Previous FGCU award winners

FORT MYERS, Fla. – After another tremendous year filled with success and new milestones reached, the FGCU Department of Athletics celebrated all that was accomplished Monday night with the 2022-23 NESTIES Awards at Alico Arena.
 
Along with honoring the department's seniors, six different awards were handed out, highlighted by the Kavanagh Eagle Scholar-Athlete Award. The award recognizes the ability of the winner(s) to combine athletic and academic success (minimum 3.20 GPA) with community service.
 
This year's recipients were Dana Axner (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman HS) from volleyball and Magnus Johnson (Naples, Fla./Homeschool/UCF) from men's tennis.
 
Axner, a fifth-year graduate senior libero, was recently named one of the 10 members of the FGCU Hall of Fame Class of 2023 – one of only 10 former Eagle Scholar-Athletes to ever earn this highest overall honor for a FGCU student. She sparked her team to three ASUN Championships and NCAA Tournament berths, where the Eagles twice advanced to the second round. Individually, she was a two-time ASUN Defensive Player of the Year, five-time All-Conference selection, and finished as the ASUN's all-time leader in career digs. She also garnered ASUN All-Tournament team honors three times. Read more about Axner below.
 
A redshirt junior, Johnson was named an ITA Scholar-Athlete selection the past two seasons, and has also twice earned ASUN All-Academic Team honors. Johnson recently became the first to ever earn ASUN Player of the Year honors three times. He was also the ASUN Freshman of the Year in 2021. On the court, he is 18-3 in singles dual matches this season, and 26-9 overall leading the Eagles to a defense of their ASUN regular-season crown, the ASUN Tournament title, and a berth in the upcoming NCAA Championships. Read more about Johnson below.
 
Axner and Johnson were finalists for the Kavanagh Eagle Scholar-Athlete of the Year award alongside baseball's Alejandro Figueredo (Sucre, Venezuela/West Oaks HS/Seminole State), women's soccer's Leah Scarpelli (Brick, N.J./Brick Memorial/Penn State), and volleyball's Erin Shomaker (Granville, Ohio/Granville HS).
 
Five other annual awards were presented on the night. The Wings Up Team Spirit Award which is given to the program which exemplifies Eagle spirit and team support. The 2023 honor went to the men's and women's cross country teams. The award is based off six categories: Dirty Bird memberships, Wings Up app downloads, attendance at games, spirit displayed at those games, social media support of their own team and other sports, and promotion and interaction with fellow students and community members.
 
The Stanley 'Butch' Perchan Award, previously named the Green & Blue Award, is annually bestowed upon a staff member(s) who personifies the proverbial definition of someone who bleeds Green & Blue. Six years ago, Kavanagh announced that the award would be renamed the Stanley 'Butch' Perchan Award in honor of Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Affairs Emeritus Butch Perchan. Perchan presented the 2023 award to this year's recipient, women's basketball associate head coach Chelsea Lyles.
 
The Community Service Award is presented annually to the student-athlete who best exemplifies FGCU Athletics' dedicated commitment to volunteerism on campus and throughout the Southwest Florida community. The 2023 honoree was senior Benjamin Hermiston (Sherrill, Iowa/Dubuque Hempstead HS) from men's cross country.
 
The Carl McAloose Spirit Award is given to at least one male and female student-athlete who best exemplify former Director of Athletics Carl McAloose's spirit and love for FGCU Athletics, as well as dedication to their team and teammates. The 2023 recipients were Dana Axner from volleyball, Lexie Hamilton (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier HS/UNCW) from beach volleyball, Alejandro Figueredo from baseball, and Caleb Catto (Cape Coral, Fla./Southwest Florida Christian Academy) from men's basketball.
 
The Most Inspirational Award, which was renamed the Duane Swanson Sr. Inspirational Award at the 2011 ceremony, was presented to all FGCU student-athletes for their immediate and sustained response to our Southwest Florida community in the wake of Hurricane Ian.
 
EAGLE SCHOLAR-ATHLETE WINNERS:

DANA AXNER
 
Axner, a fifth-year graduate senior libero, was recently named one of the 10 members of the FGCU Hall of Fame Class of 2023 – one of only 10 former Eagle Scholar-Athletes to ever earn this highest overall honor for a FGCU student. Axner completed her undergraduate degree in secondary mathematics education with a 3.9 GPA, and currently possesses a 4.0 as she is seeking her master's degree in educational technology.
 
A three-time captain, Axner was also a three-time ASUN All-Academic Team honoree, a 2022 selection to the Academic All-District Team, and was FGCU's 2021 ASUN Fall Winner for Life.
 
On the court, Axner sparked her team to three ASUN Championships and NCAA Tournament berths, where the Eagles twice advanced to the second round. Individually, she was a two-time ASUN Defensive Player of the Year, five-time All-Conference selection, and finished as the ASUN's all-time leader in career digs. She also garnered ASUN All-Tournament team honors three times.
 
Axner was a four-year member of the Eagles Council student-athlete advisory committee, and served as their vice president the past two years. Overall, In the community she has volunteered over 150 hours, including as a tutor for Mathnasium of Estero, with the fSTop Foundation for wildlife preservation, as a mentor for international student-athletes, and for Hurricane Ian and beach clean-ups. Axner served on the Athletics Title IX Committee, and was a valued member of the E.A.G.L.E.S Leadership Institute 2021-22 cohort.
 
Head Volleyball Coach Matt Botsford on Axner:
 
"Dana is an exemplary student-athlete that very early on understood how to balance the rigors of academia and athletics. She is a serious student that possesses an internal drive that has always pushed her toward success. Luckily for me and our program, that same level of commitment carried over to the athletic arena. Dana finished her career here as the most decorated player in our history along with being one of the best in her position, nationally. Dana is a gifted, well-rounded individual that thrives when being challenged. Her devotion to FGCU, to her teammates, and to our community can never be overstated. Her combination of personality, professionalism, and strong work ethic, has helped propel our program to new heights, and she continues to make a positive impact on all of those who she comes in contact with."
 
MAGNUS JOHNSON

A redshirt junior majoring in management with a concentration in sports management, Johnson carries a 3.95 cumulative GPA and has been named to the Dean's and President's Lists throughout his FGCU tenure. He was named an ITA Scholar-Athlete selection the past two seasons, and has also twice earned ASUN All-Academic Team honors.
 
A co-winner of the 2021-22 Eagles Club Most Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year, Johnson recently became the first to ever earn ASUN Player of the Year honors three times. He was also the ASUN Freshman of the Year in 2021. On the court, he is 18-3 in singles dual matches this season, and 26-9 overall leading the Eagles to a defense of their ASUN regular-season crown, the ASUN Tournament title, and a berth in the upcoming NCAA Championships.
 
Over his three-year career in the Green & Blue, Johnson has won 99 total matches, including 56 singles and 43 in doubles. As a sophomore, he also became just the second Eagle to qualify for the NCAA Singles Championships.
 
In the community, Johnson has volunteered over 250 hours, including with Special Olympics Florida, the Naples Therapeutic Riding Center, and New Hope Ministries. He has also served on the Athletics Health & Wellness Committee. He was a valued member of the E.A.G.L.E.S Leadership Institute 2021-22 cohort.
 
Head Men's Tennis Coach C.J. Weber on Johnson:
 
"Magnus is simply a sensational young man! He goes after what he wants, commits to it, and doesn't get distracted. Magnus is one of the most principled young men I've ever coached, and he will never do anything to compromise the standards he's set for himself. It is for this foundational reason that he is successful in everything he does. I admire his commitment to his tennis, his academics, and his family; but even more, I admire his character and integrity, and I can always trust that he will do the right thing. It's been a pleasure coaching him for three years! His legacy here at FGCU will live on forever, and I can't wait to see what is in store for him!"
 
2022-23 EAGLES CLUB MOST OUTSTANDING MALE AND FEMALE ATHLETES NOMINEES
Previously called the Most Outstanding Male and Female Athlete Award, it was renamed to the Eagles Club Most Outstanding Male and Female Athlete Award at the 2017 ceremony. The Eagles Club is the official booster organization which helps financially support and raise funds for each of FGCU's 15 programs. The winners of this award will be announced at the 'Welcome Back Picnic' in August, as not all teams have finished their seasons at this time. All nominees have either earned First Team All-Conference or better (i.e. Freshman of the Year), swimmers who came in first at the conference championship meet or for baseball and softball that have not yet finished, are individuals whom are under strong considerations for such accolades.
 
Women's soccer: Ashley Labbe, Louise Lillback, Leah Scarpelli, Erika Zschuppe
Men's soccer: Davi Alves
Volleyball: Lily Felts, Chelsey Lockey, Erin Shomaker
Swimming & Diving: Cameron Kuriger
Women's basketball: Sha Carter, Tishara Morehouse
Beach volleyball: Kacie Johnson, Maddison Parmelly
Women's tennis: Fanny Norin
Men's tennis: Magnus Johnson
Women's golf: Leonie Wulfers
Baseball*: Edrick Felix, Alejandro Figueredo, Joe Kinker
* Anticipated; ASUN honors not yet released
 
2022-23 FGCU ATHLETICS AWARD WINNERS
Ken Kavanagh Eagle Scholar-Athlete Award: Dana Axner (Volleyball) and Magnus Johnson (Men's Tennis)
Wings Up Team Spirit Award: Men's and Women's Cross Country
Stanley "Butch" Perchan Award: Chelsea Lyles (Associate Head Coach, Women's Basketball)
Community Service Award: Benjamin Hermiston (Men's Cross Country)
Carl McAloose Spirit Award: Dana Axner from volleyball, Lexie Hamilton from beach volleyball, Alejandro Figueredo from baseball, and Caleb Catto from men's basketball
Duane Swanson Sr. Inspirational Award: All FGCU student-athletes
 
E.A.G.L.E. CAMPAIGN
IT TAKES A TEAM to achieve our newest goal - a $10 million campaign to address student-athlete needs in continued academic success, life skills, mental health, nutrition, and strength and conditioning as well as departmental needs in facility expansion and improvement as well as mentoring and leadership training for coaches and staff. The name embodies our mission and the purpose of the E.A.G.L.E. Campaign - Eagle Athletics Generating Lifetime Excellence. Join Our Team and pledge your gift today to help the Eagles of tomorrow!
 
#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events in November and April to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (https://www.fgcu.edu/adminservices/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit https://www.fgcu.edu/adminservices/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.
 
ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 98 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 15-plus seasons at the Division I level. Additionally, in just 11-plus seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 48 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. In 2022, the men's golf team became the first program to earn an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament. Nine FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport – including women's basketball (No. 20 in 2021-22 and No. 22 in 2022-23), baseball (No. 15 in 2023), beach volleyball (No. 20 in 2022), and both men's soccer (2018, 2019) and women's soccer (2018) as five of the most recent. In 2016-17, the Green & Blue posted a department-best sixth-place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors' Cup and top-100 showing nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. In 2018-19, the Eagles had an ASUN and state of Florida best seven teams earn the NCAA's Public Recognition Award for their Academic Progress Rate in their sport. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.67 GPA in the classroom in the fall 2022 semester and has outperformed the general University undergraduate population for 27 consecutive semesters. The past seven semesters (Fall 2019-Fall 2022) saw another milestone reached as all 15 programs achieved a 3.0-or-higher cumulative team GPA. The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours in 2017 – being recognized as one of two runners-up for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.
 
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