ECU Honors Student-Athletes At Third Annual Goldspys Awards Show
April 26, 2016 | General
GREENVILLE, N.C. - The East Carolina Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) held the third annual Goldspys end of the year awards show Tuesday night inside Minges Coliseum. The Goldspys, modeled after the ESPN ESPY's and Golden Globe award shows, honored and highlighted the success of ECU student-athletes during the 2015-16 academic year.
Several student-athletes, teams and staff members were honored with 14 different awards voted on by the East Carolina administration, coaching staff and SAAC representatives.
Seniors Travis Watkins (baseball) and Nicole LaDuca (women's tennis) were recognized as Mr. and Mrs. Pirate. The Mr./Mrs. Pirate awards are presented to the male and female student-athlete who excel both in the classroom and in athletics while also contributing to the community. They are voted on by the ECU administration and coaching staffs.
A total of four members the track and field program earned recognition as seniors Avion Jones and Kayla Padgett were tabbed the Male and Female Athletes of the Year. Hakeem Horton was named the Male Rookie of the Year while junior Adam Manns was selected the Breakthrough Athlete of the Year.
Jones earned his third consecutive American Athletic Conference high jump (indoor/outdoor) championship at the AAC Indoor Championships in February on his way to Field Performer of the Meet accolades. He has also been named the league's field athlete of the week a conference-record six times the last two seasons. Jones is currently tops in the AAC in the high jump and fourth nationally.
Padgett is currently ranked first in the American Athletic Conference and NCAA East Region in the hammer throw as well as fourth nationally. She owns the school record in the hammer throw and has been named AAC Female Field Athlete of the Week two times thus far in 2016. She finished third at the AAC Indoor Championships in the weight throw.
The Goldspys also honored student-athletes for their efforts in the classroom and in the community as those with grade-point averages of 3.5 or higher received recognition. The top three teams in terms of community service were also recognized (women's tennis, softball and volleyball).
The men's swimming and diving and baseball teams were honored with a highlight video showcasing their most recent American Athletic Conference championships. The baseball squad earned Team of the Year recognition while Cliff Godwin was named Coach of the Year.
Rosie Thompson, a longtime East Carolina student-athlete, coach and administrator, was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award. During her playing career from 1975 to 1980, Thompson became the school's all-time leading scorer and rebounder. She holds ECU's record for points with 2,352 and rebounds, with 1,183. The most accurate free throw shooter in ECU history, Thompson led the Lady Pirate team in scoring, rebounding and minutes played for three consecutive seasons.
During her career, Thompson was named as the NCAIAW Player of the Year along with numerous other awards. Still today she holds the school record for scoring in a season (723 points), and rebounds in a season (358 rebounds). Her association with East Carolina continued as she served as assistant coach for the East Carolina women's basketball team, from 1987 until 1992. In 1992, Thompson was elevated to head coach, just the fifth in ECU women's basketball history - a position she held until spring of 1995 when she resigned to become ECU's Senior Woman Administrator before retiring in 2014.
Below is a complete list of the 2015-16 Goldspys award winners.
2015-16 Goldspys Award Winners
Female Rookie of the Year: Celia Ruiz (tennis)
Male Rookie of the Year: Hakeem Horton (track and field)
Breakthrough Athlete: Adam Manns (track and field)
Pirate Points (Community Service): Women's Tennis
SAAC ABCD: Mike Hanley
Mighty Pirate Cheerleader: Michael King
Mighty Pirate Dancer: Alley Helms
Coach of Year: Cliff Godwin (baseball)
Lifetime Achievement Award: Rosie Thompson
Team of the Year: Baseball
Female Athlete of the Year: Kayla Padgett (track and field)
Male Athlete of the Year: Avion Jones (track and field)
Mrs. Pirate: Nicole LaDuca (tennis)
Mr. Pirate: Travis Watkins (baseball)
