Soccer national championship, cross country runner-up highlight fall awards

About 24 hours after they won the NAIA men's soccer national championship in Delray Beach, Fla., the Wayland Baptist Pioneers were back on campus as the toast of the evening – along with the women's cross country team and its national runner-up performance – at the WBU Fall Sports Awards Ceremony held Sunday night in McClung Center.
 
After being greeting at a welcome home gathering late Sunday morning following their early flight from Florida, the Pioneer soccer team showed off their national championship banner and trophy at the evening's awards ceremony.
 
Federico Ucar, who was named national tournament outstanding offensive player after scoring the only goal in the Pioneers' double-overtime finals win, took home Freshman of the Year honors Sunday night. The national tournament's MVP, Lochlan Reus, was the Pioneers' Newcomer of the Year.
 
Other honors Coach Cristhian Ospina's program were James Westfield as Offensive Player of the Year, Alex Castillo for Defensive Player of the Year, and Ryan Montgomery and Ricardo Ramos as Coach's Award co-winners.
 
In women's cross country, Jackline Jemeli was named most valuable for the second straight year, this time sharing it with fellow junior Silvia Sosa. Jackline Cherono was named Newcomer of the Year while Tiffano Cano went home with the Coach's Award.
 
For the men's long-distance runners, junior Omero Rodriguez was the MVP. Eric Villagrana, last year's Newcomer of the Year, was this year's Coach's Award winner along with Bobby Childers. Jacob Goldie received Most Improved.
 
Senior Megan Sharratt repeated as Offensive Player of the Year in volleyball, while Jordan Breding received the Ashleah Richards Defensive Player of the Year. Elisabeth Piroli was named Most Improved and Lindsey Schwab earned the Academic Award.
 
There were two repeat winners in women's soccer. Chelsea Beaubouef was named Offensive MVP and Valeria Garcia Player of the Year for the second straight year, with Garcia sharing her honor with Erin Moon, who also received the Spirit Award. Julianna Christensen was awarded Defensive Player of the Year.
 
And in football, Jeremiah Eaton and De'Sean Johnson shared the Offensive Player of the Year award while Michael Nealy and Daniel Martinez were named top defensive and special teams players, respectively. Al-Amin Abbott received the Spirit Award and Devonte Hayden the Coach's Award.
  Football
Offensive Player of Year: Jeremiah Eaton & De'Sean Johnson
Defensive Player of Year: Michael Nealy
Special Teams Player of Year: Daniel Martinez
Spirit Award: Al Abbott
Coach's Award: Devonte Hayden
 
Volleyball
Academic Award: Lindsey Schwab
Ashleah Richards Defensive Player of Year: Jordan Breding
Offensive Player of Year: Megan Sharratt
Most Improved: Elisabeth Piroli
 
Men's Cross Country
Coach's Award: Eric Villagrana, Bobby Childers
Most Improved: Jacob Gouldie
Most Valuable: Omero Rodriguez
 
Women's Cross Country
Coach's Award: Tiffany Cano
Newcomer of Year: Jackline Cherono
Most Valuable: Jackline Jemeli, Silvia Sosa
 
Women's Soccer
Offensive Player of Year: Chelsea Beaubouef
Defensive Player of Year: Julianna Christensen
Player of Year: Erin Moon, Valeria Garcia
Spirit Award: Erin Moon
 
Men's Soccer
Offensive Player of Year: James Westfield
Defensive Player of Year: Alex Castillo
Freshman of Year: Federico Ucar
Newcomer of Year: Lochlan Reus
Coach's Award: Ryan Montgomery & Ricardo Ramos