Senior Lacrosse player Brayden Brown, who was one of three students nominated for the Fight Like a Knight Award, was ecstatic when the announcers called his name. His teammates grabbed him and celebrated joyfully while Brown smiled ear to ear as he made his way to pick up his award.
The Fight Like a Knight Award recognizes a student-athlete who has demonstrated the most resilience and capacity to recover quickly from difficulties and/or injuries while exemplifying the characteristics of being a Knight student-athlete.
Brown suffered two injuries while playing for Bellarmine. “I tore my ACL, and then once I was healed and ready to play again, I dislocated and fractured my thumb in the first quarter of this season,” Brown said. “I am all good and healed now, and I am so grateful to have received this award.”
The Valor MVP Award is given to the most well-rounded student athletes at Bellarmine. According to its description, the award is given to male and female student-athlete “who exemplify the meaning of the athletic department’s culture, someone who truly is the embodiment of ‘Bellarmine Rising’ and does so by excelling in the classroom, in the community and in athletic competition. This student-athlete has the strength of mind and spirit that enables a person to encounter any challenges presented with firmness and bravery.”
Senior field hockey player Bre McWhorter was the female recipient of the Valor MVP Award.
“I am so surprised and honored to have received this award,” McWhorter said. “I couldn’t believe I was even nominated, and then when they said my name, I really couldn’t believe that I won. I am so happy people think this highly of me. It feels great to have all my hard work over the years pay off.”
The male recipient of The Valor MVP Award was fifth-year basketball player Juston Betz.
“It is awesome to be the male recipient for The Valor MVP Award,” Betz said, “Me and the rest of the student-athletes here work so hard, and it is great to get this award and see fellow athletes receive awards as well.”
The Bellies is an award ceremony where student-athletes are recognized for their hard work on and off the field or court. A total of 11 awards were given out to dedicated and deserving student-athletes. The Bellies were held at the Kentucky Exposition Center on Thursday night. The emcees for the night were student-athletes Madison Devillez and Parker Terry.
Awards
Valor MVP Award:
Winners: Bre McWhorter and Juston Betz
Nominees: Bre McWhorter, Kathleen Scott, Rachel Walker, Juston Betz, Juan Ballas and Matthew Sims
Fight Like a Knight Award
Winner: Brayden Brown
Nominees: Brayden Brown, Kathleen Scott and Blake Roshkowski
Knights In Action Award
Winner: Field Hockey
James R. Spalding Athlete of Distinction Award
Winner: Eric Rubak
Bellarmine Scholar Athlete of the Year Award
Winners: Grace Werner and Emil Berglund
Academic Team of the Year
Winner: Women’s Golf
Scarlet Heart Award
Winners: Softball and Wrestling
Bellarmine Spirit Award
Winner: CJ Heil
Blazing Torch Award
Winners: Jensen Kitrel and Darian Huff
Nominees: Jensen Kitrel, Madison Devillez, Kayla Effinger, Darian Huff, Nick Parish and Paul Reynolds
Action Shot of the Year Fan Vote Award
Winner: Field Hockey
New to Newburg Award
Winner: Nolan Hester
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