University of Richmond Athletics
Tristan Wheeler Earns RVA Sports Awards Male Athlete of the Year Honors
02/05/2024 | Football
Watch: Wheeler Wins Male Athlete of the Year at RVA Sports Awards
Richmond, Va. — Over the course of his storied career as a member of the University of Richmond football team, Tristan Wheeler earned his fair share of awards. On Saturday night, there was one more in place for the linebacker as he was named the RVA Sports Awards Male Athlete of the Year.
The awards show, which took place live at the Altria Theater and aired on Richmond's local CBS affiliate, CBS6, honors the best in athletics among those with ties to the Richmond region.
Wheeler finished his 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 offseason, he was named a Third Team All-American by FCS Football Central, a Stats Perform Second Team All-American, a Phil Steele Fourth Team All-American as well as a AFCA First Team All-American and is believed to be the first FCS player to earn All-American honors in five separate season.
In 2023, Wheeler lead the Richmond defense that stood at or near the top of FCS football in three key statistical categories including takeaways (26, T-4), defensive touchdowns (5, T-1) and interceptions (16, T-7). With his fourth tackle of the contest against Delaware State game on Sept. 16, Wheeler reached the 400 career tackles mark, becoming just the seventh Spider ever to reach the milestone and during the Campbell game on Oct. 28, Wheeler moved to second all-time on the Spiders career tackles list.
Wheeler, who could not attend the event due to being in Florida training for the NFL Draft, was represented by Spiders Defensive Coordinator and Linebacker Coach Justin Wood, Wheeler's mentor and position coach, who was there to accept the award on his behalf.
This is the second year in a row a Spider has been named Athlete of the Year, with 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.
Richmond, Va. — Over the course of his storied career as a member of the University of Richmond football team, Tristan Wheeler earned his fair share of awards. On Saturday night, there was one more in place for the linebacker as he was named the RVA Sports Awards Male Athlete of the Year.
The awards show, which took place live at the Altria Theater and aired on Richmond's local CBS affiliate, CBS6, honors the best in athletics among those with ties to the Richmond region.
Wheeler finished his 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 offseason, he was named a Third Team All-American by FCS Football Central, a Stats Perform Second Team All-American, a Phil Steele Fourth Team All-American as well as a AFCA First Team All-American and is believed to be the first FCS player to earn All-American honors in five separate season.
In 2023, Wheeler lead the Richmond defense that stood at or near the top of FCS football in three key statistical categories including takeaways (26, T-4), defensive touchdowns (5, T-1) and interceptions (16, T-7). With his fourth tackle of the contest against Delaware State game on Sept. 16, Wheeler reached the 400 career tackles mark, becoming just the seventh Spider ever to reach the milestone and during the Campbell game on Oct. 28, Wheeler moved to second all-time on the Spiders career tackles list.
Wheeler, who could not attend the event due to being in Florida training for the NFL Draft, was represented by Spiders Defensive Coordinator and Linebacker Coach Justin Wood, Wheeler's mentor and position coach, who was there to accept the award on his behalf.
This is the second year in a row a Spider has been named Athlete of the Year, with 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 Lacrosse
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