Brandywine Celebrates Year In Athletics At 36th-Annual Banquet
MEDIA, Pa. -- Penn State Brandywine officially wrapped up the 2023-24 athletics year by celebrating the accomplishments of its teams and student-athletes during the 36th-annual Brandywine All-Sports Banquet on Wednesday night.
More than 100 student-athletes from all 12 of Brandywine's varsity sports were honored with awards. During the 2023-24 academic year, 99 student-athletes earned PSUAC All-Academic Team laurels, while 19 claimed USCAA National Academic Team awards. Athletically, Brandywine featured 35 all-conference standouts, 18 USCAA All-Americans, four conference players of the year and two national players of the year.
Brandywine won PSUAC championships in men's soccer for the seventh-straight year and softball for the ninth consecutive season. The Lions' softball team captured its second-straight national championship on May 16.
The night concluded with Brandywine's four major awards:
Joseph J. Quigley Student-Staff Award: Cam Baughman
This award is given annually to a student-athlete who works or interns for the department. A member of the baseball team, Baughman served as a gameday staff member and fitness attendant for the last three years and interned for the athletic department during the spring 2023 semester.
Distinguished Leader Award: Kyle Reuter
This award honors a student-athlete who is active as a leader among their team and in areas outside of athletics. Reuter is a three-year team captain who helped Brandywine win the 2021 men's soccer national championship. He has earned two all-conference honors and was a second team all-American in 2022.
Lloyd Vernon Heart of a Lion Award: Jess James
The Heart of a Lion Award is given each year to an athlete that exemplifies pride in Brandywine, a strong work ethic, kindness and joy for life. James was a three-sport student-athlete at Brandywine during the 2023-24 academic year, competing in soccer, basketball and softball. In addition to being a two-time softball national champion and women's soccer conference player of the year, James is an active member of the military and graduated from Brandywine in just three years with a degree in psychology.
Scholar-Athletes of the Year: Karly Rees and Connor Thompson
This award is the highest academic honor given out at the banquet each year. In addition to winning Scholar-Athletes of the Year, Rees and Thompson were both honored with the John S. Egli Awards from the PSUAC as the best scholar-athletes in the conference. Rees was also named Student-Athlete of the Year by the USCAA, the fourth Brandywine student-athlete to win the award. On the field, Rees and Thompson were both named all-Americans by the USCAA.