Three Spiders Named Finalists for RVA Sports Awards
12/15/2023 | Football, General, Women's Basketball, Women's Lacrosse
RICHMOND, Va. — A trio of Spiders have been selected as finalists for the third annual RVA Sports Awards, honoring the best in athletics among those with ties to the Richmond region. Women's Lacrosse coach Anne Harrington is one of five finalists for Coach of the Year, Women's Basketball's Addie Budnik is a nominee for Female Athlete of the Year, and Football's Tristan Wheeler is among the four finalists for Male Athlete of the Year.
Fan voting is open now and will run through January 15. The winners will be unveiled during the RVA Sports Awards Ceremony at the Altria Theater on February 3. Tickets to the event are available, and the ceremony will also air live on CBS 6 WTVR.
Harrington led Richmond to the 2023 Atlantic 10 Women's Lacrosse title, the program's third championship in the last five A-10 tournaments, and a 17-4 record, matching the most wins in program history. In the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Chapel Hill, N.C., the Spiders defeated Marquette 18-8 to secure the first NCAA Tournament win ever for Richmond Women''s Lacrosse.
Budnik started all 32 games for Spider Women's Basketball during the 2022-23 season, averaging 14.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.9 blocks per game. Budnik led Richmond into the semifinals of the Atlantic 10 Women's Basketball Championship for the first time since 2009 and helped UR finish the season with a 21-11 record, Richmond's most wins in over a decade. Following the season, Budnik was named to the Second Team All-Atlantic 10 and A-10 All-Academic in addition to earning a spot on the A-10 Championship's All-Tournament Team.
Wheeler finished his storied Spiders career by leading Richmond to a share of the CAA championship and into the second round of the NCAA FCS Playoffs. He registered a career-high 121 tackles, second in the Coastal Athletic Association, while earning a spot on the All-CAA team for a fifth straight season and a All-CAA First Team selection for a fourth straight year. This past week, he was named a Third Team All-American by FCS Football Central. Wheeler is believed to be the first FCS player to earn All-American honors in five separate season.
Lindsey Frank of Spider Field Hockey and Spider Women's Lacrosse won the Female Athlete of the Year Award at the 2023 RVA Sports Awards.
Fan voting is open now and will run through January 15. The winners will be unveiled during the RVA Sports Awards Ceremony at the Altria Theater on February 3. Tickets to the event are available, and the ceremony will also air live on CBS 6 WTVR.
Harrington led Richmond to the 2023 Atlantic 10 Women's Lacrosse title, the program's third championship in the last five A-10 tournaments, and a 17-4 record, matching the most wins in program history. In the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Chapel Hill, N.C., the Spiders defeated Marquette 18-8 to secure the first NCAA Tournament win ever for Richmond Women''s Lacrosse.
Budnik started all 32 games for Spider Women's Basketball during the 2022-23 season, averaging 14.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.9 blocks per game. Budnik led Richmond into the semifinals of the Atlantic 10 Women's Basketball Championship for the first time since 2009 and helped UR finish the season with a 21-11 record, Richmond's most wins in over a decade. Following the season, Budnik was named to the Second Team All-Atlantic 10 and A-10 All-Academic in addition to earning a spot on the A-10 Championship's All-Tournament Team.
Wheeler finished his storied Spiders career by leading Richmond to a share of the CAA championship and into the second round of the NCAA FCS Playoffs. He registered a career-high 121 tackles, second in the Coastal Athletic Association, while earning a spot on the All-CAA team for a fifth straight season and a All-CAA First Team selection for a fourth straight year. This past week, he was named a Third Team All-American by FCS Football Central. Wheeler is believed to be the first FCS player to earn All-American honors in five separate season.
Lindsey Frank of Spider Field Hockey and Spider Women's Lacrosse won the Female Athlete of the Year Award at the 2023 RVA Sports Awards.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Lacrosse
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