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 the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center.
Julia Bergmann and Christo Lamprecht headlined the honorees, earning GTAA Athletes of the Year for their outstanding successes during the 2022-23 campaigns.
Capping her illustrious collegiate career with yet another decorated season, Julia Bergmann repeated as the GTAA Female Athlete of the Year. Bergmann was named Volleyballmag.com First Team All-American, AVCA Second Team All-American, AVCA East Coast All-Region selection and an all-ACC first team member to finish her senior season. Throughout the season, Bergmann was named a GameChanger Division I National Player of the Week for the second time in her career as well as ACC Player of the Week on four separate occasions. A select member of the 1,500 kill/1,000 dig club, she is top 10 in program history in three categories, while finishing top five among the nation in kills and points per set her final season.
Helping guide Georgia Tech golf to its 19th Atlantic Coast Conference Championship the morning of the banquet, Lamprecht is one of the top collegiate golfers in the nation this spring. A semifinalist for the Ben Hogan Award, Lamprecht ranks among the top 10 golfers in the nation according to Golfstat and the Golfweek/Sagarin index. He won the Iverness Intercollegiate in the fall and has finished as a runner-up four times this spring. Lamprecht is the No. 2-ranked player contending for a spot on the international team for the Arnold Palmer Cup and is ranked No. 9 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.
2023 Yellow Jacket Celebration
The full list of awards handed out at the Yellow Jacket Celebration include:
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Women’s Tennis’ Kylie Bilchev (as a freshman in spring 2022, Bilchev put together an impressive freshman campaign, capped by earning ITA All-American honors in doubles after making a run to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals; she also earned all-ACC third team, ITA Scholar-Athlete and all-ACC academic team honors)
Football’s Clayton Powell-Lee (during his 2022 freshman season, he earned All-American honors after tying for third nationally with three fumble recoveries as a true freshman; also named ACC Defensive Back of the Week and finished fifth on the team with 48 total tackles and third in voting for the 2022 ACC Rookie of the Year award)
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 – Angelo Dispigna
Men’s Basketball – Lance Terry
Women’s Basketball – Kayla Blackshear
Men’s Cross Country – John Higinbotham
Women’s Cross Country – Liz Galarza
Football – Joe Fusile
Golf – Andy Mao
Softball – Sara Beth Allen
Men’s Swimming and Diving – Nils Bognar
Women’s Swimming and Diving – Carmen Woodruff
Men’s Tennis – Gabrielle Brancatelli
Women’s Tennis – Alejandra Cruz
Men’s Track and Field – John Watkins
Women’s Track and Field – Sheleah Harris
Volleyball – Liz Patterson
Cheer – Hayle Hicks
Goldrush – Alyssa Shaw
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: Katie Ciavola (cheerleading), Abby Cohen (swimming and diving), Myles Collins (men’s cross country/track and field), Emma Kauf (softball), Kayla Rose (women’s cross country and track and field), John Watkins (men’s track and field)
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 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: Christo Lamprecht (golf), Shanty Papakosta (women’s track and field)
THOMAS LOZANO INSPIRATION AWARD
In its fifth 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: Jackson Vaughan (baseball)
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: Liz Patterson (volleyball), John Watkins (men’s track and field)
GT UNITE AWARD
Designed to honor a student-athlete that has made an impact in the DEI space, whether in the department, on campus or at the ACC level.
Recipient: Attallah Smith (women’s track and field)
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Given to applaud the athletic accolades of some of the nation’s best student-athletes.
Recipients: Julia Bergmann (volleyball) and Christo Lamprecht (golf)
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: Liz Galarza (women’s cross country/track and field) and Connor Howe (golf)
