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Embry-Riddle Athletics Celebrates 2020 Ernie Awards


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The 2020 Ernie Award Show was a bit different this year thanks in part to COVID-19 but that didn’t stop Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Prescott, AZ) from showing their student-athletes, staff, and faculty with awards.

“Although we are not able to celebrate together as we normally would,” Director of Athletics Jaime Long remarked. “We still wanted to honor our amazing student-athletes, faculty, and staff this year. Stay safe. We miss (everyone) and we look forward to seeing you in the fall.”

The Ernies is put on every year to celebrate and honor the Eagles student-athletes. This is the third time that the show has been put on is the second time viewers could watch it at home.

Each coach nominates a student-athlete from their team for a specific award. Once all the coaches have brought their nominees forward, each person in the athletic department gets a chance to vote for the winners. Coaches are not able to vote for their own student-athletes though.

The Ernie Awards

YouTube player

This year’s Ernie Award Winners:

Men’s Freshman of the Year: Lucas Garcia (FR/Barcelona, Spain)

Lucas led the team in game-winning goals (4) and started in 19 matches. He was selected to the All-Cal Pac second team.

Women’s Freshman of the Year: Mikaeli Davidson (SO/Tempe, AZ)

Davidson broke the single-season strikeout record as a pitcher and led the team in batting average (.477) in route to her selection as the Cal Pac Softball’s Freshman of the Year.

Men’s Sophomore of the Year: Daniel Butler (SO/Leavenworth, KS)

Butler was an All-American for the second time in his athletic career after finishing fourth at the NAIA Wrestling National Championships at 174 lbs.

Women’s Sophomore of the Year: Sierra Vicente (SO/Las Vegas, NV)

Vincente led the Eagles women’s soccer team in goals (11) and was voted as an NAIA All-American honorable mention.

Men’s Junior of the Year: Grady Kerst (JR/Au Train, MI)

Kerst set new school standards for the 8,000m in men’s cross country. Kerst broke the 25-minute mark twice and became the school’s first All-American in the sport.

Women’s Junior of the Year: Jessica Williams (SR/Tucson, AZ)

Williams dominated the women’s golf season winning four events and spear-heading the Eagles and Cal Pac into the national tournament.

Men’s Senior of the Year: Jordan Bramblett

Bramblett became the Eagles first national champion who did not wrestle. He won the NAIA National Championship in the Marathon beating his opponents by over five minutes.

Women’s Senior of the Year: Maddy Mak (SR/Renton, WA)

Mak was voted as the Cal Pac’s Defender of the Year in 2019. She led the Eagles defense and scored four important goals for the Eagles.

Men’s Champion of Character: Collin Anderson (SR/Flagstaff, AZ) and Kaden Herbert (JR/Georgetown, TX)

Anderson was the vice-chairperson of ERAU’s SAAC and helped organize many events. Herbert held a 4.0 GPA while a captain of the men’s basketball team.

Women’s Champion of Character: Andie Dean (SR/Flagstaff, AZ)

As the chair of ERAU’s SAAC, Dean was responsible for most of the events the athletes completed on campus as well as what the women’s soccer team did.

Staff member of the Year: Jeff

The athletic facilities custodian was voted as the staff member of the year. Men’s Soccer Coach Dan Balaguero praised Jeff saying “[He’s] here early on weekends. He is always grinding and never complaining.” Men’s Basketball Coach Eric Fundalewicz exclaimed, “What’s not to say about Jeff…the guy did a great job of keeping our facilities nice and clean throughout the year.”

Faculty Member of the Year: Vickie Tusa and Dr. Thomas Drape

“Both of these individuals were incredibly vital for the success of the athletic department,” Long applauded. “This was a tough choice for us as all of our nominees were deserving of this award.”

Men’s Team of Character: Men’s Basketball

The men’s basketball team helped with numerous organizations including area churches, PUSD, Octoberwest Security, March of Dimes, YMCA, Eagle Squad (move-in), Cub Scouts, and National Hazing Prevention.

Women’s Team of Character: Women’s Soccer

The team led all of the athletics department in community service hours with over 250 hours. They helped with organizations like VA, Read Across America, Phoenix Rising Youth Soccer, Stepping Stones, Yavapai Soccer Club, and Heritage Park Zoo.

Male Athlete of the Year: Nick Johnson (SR/Anthem, AZ)

Johnson led the Eagles in virtually every statistical category becoming the first player named to four consecutive All-Cal Pac first teams. He was also named an All-American for the second year in a row.

“I want to say thank you to my family, I love you guys,” Johnson commented. “I’ve got to thank Coach E, Coach Doug, Coach Tess for letting me be a part of the program. And helping me grow, not only as a player but as a man, a leader. I”m very grateful for it all. I’ve gotta send thanks to my boys, my teammates, not just this year but every year. You guys have been the best.”

Female Athlete of the Year: Jessica Williams

Williams was the favorite to win a third consecutive Cal Pac Player of the Year at the Cal Pac Women’s Golf Championships. She also broke the NAIA record for the lowest score in at the National Championship with a 67 (-5).

“Thank you so much, it’s really an honor to win the female athlete of the year this year,” Williams graciously said. “I especially want to thank Coach Mike (Haddow) and Coach Kim (Haddow) for all the things you’ve done for me and for the team over the past four years. I also want to thank my teammates both past and present. It’s really been an honor playing with all you guys and it’s made being an Embry-Riddle Eagle one of the best experiences of my life.”

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