersley Marcellin
Most Improved: Terran Walkin
Clutch Player of the Year: Clint Forbes
Most Valuable Player: Ras Jesse Delancy 
 
Women's Volleyball
Most Improved Player: Jade Hollins
Best Newcomer: La'Jai Wilson
Best Offensive Player: Cana Smith
Coaches Award: Kaiah Green
 
Softball
Offensive Player: T'yannah Lake
Defensive Player: Chesney Miller
MVP: Deyonce Lewis
Freshman Award: Tanijah Washington
Pitcher Award: Savannah Marshall
Coaches Award: Daneshia Wooten
 
Men's Junior Varsity Basketball
Defensive Player-of-the-Year: Simari Murray
Most Outstanding Player: Rashad Rouse
Most Improved Player: CJ Shelby
Academic and Athletic Excellence Award: Charles Guthier
 
Men's Basketball
Defensive Player: Brandon Beidleman
Most Improved: Brandon Smith
Most Outstanding: Malachi McCoy
Academic and Athletic Excellence: Gob Gabriel
 
Women's Tennis
Most Valuable Player: Valerie Essome
Best All-Around Player: Sofia Gomez
Coaches Award: Patricia Wamba
Most Improved Award: Fabeina Riggins
 
Men's Tennis
Most Valuable Player: Mark Chigaazira
Best All-Around: Jason Chigaazira
Coaches Award: Divgurjot Singh
Most Improved Award: Jaylon Bokknight
 
Women's Cross Country
Athlete of the Year: Purity Kibet
Most Valuable Runner: Megan Thompson
Coaches Award: Jane Kiborus
Eye of the Tiger Award: Floma Okumu
Most Improved: Cavel Barnett
 
Men's Cross Country
Athlete of the Year: Donald Kibet
Most Valuable Runner: Nelson Kipkemboi
Coaches Award: Javel Best
Eye of the Tiger Award: Sadiki Marsh
Most Improved: Devonta Newbold
 
Women's Indoor Track & Field
Athlete of the Year: Megan Thompson
Most Valuable Runner: Santiona Freeman
Most Valuable Field: Jada David
Coaches Award: Kanesha Moses
Eye of the Tiger Award: Kassie Jordan
Most Improved: Torriann Noad
 
Men's Indoor Track & Field
Athlete of the Year: Shemar Miller
Most Valuable Runner: Donald Kibet
Most Valuable Field: Shemar Miller
Coaches Award: Kelvin Tillman
Eye of the Tiger Award: Rajaun Ricketts
Most Improved – Matthew Paul
 
Women's Outdoor Track & Field
Athlete of the Year: Megan Thompson
Most Valuable Runner: Kanesha Moses
Coaches Award: Shantel Williams
Eye of the Tiger Award: Santiona Freeman
Most Improved: Torriann Noad
 
Men's Outdoor Track & Field
Athlete of the Year: Donald Kibet
Most Valuable Runner: Matthew Paul
Most Valuable Field: Rajaun Ricketts
Coaches Award: Kevin Francis
Eye of the Tiger Award: Shun Taylor
Most Improved: Caleb Vance
 
Football
Dig Deep Award: Da'Von Smith and Johnnel Swan
Smart Cat Award: Mitchell Romig, Dylan Geese and Ja'ron Kilpatrick
Most Improved Award: Roger Smith and Daythan Peterson
Top Cat Award: Tyler Pritchett and Loobert Denelus
 
4.0 GPAs
Gedeon Buzangu, Men's Basketball
Kacey Bolton, Football
Maurice Campbell, Football
Yassmine Chambers, Track and Field
Adrienne Daniels, Track and Field
Clint Forbes, Men's Volleyball
Matthew Ihemesie, Football
Aliyah Jones, Women's Volleyball
Donald Kibet, Men's Cross Country and Track and Field
Mahogany Randall, Women's Basketball
Maleah Screen, Cheerleading
Daneika Williamson, Women's Track and Field
La'Jai Wilson, Women's Volleyball
 
3.0 – 3.99 GPA
Baseball
Taj Bates
Kayden Bethel
Kyron Bethel
Jalen Blash
Jaylen Buchanan
Kaden Hindman
Jalen Hudson
Jayden Jones
Jayden Jordan
William Martinez
Jalen McDuffie
Justin Murray
Ashley Poitier
Tony Ruiz
Jamie Taveras
Jaquon Tinch
Gerson Vidal Cordero
Amarion Watson
Quentin Watts
Joshua Williams
 
Men's Basketball
Deshawn Bartley
Brandon Beidleman
Gob Gabriel
Lorenzo Gatling
Felix Gue
Malachi McCoy
Tim Moore
Andrew Pipersburgh
Asanti Price
Yansel Reyes
Cedric Shelby
Brandon Smith
Marshaun West
 
Men's Cross Country / Track & Field
Josiah Atkins
Javel Best
Andy Ferguson
Kevin Francis
Jeremiah Hall-Jones
Quincy Harris
Keith Harvey
Shemar Hylton
Lirante Jackson
Donald Kibet
Nelson Kipkemboi
Japheth Kipruto
Sadiki Marsh
Shemar Miller
Devonta Newbold
Matthew Paul
Chase Ransom
Rajaun Ricketts
Romel Russell
Ryusei Takahashi
Kelvin Tillman
Morris Walker
Corey Witter
 
Football
Anderson Kyle Aldridge
Nyziah Alston-Daniels
Nyzier Alston-Daniels
Theodore Blackburn
Dravian Blake
Josue Bopeya
Jayden Broughton
Steven Campbell
Dae'Mon Cherry
Cameron Daniels
Justin Davis
Orlando Dean
Loobert Denelus
John Diaz-Moreno
Deondra Duehart
Daryl Dunifer
Zavien Foster
Marcus French
Joshua Gaddy
Dylan Geese
Sterling Goodwin
Chardell Hales
Reginald Harden
Jakiaus Hilton
Ayele Jeter
Nolan Jones
Ja'ron Kilpatrick
John Lampley
Ja'Voni Melidor
Israel Nwokocha
LaJuan Pauling
Kenterrious Perry
Daythan Peterson
Eric Phoenix
Israel Rhodes
Reginald Rogers
Fernando Romero
Mitchell Romig
Sakharis Smalls
Nicholas Sowell
Jaylen Striggles
CJ Swan
Jaylen Taylor
Jayden Thomas
Fred Twitty
Christopher Williams II
Samarki Williams
Curtis Williams
Ja'Varrius Wilson
Keveione Zanders            
 
Men's Tennis
Mark Chigaazira
Jason Chigaazira
Richard Ngwarwi
Divgurjot Singh
 
Men's Volleyball
Ras Jesse Delancy
Bryson Harris
Jomari Jacobs
Kendersley Marcellin
Malachi Surney
Terran Walkin
Donavon Wilmott            
 
Women's Basketball
Amaya Ashby
Taylor Christmas
Jasmine Gholson
Jazmin Grayson
Leila Henderson
Nyekuar Quik
 
Women's Cross Country / Track & Field
Kaciann Cowan
Jada David
Santiona Freeman
Janae Johnson
Kassie Jordan
Jane Kiborus
Sinia Massillon
Kanesha Moses
Floma Okumu
Judea Rahming
Elaine Robinson
Megan Thompson
Shantel Williams
Daneika Williamson
 
Softball
Taylor Chambliss
Camillia Crooks
Briana Curney
Ariana Ellis
Kierra Evans
Chelsey Gotel
Jamaiyah Howard
Kayla Hunt
T'yannah Lake
Deyonce Lewis
Savanna Marshall
Chesney Miller
Kennedy Walker
Tanijah Washington
Taylor Wilson
Daneshia Wooten
 
Women's Tennis
Celeste Deniz Reyes
Valerie Essome
Sofia Gomez
Fabeina Riggins
Emi Smith
Kennedy Vincent
 
Women's Volleyball
Leah Brock
Mya Dixon
Jordan Gilbert
Kaiah Green
Jade Hollins
Aliyah Jones
Jordan Reeves
Brandi Seaborn
Shelissa Simmonds
Cana Smith
Chynna Spears
Shorn Thomas
Kennede Thomas
Jordan Williams
 
Cheer / Poms
Dedrionna Wilson
Makyiah Hail
Ayanna Chevalier-Ivey
Grace Smith
Aniayah Monroe
Marissa Tisdale
Mecca Austin
Mya Smith
Janelle Shaw
Autumn Tisdale
Tyteonna Robinson
Jakayla McCray