WINTER PARK, Fla. (April 26, 2026) – The Rollins Student-Athlete Advisory Committee hosted the annual Tommy Awards on Sunday evening, celebrating and recognizing the outstanding achievements across Rollins athletics over the past year.
Ten awards were presented throughout the ceremony, highlighting some of the top moments while honoring the accomplishments of Tars coaches and student-athletes. Members of the broader campus community and athletic support staff joined in celebrating another memorable year in Rollins athletics.
Female Newcomer of the Year
Youyang Li - Women's Golf
Youyang has helped the women's golf team to a consistent Top 20 national ranking and a berth in the upcoming NCAA Regional. She leads the Tars in stroke average, took first place at the 84-person Lynn Invitational, and also claimed a third-place finish at the SSC Championship.
Male Newcomer of the Year
Lawson Prather - Men's Tennis
Lawson has been remarkable in his year for men's tennis. Playing from line one as a true freshman, he has taken on one of the toughest schedules in the entire country. Lawson currently ranks eighth in the ITA national rankings and has the only win over the current top-ranked player in the country.
Coach of the Year
Keith Buckley - Men's Soccer
Coach Buckley took the Tars to the NCAA National Championship game for the first time since 2010, tying the program record for best season finish. Rollins was never ranked in the Top 25 poll during the year and still managed to earn seven Top 25 wins, including a shutout of #1 and undefeated Fort Hays State in the national semifinal.
Teammate of the Year
Carder Ungerott - Men's Lacrosse
A Rollins staff member described Carder as "one of the best guys we've ever had in the program." His leadership and dedication were on display at Saint Leo this year. Unable to play, Carder drove himself to the game, and when a teammate ended up in the hospital, he hung back and drove him home hours after the game had ended, showing a true display of brotherhood.
Phil Roach Sportsmanship Award
Molly Mendes - Women's Lacrosse
Molly's coaches praise her ability to treat everyone with respect, including teammates, coaches, and officials alike. While leading the team in goals and points this season, she showed humility, class, and a high standard of character. She has a remarkable gift for uplifting those around her, making everyone feel seen and valued.
Senior Scholar Award
Richard Stoiberer - Men's Tennis
Richie has been a key member of our team who has helped guide the program for the past two years as captain. He is majoring in international business and computer science, with minors in data analytics and Spanish, while maintaining an outstanding 3.98 GPA. On the court, he earned All-American honors in doubles last season, highlighting his success both inside and outside the classroom.
Team Spirit Award
Volleyball
No other team on campus has supported their fellow Tars online like volleyball. They constantly share gameday posts and celebrate other teams' wins. If you are attending a game on campus, you will likely see a group of volleyball players. They also give back, with their Dig Pink and Colorful & Courageous fundraiser games.
Moment of the Year
Men's Soccer Defeats Fort Hays State to Advance to National Championship
Men's soccer snuck into the NCAA Regional as a 5 seed, and went on to win their next three matches by a combined score of 9-2, leading to a berth in the National semifinal in Colorado. There, they were matched up against undefeated and #1-ranked Fort Hays State. The Tars put together an incredible performance, with Justin Nelson scoring the lone goal of the game in the 24th minute, and Killian Vallant recording seven saves in the shutout win.
Male Athlete of the Year
Charlie Ross - Waterski
Charlie won his second consecutive NCWSA Collegiate National Championship slalom gold medal with a record-breaking performance in October. But he isn't just a college superstar; he is the reigning IWWF U-21 World Champion and world record holder.
Female Athlete of the Year
Alyssa Novoa - Women's Tennis
Alyssa has dominated in her first year on campus. In the fall, she earned a bid to the ITA Cup, the first Tar since 2001 to do so. During the Spring semester, she went 20-5 from line one against some of the toughest opponents in the country, and reached #2 in the national rankings.
The evening concluded with a recognition of Rollins' graduating student-athletes, who were presented with stoles to wear at commencement, along with special cords honoring each team's SAAC representatives. The event closed with a highlight reel showcasing some of the year's most memorable moments across Rollins athletics.
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