WILMINGTON, North Carolina – Three UNCW student-athletes – senior golfer Mallory Fobes, graduate outside hitter Katie Lanz and redshirt junior catcher Kevin Pitarra – have been recognized by the Colonial Athletic Association with its prestigious Leadership and Sport Excellence Award for the 2022-23 academic year.
One student-athlete who represents the highest standards of teamwork, integrity, leadership and sportsmanship in his or her academic and athletic achievements was selected in each of the other 21 sports sponsored by the conference. The CAA’s Faculty Athletic Representatives voted on the winners.
Thirteen Seahawks have been singled out since the recognition began five years ago.
2022-23 UNCW Honorees
Kevin Pitarra (Baseball) – Achieved 3.83 GPA (Business Administration with concentration in Supply Chain Management)…Team captain…Two-year member of UNCW Leadership Council…Has organized ministry-focused service events to engage students in fellowship while creating a safe environment to ask difficult questions regarding faith…Has served as UNCW baseball camp leader…Made 24 starts for baseball team that captured CAA regular season and tournament titles…Batted .337 with one home run and 22 RBIs…Committed only four errors at catcher position.
Mallory Fobes (Women’s Golf) – Compiled 3.526 GPA (Tourism, Recreation and Sport with concentration in Sports and Recreation)…Team captain…Member of UNCW SAAC …Has volunteered with First Tee of Greater Wilmington and assisted with Miracle League…Had outstanding season on golf course, earning First-Team All-CAA honors for third straight year…Finished year with team-best 73.33 stroke average, including three top-10 finishes…Capped season by becoming only CAA player to receive individual entry into NCAA Regionals, where she placed 30th out of 66 competitors.
Katie Lanz (Volleyball) – Achieved 3.99 GPA (Public Health with minors in Neuroscience and Biology)…Member of Chi Alpha Sigma Student-Athlete Honor Society…Selected to CSC Academic All-District team…Volunteers at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center on disease specialist team…Has worked with Seeds of Healing to support underserved women who are HIV positive…Received department’s Unsung Hero Award in 2022…Team captain for Seahawks…Ranked ninth in CAA in kills per set (2.84) and points per set (3.33)…Led team in kills for last three seasons.
2022-23 CAA Leadership and Sport Excellence Award Winners
Baseball – Kevin Pitarra, UNCW
Women’s Golf – Mallory Fobes, UNCW
Volleyball – Katie Lanz, UNCW
Men’s Cross Country – Louis DiLorenzio, Monmouth
Women’s Cross Country – Jessica Pidgeon, Delaware
Field Hockey – Lizzie Gaebel, Delaware
Men’s Golf – Matthew Feinstein, William & Mary
Men’s Lacrosse – Lonnie Jones, Hampton
Women’s Lacrosse – Marco McCormack, Hofstra
Women’s Rowing – Charlotte Kershaw, Northeastern
Men’s Soccer – Jeppe Jordoson, Elon
Women’s Soccer – A’Liah Moore, Monmouth
Softball – Hanna Garber, Delaware
Men’s Swimming & Diving – Conor Sokolowsky, William & Mary
Women’s Swimming & Diving – Lauren DiCamillo, Drexel
Men’s Tennis – Daniel Martin, Elon
Women’s Tennis – Olivia Archer, Elon
Men’s Indoor Track & Field – Daniel Layton, William & Mary
Women’s Indoor Track & Field – Sydney Squier, Monmouth
Men’s Outdoor Track & Field – Dalton Yeust, Monmouth
Women’s Outdoor Track & Field – Madison George, Elon
Past UNCW Recipients
2018-19
Agustin Savarino, Men’s Tennis
Dylan Wood, Men’s Track & Field
2019-20
Josh Cooper, Men’s Track & Field
Daniel Groom, Men’s Tennis
Thao My Nguyen, Women’s Golf
2020-21
Phu Khine, Women’s Golf
Josh Rigsbee, Men’s Swimming & Diving
Dominique Travers, Softball
Dylan Wood, Men’s Track & Field
2021-22
Brent Hoshall, Men’s Swimming & Diving
2022-23
Mallory Fobes, Women’s Golf
Katie Lanz, Volleyball
Kevin Pitarra, Baseball