Delaney, Aponte earn Citadel awards

Citadel wrestler Odie Delaney and soccer player Vanessa Aponte were named the Bulldogs’ male and female athletes of the year, respectively, at the school’s first athletics awards banquet Monday night.

Delaney, a redshirt junior from Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., won his third Southern Conference title and came within one match of earning All-America honors at the NCAA championships, finishing the season with a 29-4 record.

Aponte, a sophomore from Orlando, Fla., set school records with 83 shots and 43 shots on goal last season, leading the Bulldogs with eight goals and 19 points. She was twice SoCon player of the week, and scored two goals in The Citadel’s 3-2 win over College of Charleston, its first win over the Cougars.

Most valuable player and academic awards were given for each varsity sport.

MVPs and Academic Award Winners by Sport:

Baseball: No MVP awarded (season still in progress); Academic - Nick Orvin

Basketball: MVP and Academic - Mike Groselle

Men’s Cross Country: MVP - Kyle Keene; Academic - PJ Wasilchak

Women’s Cross Country: MVP - Danielle McKee; Academic - Erinn Carter

Football: MVP - Derek Douglas; Academic - Preston Bailey

Golf: MVP - Erica Pelligrini; Academic - Alanna-Jean Keith

Men’s Rifle: MVP - Robert Jackson; Academic - Matthew Bernard

Women’s Rifle: MVP - Julia McCullohs; Academic - Julie O’Meara

Soccer: MVP - Mariana Garcia; Academic - Shanna Couch

Tennis: MVP - David Orces; Academic - Josh Cook

Men’s Track and Field: MVP - Quintin Turner; Academic - Clay Allen

Women’s Track and Field: MVP - Nicole Levermann; Academic - Micah Wessinger

Volleyball: MVP - Rachael Farrell; Academic - Cassie Uribe

Wrestling: MVP - Turtogtokh Luvsandorj; Academic - Alex Wettstein