ATLANTA – Oglethorpe held the 12th annual Petey Awards on Monday, May 6, celebrating coaches, staff and student-athletes.

The Petey Awards are put together by Oglethorpe's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and recognizes student-athletes' and coaches' performances and accomplishments from the year. Nine athletics superlative awards are voted on by the student-athletes, while three are determined by faculty and staff. Winners of the Stormy Petrel of the Year award are nominated for the Southern Athletic Association Man/Woman of the Year award.

The ceremony began with opening remarks from director of athletics Todd Brooks and University President Dr. Kathryn McClymond. SAAC President Riley Michaud and Vice President Morgan Phillips oversaw the majority of the presentations, as coaches from each sport took the stage to honor their seniors and SAA award winners. Sports information director Daniel Manget highlighted his group of student workers, which included graduating senior social media manager/photographer Hannah Banfiel receiving her framed O.

At the end of the ceremony, SAAC President Michaud conducted the passing of the gavel to next year's co-presidents Tori Perez and Morgan Phillips. Michaud will stay on as vice-president in the 2024-25 academic year.

Below are the winners of this year's Petey Awards

Breakthrough Stormy Petrel of the Year 

This award distinguishes the top male and female athlete in their first year at Oglethorpe, either a true freshman or a transfer student. 

Women's: Ella Price (soccer)

Price was the team's leading goal scorer and was named  the SAA newcomer of the year, becoming the first in program history. She was also named an all-conference honorable mention. (True freshman)

Men's: Perry Robinson (basketball)

Robinson led the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 20.3 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. He also had 25 assists and 18 steals, and made top five in several statistical categories in the SAA. Robinsons was named to the all-conference first team. 

Athlete of the Year 

This is awarded to the athlete that has been the top performer on the field or court for their team. 

Women's: Keimarya Rivera (basketball)

Rivera was a two-time player of the week and was named to the All-SAA first team. She led the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 15.7 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. She recorded a 52.6 field goal percentage. and made 48 assists, 29 steals and 30 blocks. Rivera led the SAA for field goal percentage, ranked third for scoring, and fifth for rebounding. She now holds one of the highest single-season rebound totals in program history.

Men's: Beck Lewis (golf)

Although Lewis' season isn't over yet, he was already named to the All-SAA first team, named co-medalist and co-most outstanding player at the conference championship, and has taken the individual win at five tournaments.

Scholarly Petrel Team Award 

This award recognizes the men's and women's teams with the highest cumulative grade point average based on total team credit hours. 

Women's: Volleyball.

Sofia Cendoya, Gabbi Phillips and Cate Rosenthal accepted the award on behalf of their team. 

Men's: Men's Tennis.

Cameron Burkes, Noah George and Daniel Cohen accepted the award on behalf of their team.

Scholar-Athlete of the Year 

This award is given to the female and male student-athlete with the highest grade-point average over a minimum of 33 Oglethorpe credit hours. The winner must also have played in at least half of their team's contests and have been a significant contributor to their team on the field or court. 

Women's: Haley Lowell (4.0 GPA) 

Men's: Colby James (3.99 GPA) 

Coach of the Year

Women's: Rob King (soccer)

Coach King led the women's soccer team to one of their most successful seasons in program history, recording their first ever win over Berry and the garnering the program's first ever Newcomer of the Year in Ella Price.  

Men's: Jim Owen (golf)

Coach Owen just received his 8th SAA Coach of the Year Honor and led this year's squad to their third conference title in a row. Now holding 6 SAA titles, the Petrels are headed to the NCAA tournament once again.

Team of the Year

Women's: Golf

The Petrels finished fourth at this year's SAA championship.  

Men's: Golf

The Petrels took this year's SAA title and multiple individual awards including newcomers of the year and most outstanding players of the year. The team was ranked nationally at No. 3 for a majority of the season, and is headed to the NCAA tournament in high favor.

Stormiest Petrel of the Year

This award is given to the male or female that consistently practiced the traits of leadership, perseverance, and respect both on and off the field of competition. This athlete is seen as the face of what an Oglethorpe athlete should be. 

Ashton Deriso (men's cross country/ track & field)  

Deriso broke seven school records this year after making an impressive comeback from major surgery. He ranks in the top 3 in the SAA for several events, and top 50 nationally. He was named to the fall academic honor roll for cross country, and is on course to pick up another all-academic nod for track season. Most recently, Deriso claimed all-conference first team and set a conference record for the 1500m at the SAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Off the track, Deriso is active in many other parts of athletics, attending events of other teams, and he is heavily involved in Oglethorpe's sports information department with the creation of videos and graphics for the athletic department's web presence.

Complete list of award winners: 

(in order of presentation) 

• Women's Scholarly team: Volleyball 
• Men's Scholarly team: Men's Tennis 
• Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Haley Lowell 
• Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Colby James 
• Breakthrough Female Stormy Petrel: Ella Price 
• Breakthrough Male Stormy Petrel: Perry Robinson 
• Stormy Petrel Women's Team of the Year: Women's Golf 
• Stormy Petrel Men's Team of the Year: Men's Golf 
• Women's team Coach of the Year: Rob King 
• Men's team Coach of the Year: Jim Owen 
• Female Athlete of the Year: Keimarya Rivera 
• Male Athlete of the Year: Beck Lewis 
• Stormiest Petrel of the Year: Ashton Deriso 
• Female Stormy Petrel of the Year: Haley Lowell 
• Male Stormy Petrel of the Year: Michael O'Sullivan

Multimedia

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Oglethorpe Athletics (@gopetrels)