Lions' Choice Awards Recap

MARS HILL, N.C. – The Mars Hill Athletic Department, along with Student-Athlete Advisory Committee held the sixth annual Lions' Choice Awards Monday night inside Moore Auditorium.

Opening the show for the first-time ever were the Female and Male Athlete of the Year awards. Volleyball's Sarah Goddard took the woman's crown while football's Ty Snelson was named the men's winner.

Goddard was named an AVCA Honorable Mention All-American – first in program history - AVCA All-Region Selection, D2CCA All-Region Second Team selection, and All-SAC First Team selection. She ranked second in the SAC with 352 kills and 3.63 kills per set and ended her career third in program history with 1,329 kills.

Snelson was named an AFCA First Team All-American, D2CCA Second Team All-American, Don Hansen Honorable Mention All-American, D2CCA All-Region First Team selection, SAC Offensive Player of the Year, and First Team selection. He racked up 587 all-purpose yards (427 receiving).

Acrobatics & Tumbling took the "Make It Yours" Community Service and Engagement award for Volunteering at Mars Hill Elementary School teaching acro and tumbling skills to the students in PE class as well as their after-school program and volunteering at free acro camps during summer 2022.

Winning the Most Supportive Team award was the men's and women's tennis program for their constant support at athletic events, whether in the crowd cheering on fellow Lions or assisting the athletic department by covering gameday operations.

Following recognition of the seven athletic trainers and the presentation of the Iron Lions awards by Director of Sports Performance Jared Carter, the awards rolled on with the winners of the Male and Female Newcomer of the Year honors.

Football's Jervon Newton and women's basketball's Jo Snow were the recipients of the awards.

Newton was named a Don Hansen Honorable Mention All-American, All-SAC First Team selection and ranked third in SAC with 12 rushing touchdowns, 4th in SAC with 106.3 rushing yards per game and 1,048 yards. He recorded 5 100+ yard rushing games on the season.

Snow appeared in 17 games, started 16 games and averaged 16.5 points, pulled down 80 rebounds, assisted on 57 baskets, and forced 31 steals.

Midway through the show, the academic excellence of the Mars Hill student-athletes was recognized as Jordan Schmucker from the volleyball team and Faris Hadzisadikovic of men's tennis were named the winners of the Female and Male Highest GPA awards. Later in the night, the women's golf team was recognized as the winners of the Team Highest GPA award. Schmucker posted a 3.98 GPA while Hadzisadkovic posted a 3.88 GPA. The women's golf team, consisting of Chelsea Baker, Laycee Hoffman, Leann Crotts, Caroline Rizzo, and Samantha Reeves combined for a 3.67 team GPA.

Raul Briceno of the men's swim team was named the "First Team" Performance of the Year for claiming victory in the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) College National Open Water Championships on December 18^th held in Miami, Florida. He outswam 83 swimmers, spanning all division of the NCAA with a time of 54.37.54.

Taking home the Faculty/Staff Supporter of the Year award was Assistant Network Manager Eddie Ball, capping off a nearly 20-year career at Mars Hill.

Recognizing the freshmen on campus, Laela Jimenez of the volleyball team and Kory Davis of the men's basketball team won their respective awards.

Jimenez was named an AVCA All-Region Selection, All-SAC Second Team selection, and All-SAC Freshman Team honoree. She led the SAC with 543 digs and 5.72 digs per set. The latter being fifth best in the country.

Davis was named SAC Freshman of the Year, earning spots on the All-SAC Freshman Team and All-SAC Third Team. He ranked fourth in the SAC in scoring (15.7 points per game) and Top-10 in steals (1.6 per game). He scored in double figures 22 times.

The Mars Hill football team winning the South Atlantic Conference Mountain Division was named the Mars Hill Moment of the Year. Director of Athletics Rick Baker along with head football coach Tim Clifton presented members of the team with their championship rings.

The final two awards of the night—Man & Woman of the Year—were awarded to SAAC Co-President and member of the Mars Hill men's swim team Dalton Davidson and volleyball's Jordan Schmucker; her second award of the night.

To view a replay of the awards show, please click here.

WINNERS

1. Female Athlete of the Year - Sarah Goddard (Volleyball)
2. Male Athlete of the Year - Ty Snelson (Football)
3. "Make It Yours" Team Award (Community Service and Engagement) - Acrobatics & Tumbling
4. Most Supportive Team - Men's & Women's Tennis
5. Male Newcomer of the Year - Jervon Newton (Football)
6. Female Newcomer of the Year - Jo Snow (Women's Basketball)
7. Female GPA - Jordan Schmucker (Volleyball)
8. Male GPA - Faris Hadzisadikovic (Men's Tennis)
9. First Team Sports Performance of the Year - Raul Briceno (Men's Swimming)
10. Faculty/Staff Supporter of the Year - Eddie Ball
11. Female Freshman of the Year - Laela Jimenez (Volleyball)
12. Male Freshman of the Year - Kory Davis (Men's Basketball)
13. Team GPA - Women's Golf
14. Mars Hill Moment of the Year - Football winning SAC Mountain Division Championship
15. Man of the Year - Dalton Davidson (Men's Swimming)
16. Woman of the Year - Jordan Schmucker (Volleyball)