FULTON, Mo.- The Williams Woods University Association for Student Athletes hosted their annual athletics banquet on Monday, April 15, in the McNutt Campus Center. This awards ceremony is presented by the William Woods Association for Student Athletes to the student athletes that makeup the athletics programs here at The Woods.

Assistant Director of Athletics, and head softball coach, Tracy Gastineau opened the event congratulating all student athletes on their success on and off the field. Coach Gastineau then handed the reigns over to ASA President Syndey Wilbeck and ASA VP Emma Clifford. These campus leaders acted as the emcees for the night and hosted the prestigious event.

Helen Stephens Award
The Helen Stephens award is the Athletic Department's highest honor. It is presented annually to an outstanding junior student-athlete who has achieved excellence both in the classroom and in the area of intercollegiate athletics. This award is presented to a student who demonstrates the talent, discipline and desire that best describes the legacy of WWU's own Olympic Champion, Helen Stephens.  This year's recipient was Mekayla Gibson (Cross Country/Track and Field).

Murphy Tetley Award
The Murphy Tetley award is an annual award given to an individual or individuals who have displayed school spirit for the William Woods Athletics Department. The award is named after William Woods University Faculty Member, Fight Song and Pep Band Creator and supporter of William Woods Athletics, Murphy Tetley.  This year the award was given to Kristi Sievert, the Administrative Assistant for William Woods University Athletics. As part of the nomination process, Sievert was recognized for going above and beyond her duties in support of the athletic department. From mending uniforms, making goodies for gameday staff, taking photos and traveling off campus and well outside of Fulton to support student-athletes and teams, Sievert is a fixture for William Woods University Athletics.

Andrew Fyffe Award
The Andrew Fyffe award is an annual award given to a William Woods student, who has displayed school spirit for the William Woods Athletics Department.  The award is named after William Woods Student-Athlete, Andrew Fyffe, WWU '22.  This year's recipient was Jared Crutcher (Men's Basketball and Track and Field).

The William Woods Strength and Conditioning programs also hand out awards based on achievement in the weight room. These awards are handed out by strength and conditioning coaches Bob Jones and Sierra Zadravecz. There are three awards given out; one to both a male and female student athlete and one to the team that showed the most achievement in the weight room for the 2023-2024 academic year.

Male Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year- Evan Filer (Men's Soccer)
Women's Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year- Lauren Hiestand (Volleyball)
Weightroom Team of the Year- Women's Soccer

Each year the athletics department recognizes a male and female athlete of the year. These individuals have demonstrated outstanding skill, passion, determination, character, and hard work inside and outside of the classroom.
This year the awards were given to Vasek Schneider (Male) and Mekayla Gibson (Female)

List of Male Nominees: Kamron Morris (Baseball), Francis Okwuosah (Men's Basketball), Braden Lallier (Bowling), Landon Dunlap (Cross Country/Track and Field), Tom Ghering (Men's Golf), Hunter Czarnecki-Ball (Outdoor Life Sports), Florian Senst (Men's Soccer), Vasek Schneider (Men's Tennis), Alexander Sederburg (Men's Wrestling).
List of Female Nominees: Emma Agers (Outdoor Life Sports), Sydney Booker (Women's Basketball), Hailey Triske (Women's Bowling), Tyra Daugherty (Cheerleading), Mekayla Gibson (Women's Cross Country/Track and Field), Maria Rozo (Women's Golf), Megan Schutze-Schweitzer (Women's Soccer), Illiana Manzano (Softball), Hanna Lindeboom (Women's Tennis), Kassidy Phillips (Volleyball), Teani Medeiros-Maielua (Women's Wrestling).

Every team is awarded three individual awards, Un-sung Hero, Champions of Character, and Team MVP.

The Un-Sung Hero award represents someone that may not have led the team in stats, playing time, or game play, but the hero on the team in many other ways. This is the player on the team that the team could not have gone without and played a silent role on the team.

 The Champions of Character award recipient is someone who exemplifies the 5 core-values of the NAIA; responsibility, respect, servant leadership, sportsmanship, and integrity through every aspect of being a student-athlete.

A team's MVP is simply the best player on your team. This player does not have to the best stats or the most awards but is the overall best player on your team in terms of attitude, performance, and leadership.

The winners are as follows:
Men's Cross Country
- Un-Sung Hero- Dustin Russell
- Champion of Character- Landon Dunlap
- MVP- Landon Dunlap
Women's Cross Country
- Un-Sung Hero- Crystal Ruden
- Champion of Character- Mekayla Gibson
- MVP- Mekayla Gibson
Men's Soccer
- Un-Sung Hero- Evan Filer
- Champion of Character- Evan Filer
- MVP- Florian Senst
Women's Soccer
- Un-Sung Hero- Lexi Drubl
- Champion of Character- Sam Poehlmann
- MVP- Megan Schutze-Schweitzer
Volleyball
- Un-Sung Hero- Emma Austin
- Champion of Character- Ella Lewis
- MVP- Kassidy Phillips
Men's Basketball
- Un-Sung Hero- Tre Titus
- Champion of Character- Jared Crutcher
- MVP- Francis Okwuosah
Women's Basketball
- Un-Sung Hero- Sasha Gill
- Champion of Character- Jersee Wren
- MVP- Sydney Booker
Cheerleading
- Un-Sung Hero- Rhondell Tipton
- Champion of Character- Bri Allison
- MVP- Tyra Daugherty
Men's Track and Field
- Un-Sung Hero- Demario Wright
- Champion of Character- Easton Ambler
- MVP- Landon Dunlap
Women's Track and Field
- Un-Sung Hero- Heather Harbison
- Champion of Character- Crystal Ruden
- MVP- Mekayla Gibson
Men's Wrestling
- Un-Sung Hero- Ian Nelson
- Champion of Character- Xander Sederburg
- MVP- Xander Sederburg
Women's Wrestling
- Un-Sung Hero- Teani Medeiros-Maielua
- Champion of Character- Caden Winkler
- MVP- Teani Medeiros-Maielua
Men's Bowling
- Un-Sung Hero- JJ Bauer
- Champion of Character- Christian Merrick
- MVP- Braden Lallier
Women's Bowling
- Unsung Hero- Bethany Jones
- Champion of Character- Caitlyn Rawson
- MVP- Hailey Triske
Archery
- Un-Sung Hero- Emma Agers
- Champion of Character- Megan Bachard
- MVP- Emma Agers
Shotgun
- Un-Sung Hero- Skyler Touchette
- Champion of Character- Elena Parr
- MVP- Hunter Czarnecki-Ball
Baseball
- Un-Sung Hero- Tyler Abney
- Champion of Character- Jack Niggemeier
- MVP- Kamron Morriss
Men's Golf
- Un-Sung Hero- Jaxon Green
- Champion of Character- Aiden Ashby
- MVP- Tom Gehring
Women's Golf
- Un-Sung Hero- Malayne Lednick
- Champion of Character- Allyson Hollrah
- MVP- Maria Ortiz Rozo
Softball
- Un-Sung Hero- Morgan Collins
- Champion of Character- Jessica Keilholz
- MVP- Iliana Manzano
Men's Tennis
- Un-Sung Hero- Robert Schorr
- Champion of Character- Ben Grumley
- MVP- Vasek Schneider
Women's Tennis
- Un-Sung Hero- Mireia Simon
- Champion of Character- Kristina Dimitrijevic
- MVP- Hannah Lindeboom