Best of Richmond Athletics Recognized At 2019 SPIDYs

04/15/2019 | Baseball, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Football, General, Men's Golf, Men's Lacrosse, Men's Tennis, Women's Basketball, Women's Golf, Women's Lacrosse, Women's Soccer, Women's Swimming & Diving, Women's Tennis, Women's Track & Field, Men's Basketball, Spider Athletic Fund

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. – Remember. Have gratitude. Embrace the moment.

With a booming voice and preacher's cadence, Mike O'Toole – winner of the Distinguished Faculty/Staff Award and the final honoree of the 2019 SPIDYs – drove home his three pieces of advice for Spiders student-athletes from the stage at the Robins Center on Monday evening.

From tutors to ticket takers to strength coaches and beyond, remember those who have helped you achieve in competition and in the classroom.

Be grateful to be a student-athlete at the University of Richmond. It's a title reserved for a special few.

Don't let the routine render you unable to fully appreciate this stage of your life. For, as O'Toole – who will retire as Richmond Athletics's Director of Facilities and Events in June – reminded his audience, it was Seals and Croft who noted that "we may never pass this way again."

O'Toole's sermon provided a fitting end to the 2019 SPIDYs, which honored the best of Richmond Athletics over the past calendar year.

After the Spiders claimed three conference championships at the end of the 2018 school year, it was no surprise to see spring sports honored with many of the major awards Monday evening. The 2018 women's lacrosse team won the Bunkie-Trinite Most Outstanding Team Award after winning the program's first conference title since 2007. Mitch Goldberg, who helped lead Spiders men's lacrosse to its first Southern Conference title, was named Spider Club Male Athlete of the Year. And Sophie DiPetrillo, who won the individual title at the Patriot League Women's Golf Championship while helping the Spiders to their third straight conference crown, was awarded Spider Club Female Athlete of the Year.

Throughout the evening, nearly every Spiders team was given reason to celebrate as awards were given to those who demonstrated outstanding spirit, determination, civic engagement, and competitive excellence. A full list of the winners is below.

WINNERS – 2019 SPIDYs
OUTSTANDING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AWARD – Jacob Roberson (Football) and
OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AWARD – Marshea Robinson (Track & Field)
DONNIE EARL LINDSEY, JR. FIRST YEAR SPIRIT AWARD – Kendra Smither (Track & Field) and Ryan Lanchbury (Men's Lacrosse)
IRON SPIDY AWARD – Sean Menges (Men's Lacrosse) and Jess Stanfill (Soccer)
FRESHMEN GPA AWARD: Keegan Heher (Women's Lacrosse) and Michael Childress (Men's Golf)
SOPHOMORE GPA AWARD: Lizzy Reedy (Women's Golf) and Michael Baker (Men's Golf)
JUNIOR GPA AWARD: Erika Echternach (Women's Cross Country/Track & Field) and Miles Clikeman (Men's Cross Country)
PRESIDENTIAL CITATION AWARD: Jacob Roberson (Football) and Melanie Lippert (Soccer)
SAAC STAFF MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD: Beacher Porter and Doug Robinson
SAAC ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD: Paul Richards (Men's Lacrosse)
SAAC COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD: Jamie Montgomery (Field Hockey)
DETERMINATION AWARD : Emily Braunewell (Field Hockey) and Billy Caughell (Football)
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR AWARD – Tim Miller (Baseball) and Emily Dunbar (Women's Tennis)
SPIDER PRIDE AWARD – Abby Lyons (Field Hockey) and Spider Baseball Team
SPIDER CLUB ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – Mitch Goldberg (Men's Lacrosse) and Sophie DiPetrillo (Women's Golf)
BUNKIE-TRINITE OUSTANDING TEAM AWARD – Women's Lacrosse
DISTINGUISED FACULTY/STAFF AWARD - Mike O'Toole