THE FLATS – Georgia Tech athletics recognized the achievements of its student-athletes over the past year during its annual Yellow Jacket Celebration on Monday evening at McCamish Pavilion.
Nicole Fegans and Moses Wright headlined the honorees, earning GTAA Athletes of the Year for their outstanding performances this past season.
One of Georgia Tech’s most decorated distance runners in program history, Nicole Fegans embodies the true meaning of being a student-athlete. This season, she placed 12th overall at NCAA Cross Country Championships, guiding Tech to its best finish in school history at nationals, earning all-American status to become just the third women’s runner at Tech to do so. During the 2021 indoor season she continued her dominance as she was named an all-American in the 5K at the national meet. Fegans holds a total of six school records for track in her collegiate career and set four of those records this season. This season, she also earned a place on both the XC and all-ACC Academic teams.
Unheralded as a high school recruit, Moses Wright improved year after year and became the top player in the Atlantic Coast Conference as a senior, being voted ACC Player of the Year, and was named to the All-ACC first team. Wright finished the season ranked among the ACC’s top six in scoring average, rebound average, field goal percentage, steals, blocked shots, offensive rebounds and minutes. He had seven double-doubles in 2020-21, six in ACC games, and four in a row during the final two weeks of the regular season. Those included monster efforts in wins vs. Syracuse (31 points, 16 rebounds) and Duke (29 points, 14 rebounds). The Raleigh, N.C., senior earned ACC Player of the Week honors three times during the season.
The full list of awards handed out at the Yellow Jacket Celebration include:
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Women’s Basketball’s Loyal McQueen (started 21 games, finished fourth on the team in scoring, averaged 30.8 minutes per game, helped Yellow Jackets to NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearance)
Track and Field’s Cameron O’Neal (ACC Freshman Athlete of the Year, second team all-American in long jump, all-ACC, bronze medalist at ACC Indoor Championships)
RECORD BREAKING PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Women’s Cross Country/Track and Field’s Nicole Fegans (placed 12th at NCAA Cross Country Championships, two-time all-American, All-ACC Academic Team)
Football’s Pressley Harvin III (Ray Guy Award, first-team All-America, first-team All-ACC)
COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Women’s Swimming and Diving – Camryn Hidalgo (2021 first-team All-American, 2021 All-American honorable mention platform diving, 2021 ACC Championships bronze medalist)
Baseball’s Brant Hurter (2021 Friday night starter after missing entire 2020 season from Tommy John Surgery, holds sub-4.00 ERA)
BRANDON ADAMS TEAMMATE AWARDS
The Brandon Adams Teammate Awards recognize student-athletes whose contributions to his or her program go far beyond the scope of athletics.
Baseball – Andy Archer
Men’s Basketball – Jordan Usher
Women’s Basketball – Anisa Clark
Men’s Cross Country – Andy Kent
Women’s Cross Country – Liz Galarza
Football – Juanyah Thomas
Golf – Will Dickson
Softball – Cameron Stanford
Men’s Swimming and Diving – Kyle Barone
Women’s Swimming and Diving – Nicole Williams
Men’s Tennis – Chen Dong
Women’s Tennis – Rosie Garcia Gross
Men’s Track and Field – Andrew Steets
Women’s Track and Field – Taylor Grimes
Spirit – Ryan Baker
Volleyball – Elizabeth Patterson
ACC TOP 6 FOR SERVICE
The ACC Top 6 for Service awards are presented annually to six student-athletes from each ACC institution who demonstrate dedication to community service and outreach programs.
Georgia Tech recipients: Hugh Chapman (baseball), Ben King (baseball), Victoria Flores (women’s tennis), Jack DeFoor (football), Malachi Rice (men’s basketball), Mikaila Dowd (volleyball)
ACC SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
The ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year award was established in September 2007 to be awarded annually to the top junior or senior student-athlete in their respective sports. Candidates for the award must have maintained a 3.0 GPA for their career as well as a 3.0 for each of the last two semesters.
Georgia Tech recipients: Luke Waddell (baseball) and Nicole Fegans (women’s cross country/track and field)
THOMAS LOZANO INSPIRATION AWARD
In its third year, the Thomas Lozano Inspiration Award is given in honor of Thomas Lozano, who was an inspiration to all Georgia Tech student-athletes through his passion, loyalty, support and work ethic. The award is given to one student-athlete who exemplifies the qualities best displayed by Thomas.
Recipient: Malachi Rice (men’s basketball)
BOBBY DODD SCHOLARSHIP
The Bobby Dodd Scholarship is given to one male and one female returning student-athlete with a 3.0 GPA or higher. Each recipient must have lettered in his or her sport at least one year and they must both exemplify good citizenship and participation in community service, outstanding sportsmanship and dedication.
Recipients: Lotta-Maj Lahtinen (women’s basketball) and Kyle Barone (men’s swimming and diving)
GT LEADERSHIP AWARD
Given to student-athletes that demonstrate leadership qualities on the playing field, in the classroom, and in the community.
Recipient: Hugh Chapman (baseball) and Kierra Fletcher (women’s basketball)
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Given to applaud the athletic accolades of some of the nation’s best student-athletes.
Recipients: Moses Wright (men’s basketball) and Nicole Fegans (women’s cross country/track and field)
TOTAL PERSON AWARD
Given to one male and one female student-athlete who are graduating or within 20 hours of graduating. Recipients have to be in good academic standing; lettered at least two years; achieved ACC, regional or national recognition or awards; made significant contributions to his or her team; and possess the attributes of the Total Person (career ambitions, family relations, health consciousness, self-motivation and community involvement).
Recipients: Luke Waddell (baseball) and Victoria Flores (women’s tennis)
2021 Yellow Jacket Celebration
4.26.21
