NORFOLK, Va. – Senior football player Terrell Whitehead (Virginia Beach, Va.) and sophomore volleyball player Nicole Kessner (Blacksburg, Va.) were named Norfolk State University Male and Female Athletes of the Year, respectively, at the school's athletic banquet on Monday night.
Whitehead became NSU's first-ever three-time Division I FCS All-American and first-team All-MEAC football player after tying for the MEAC lead with five interceptions this past season. He garnered first-team All-American honors by The Sports Network, The Associated Press and the Walter Camp Football Foundation. Whitehead, who was also named to the SBN Sports Black College All-American team, captained an NSU defense which ranked sixth nationally in fewest yards allowed.
Kessner was a second-team All-MEAC pick at the end of the 2009 season. She became NSU's first All-MEAC volleyball player under third-year head coach Jennifer Fry. Kessner led NSU and ranked seventh in the MEAC with 767 assists (7.3 per set). She added 186 digs, 130 kills, 21 aces and 20 blocks. Kessner was selected to the all-tournament team at each of the four in-season events in which the Spartans competed.
Junior football player Ryan Hathaway (Charlotte Court House, Va.) and sophomore softball player Casey Pomeroy (Fallon, Nev.) were named the department's Male and Female Scholar Athletes of the Year for having the highest grade-point averages among their respective genders. Hathaway, an electronic technology major, has a 3.79 GPA, while Pomeroy has a 3.93 GPA and majors in accounting.
The banquet was emceed by local TV sports anchor Brian Smith and included a keynote address by former NSU and NBA all-star basketball player Bob Dandridge.
Community/Alumni Awards
Rosa Alexander Scholarship (athlete with min. GPA: 3.0): Juan Herrera, baseball
James Douglas Gill Scholarship (athlete with min. GPA: 2.5): Genor Dalton, women's basketball
Mid-Atlantic Coca-Cola Awards: Michael Deloach, men's basketball MVP; Batavia Owens, women's basketball top rebounder; Terrell Whitehead, football (Golden Helmet Award)
Optima Family Care Women's Basketball Defensive Player Award: Recca Trice, women's basketball
Samuel F. Coppage Award (football, top OL): Calton Ford
Walter M. Kindred Award (football, top DL): Josh Turner
Vince Lombardi Award (football; leadership, character, academics, and ability): Anthony Taylor
Joseph G. Echols Award (baseball player, for academics and achievement): Chase Davenport
Joseph G. Echols Memorial Scholarship (senior who is attending grad. school): Brett Dodd, men's track
Barbara B. Wright Award (outstanding women's track athlete): Shanneka Claiborne
Jimmy Johnson (outstanding men's track athlete): Brett Dodd
Marvin Prince Track Awards (outstanding track athletes): Dania Sanford, Raphael Hall
Individual Sports Team Awards
Men's Cross Country
Outstanding Freshman: Vincent Rono
Most Improved: Josef Tessema
MVP: Philemon Kimutai
Men's Track and Field
Outstanding Newcomer: Amos Kipkosgei
Most Improved: Thomas Speller
MVP: Sean Holston
Women's Cross Country
Outstanding Freshman: Kellen Rutto
Outstanding Newcomer: Aurora Scott
Coaches Award: Jennifer Chichester
Women's Track and Field
Outstanding Newcomer: Elaine Rhoades
Coaches Award: Katie Wright
MVP: Wanetta Kirby
Football
Coaches Award (Offense): Dennis Brown
Coaches Award (Defense): Terrell Whitehead
Coaches Award (Special Teams): Billy Rudd
Women's Volleyball
Outstanding Freshman: Charlotte Armstead
Coaches Award: Solange Honore
MVP: Nicole Kessner
Men's Basketball
Coaches Award: Kris Brown
Most Improved: Kyle O'Quinn
MVP: Michael Deloach
Women's Basketball
Outstanding Freshman: Recca Trice
Coaches Award: Genor Dalton
Unsung Hero: Tyisha Bridges
Women's Bowling
Coaches Award: Krystal Stevenson
Outstanding Freshman: Jessica Overton
MVP: Sheila-Marie Smith
Men's Tennis
Leadership Award: Keenan Ruff
Outstanding Newcomer: Ben Marks
MVP: Arsenio Culver
Women's Tennis
Leadership Award: Brittany Foster
Outstanding Newcomer: Rebecca Graff
MVP: Naeemah Brooks
Softball
Offensive MVP: Danielle Wright
Defensive MVP: Brianeisha Eure
Baseball
Outstanding Freshman: James Taylor
Most Improved: Ryan Wiggins
Co-MVPs: Chris Joyce, John Lynch
