ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.- The 2023 ECSPYs (Eckerd College Sports Performance Yearly's) is set for Sunday, May 7, at 6:00 PM.
The annual award show celebrates each of our teams and another year in Eckerd Athletics. Student-Athletes will host the show in Miller Auditorium at 6:00 PM with a preceremony social at 5:30 PM.
Triton fans and family can also watch the ECSPYs in our game portal at SunshineStateConference.tv/Eckerd.
In addition to celebrating our team, Eckerd will induct the 2023 Athletics Hall of Fame Class of Felecia Felton, Elmar Koenig, Randy Kwist, and the 2002-03 Elite Eight men's basketball team.
Felicia Felton was a forward on the women's basketball team from 1998-2002. She owns three career program records for points with 1,758, points per game at 16.4, and field goals made with 652. Following her senior year, Felton was tabbed an All-American, the first in program history, earning a spot on the D2 Bulletin Fourth Team. That season, she was also selected to the Daktronics All-South Region First Team and the Sunshine State Conference Player of the Year. She garnered SSC honors her first three seasons as well, with selections to the All-Freshman team in 1998-99, the first team in 1999-2000, and second team accolades in 2000-01.
Elmar Koenig played men's tennis from 2004-07, leading the Tritons to two National Tournament appearances in 2005 and 2006. As a sophomore, Koenig was a two-time All-American, earning a spot on the ITA Singles and Doubles teams. He posted a 17-1 regular-season singles record and a 12-5 regular-season doubles record. He is the only player in program history to earn both singles and doubles All-American honors. He finished the season ranked No. 19 as a singles player and No. 4 in doubles while the team ranked No. 8. Koenig was a five-time All-SSC selection.
Randy Kwist was a third baseman for the Tritons from 1976-79 and a three-year member of the men's soccer program. During his time at Eckerd, he helped lead baseball to four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, including finishing as the National Runner-Up in 1977. He was tabbed a First Team ABCA All-American his senior year in 1979. In 1978, Eckerd won the program's first Sunshine State Conference Championship. Over his four years on the diamond, he played in 173 games with 205 hits and 152 RBIs.
The 2002-03 men's basketball team was arguably one of the most successful teams in Eckerd Athletics history. Eckerd won the NCAA South Regional Championship and advanced to the Elite Eight. The Elite Eight appearance is the furthest NCAA appearance by men's basketball in program history and the second furthest NCAA appearance in all of Eckerd Athletics. The team finished the season 25-7, setting a then-record for wins in a season and making the program's fifth appearance on the national stage.
Below is a list of awards and honors that will be recognized during the ECSPYs. The show also includes an all sports highlight video.
Friends of Athletics: Each year, the entire Athletics Staff selects an individual who has demonstrated extraordinary service and commitment to the department and to our student-athletes.
Professor of the Year: The athletes are asked to nominate those professors who went above and beyond in their mentoring endeavors.
MVP (one per team): The awards celebrate the student-athletes who have given the most valuable performance in athletic competition.
Triton Award (one per team): The award is given to student-athletes who reach the highest levels of athletic achievement, academic excellence, and leadership. We honor the students who have invested so much of themselves in order to achieve excellence in the classroom and compete at a very high level.
Senior Career Achievements: We recognize our senior athletes who have broken a record, or reached a milestone (e.g., 1,000 career points) during their career.
Holt Weeks Award: In honor of William Holt Weeks, the award is given to a men's tennis player who best represents the character and spirit of Holt Weeks - Leader, Scholar, Athlete, Volunteer
Senior Scholar-Athlete Award: The award is presented to one male and female senior student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA.
William J. Mathews Academic Excellence Award: The award is presented to the team with the highest cumulative GPA over the last year (spring 2022, fall 2022, winter 2023).
Athlete of the Year: The award is presented to the top male and female athletes for their athletic performances over the year.
James R. Harley Award: The award is presented to the male and female senior student-athletes who demonstrate leadership and excellence in the classroom, on the field of competition, and in their community. This is the highest award an Eckerd student-athlete can receive, and it is given in honor of Jim Harley, who served the college as director of athletics for nearly 40 years.
Athletic Directors Honor Roll: The award honors student-athletes with a GPA of 3.0 or higher in the fall term.
