LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Bellarmine Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) hosted their third annual Bellies award show Monday evening inside Knights Hall.
The Bellies are the annual athletics department awards program that gives Bellarmine student-athletes and coaches the opportunity to be recognized and honored for their widespread successes throughout the academic and athletic year.
Below are the 2024 winners announced during the program.
Knights In Action Award: This award is presented to the team with the highest number of reported community service hours. Recorded through both MobileServe and the community engagement committee, reviewed by the SAAC advisor.
2024 winner: Women's track and field
James R. Spalding Athlete of Distinction Award: This award is presented to NCAA All-Americans. It recognizes student-athletes who combine in-game performance, leadership, academic excellence and ambassadorship of the program to exemplify what it means to be a Bellarmine student-athlete.
2024 winner: Kyle Playsted (lacrosse)
Bellarmine Scholar Athlete of the Year Award: This award is presented to both a male and female undergraduate student-athlete who earned the highest GPA, is graduating in the spring of 2024 or summer of 2024 and is not returning to Bellarmine.
2024 winners: Tie, Grace Mack (women's cross country and track) and Lauren Marshall (field hockey); Andrew Blank (men's soccer)
Academic & Support Services for Student-Athletes Academic Team of the Year: This is presented to the team with the highest combined team GPA of the previous two semesters.
2024 winner: Women's tennis
Norton Sports Health Fight Like a Knight Award: Nominated by the Academic Support, Sports Performance & Sports Medicine staff members. This award recognizes a student-athlete declared to have demonstrated the most resilience and capacity to recover quickly from difficulties and/or injuries while exemplifying the characteristics of being a Knights student-athlete.
2024 winner: Cam Browning (women's basketball)
Knights Spirit Award: Nominated by the coaching staff of the cheer and dance teams, this award is presented to one graduating student-athlete, who will not be returning to Bellarmine. This student-athlete goes above and beyond in their sport for their university, their teammates and coaches and in the community.
2024 winner: Hollan Bates (cheerleading)
Scarlet Heart Award: Presented to one women's team and one men's team with the highest level of engagement across the university. This includes supporting fellow Knights student-athletes and programs in the Knight Cup competition, engagement in the Bellarmine community and completing Knight School activities.
2024 winners: Field hockey and wrestling
Blazing Torch Award: Nominated, selected and presented by members of the SAAC, this award is presented to both a male a female student-athlete based on their positive attitude, selflessness, and hard work while being a great teammate. The recipients always show up and lead by example.
2024 winners: Chloe Freilinger (women's track and field) and Rahim Shalash (men's soccer)
Photo of the Year: Based on a fan vote on from @BellarmineSAAC on X.
2024 winner: Cheerleading
Moment of the Year
2024 winner: Men's soccer (overtime win versus Stetson in the Atlantic Sun Tournament)
Assistant Coach of the Year: Nominated by student-athletes and presented by members of the SAAC, this award is presented to the assistant coach who has shown an outstanding commitment to their team and the development of student-athletes while improving the value and success of the program. They show commitment to the head coach while maintaining a professional manner and attitude. They emphasize the team culture, are active members in the Bellarmine community and contribute to the overall growth of the athletics department and the student-athlete experience.
2024 winner: Jalen Madison (track and field)
Head Coach of the Year Award: Nominated by student-athletes, this award is presented to the head coach who has demonstrated an outstanding ability to not only improve the value and success of their program, but also to create an impactful team culture. The individual shows consistent commitment to the growth of the program, focuses on the mentorship and impact on their staff and acts in a professional manner. This individual has proven to be a positive representative of Bellarmine by engaging in the community and working toward the overall growth of the athletics department, as well as his or her student-athletes.
2024 winner: Tim Chastonay (men's soccer)
New to Newburg Award: Nominated by head coaches, this award is presented to a freshman and/or transfer male and female student-athlete based outstanding athletic performance, participation, involvement with the Bellarmine community and contribution to the overall growth of the department.
2024 winners: Paige Hoyer (field hockey) and, tie, Jeffrey Cox (men's soccer) and Matthew Nice (men's tennis)
Valor MVP Award: Nominated by head coaches, this accolade is given to a male and female student-athlete who exemplify the meaning of the athletic department's culture. It is someone who truly embodies 'Bellarmine Rising' and does so by excelling in the classroom, the community and athletic competition. This student-athlete has the strength of mind and spirit that enables a person to encounter any challenges presented with firmness and bravely.
2024 winners: Hayley Harrison (women's basketball) and Kyle Playsted (lacrosse)
Additionally, Dr. Ann Jirkovsky was recognized for her 26 years as the faculty athletics representative.
Finally, the SAAC executive board for the 2024-25 academic year was announced:
Over 450 Knights student-athletes and coaches attended while Hester,
Reed Blaszczyk (baseball), and
Sierra Oesterling (women's cross country and track) hosted.
Thank you to
USA Image, Bradford T. Ray '81 and Stacey Ray and the
Knights Athletic Association for sponsoring the event.
For more coverage of Bellarmine athletics, follow @BUKnights on X, Instagram and Facebook.
