ELON, N.C. – The Elon University Department of Athletics held its 36^th annual athletics awards banquet on Monday evening at Alumni Gymnasium, recognizing and remembering many of the outstanding performances of the 2009-10 school year. Three-time first-team All-American senior wide receiver Terrell Hudgins and senior Southern Conference Women’s Tennis Player of the Year Anna Milian were selected as the Stein H. Basnight Outstanding Athlete award winners.

The Stein H. Basnight Outstanding Athlete Award has been presented annually since 1958 in memory of the late Stein H. Basnight of Chapel Hill, N.C. The award honors the most outstanding Phoenix male and female athletes of the year, as determined by the Elon Department of Athletics’ administrative staff. Jesse Basnight, Jr. and Janis Basnight represented the Basnight family at the banquet.

Hudgins, who received the Stein H. Basnight Award for the second time in his career, left a legacy on Phoenix football that will never be forgotten. His record-breaking performances drew national attention as the standout receiver concluded his collegiate career as the holder of 10 NCAA records, including nine set during the 2009 season. Hudgins shattered four records held by the legendary Jerry Rice who played at Mississippi Valley State from 1981-84, including overtaking the career receiving yards mark with 5,250. The Elon fan-favorite finished as the runner-up for the 2009 Walter Payton Award, which is presented to the top offensive player at the Football Championship Subdivision level. As a senior, Hudgins caught an FCS-record 123 passes for a Southern Conference-record 1,633 yards. For the second time in four years, he led the nation in receiving yards per game (136.1) and receptions per game (10.3) in 2009. Hudgins was named to All-America teams by the American Football Coaches Association, The Associated Press, the Walter Camp Football Foundation and The Sports Network in his final year in the maroon and gold. Hudgins is only the sixth Elon male student- athlete to receive the Basnight Award twice in his career.

Milian will leave Elon as one of the most storied women’s tennis players in school history. She finished her career with a 51-16 singles record, winning 76 percent of her matches, the best percentage by an Elon women’s tennis player during the Division I era. Milian helped the Phoenix to 16 victories in 2010, the most by the women’s tennis squad since making the move to Division I. The three-time first-team All-SoCon singles performer reeled off an 18-4 mark in her final season, including a 9-1 record against league opponents. Milian was just as impressive on the doubles court, teaming with Elisa Simonetti for a 16-5 record in 2010. The pair defeated the 11^th-ranked duo in the country at the University of North Carolina and put together a streak of 12 consecutive wins during the season. During her impressive senior season, Milian was named the league’s player of the month in both February and March.

Senior men’s soccer standout Steven Kinney and junior softball third baseman Caitlin McGowan were recognized as the recipients of the Robert C. Browne Memorial Sportsmanship Award. The Browne Award was established in 1972 in memory of Elon alumnus Robert C. Browne by his sister, Pretto Browne-Crumpton, and her husband, Dr. J.L. Crumpton, and is presented annually to the Elon male and female athletes who have best displayed exemplary qualities of sportsmanship as determined by the Elon Department of Athletics administrative staff.

Recognized with The Browne Award for the second consecutive year, Kinney led the Elon back line during his four years with the program. The Phoenix tied the single-season school record with 10 shutouts in 2009, bringing the clean slate total to 28 during Kinney’s career. The native of Norcross, Ga. became the first-ever Elon player to sign a Major League Soccer contract after being drafted in the MLS SuperDraft by the Chicago Fire in January. Kinney was also the first Phoenix men’s soccer player to earn Academic All-America status with his selection to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America third team last fall. 

McGowan has excelled as Elon’s starting third baseman, leading her team to its best season since moving to the Division I ranks in 2001. She has helped the team to 33 overall wins this season and its best-ever Southern Conference record at 15-9. Moving to third base for her junior season, she has registered 44 putouts and 80 assists. The Midlothian, Va. native has helped her team to a conference-leading five runs per game, finding a way to get on base at nearly every at bat. Her 45.2 on-base percentage and .63 walks per game rank her among the nation’s best.

Senior men’s golfer Scott Hockemeyer, junior men’s soccer player Greg Mader and junior volleyball team member Sarah Schermerhorn claimed A.L. Hook Scholar-Athlete accolades. Hockemeyer, who is receiving the honor for the second straight year, garners a 3.83 cumulative grade-point average as an accounting major. Mader also owns a 3.83 cumulative GPA as mathematics major and Schermerhorn boasts an impressive 3.97 GPA in business.

The Hook Award has been presented annually since 1975 in honor of Dr. A.L. Hook to the Phoenix male and female junior or senior athletes who possess the highest cumulative grade-point average with a minimum of two years of playing time at Elon.

Most Valuable Performer went to Hudgins in football, Kinney in men’s soccer, Sydney Little in women’s soccer, Traci Stewart in volleyball, Justin Gianni in men’s cross country, Emily Fournier in women’s cross country, Melanie Lutz in cheerleading, Jamie Lee DeVantier in dance, Adam Constantine in men’s basketball, Ali Ford in women’s basketball, David Lawton in athletic training, Sam Tippit in service, Philip Nemec in men’s tennis, Anna Milian in women’s tennis, Matt Hinson in baseball, Tomeka Watson in softball, Jayson Judy in men’s golf, Tara McFadden in women’s golf and Veronica Day in track and field.

Coach Bill Morningstar’s men’s golf team also honored Stephen Dressel (Most Consistent), Phil Bartholomew (Leadership Award) and Hockemeyer (Coach’s Award) while coach Chris Dockrill’s women’s golf squad acknowledged Kelsey Johnson (Leadership Award) and Lauren Lebak (Coach’s Award).

On the football team, head coach Pete Lembo recognized Nolan Ward (Most Outstanding Defensive Back), Chris Werden (Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman), Joshua Jones (Most Outstanding Linebacker), Andre Campbell (Most Outstanding Defensive Lineman), Hudgins (Most Outstanding Wide Receiver), Scott Riddle (Most Outstanding Offensive Back), Eric Ludwig (Most Outstanding Defensive Player) and David Harrison (Leadership Award).

On the diamond, coach Mike Kennedy’s baseball team selected Alex Swim (Freshman of the Year), Matt Kirchner (Coach’s Award), Jimmy Reyes (Pitcher of the Year), Neal Pritchard (Golden Glove Award), Scott Riddle (Mr. Clutch), Daniel Britt (Mr. Consistency) and Mike Melillo (Danieley Memorial Sportsmanship Award) as the award winners for this season.

Coach Karen Barefoot’s women’s basketball team acknowledged Kelsey Evans (Best All Around), Tiffany Davis (Top Defender), Tiara Gause (Spark Award), Urysla Cotton (Most Improved) and Kallie Hovatter (6^th Man Award).

TJ Douglas (Coach’s Award) and Chris Long (Phoenix Award) were honored from head coach Matt Matheny’s men’s basketball squad.

On the tennis courts, men’s coach Michael Leonard recognized Alberto Rojas (Best Postseason Performer), Clark Howell (Coach’s Award) and Thomas Darling (Heart and Hustle Award). Women’s coach Elizabeth Anderson selected Lauren Sessoms (Most Improved), Laura Graybill (Heart and Hustle Award) and Paige Kensrue (Most Inspirational Player) as her award winners for 2010.

Coach Patti Raduenz softball team acknowledged Danielle Lafferty (Gold Glove Award), Emerald Graham (Top Newcomer), Erin O’Shea (Coach’s Award) and Caitlin McGowan (Fire of the Phoenix).

Coach Mary Tendler’s volleyball squad honored Emily Regan (Coach’s Award), Allison Johnson (Most Improved) and Ali Deatsch (Top Newcomer).

On the soccer fields, Chris Thomas (Top Newcomer) and Clint Irwin (Scholar Athlete) were selected as Darren Powell’s men’s soccer award winners, while Chris Neal’s women’s squad acknowledged Molly Calpin (Offensive MVP), Claire O’Keeffe (Defensive MVP) and Scarlett Fakhar (Most Improved). 

Coach Christine Engel’s women’s cross country team honored Caitlin Beeler (Coach’s Award), Morgan Denecke (Hustle Award) and Allyson Costa (Miss Consistency), while the men’s team recognized Clay Sankey (Coach’s Award), Willie Schefer (Hustle Award) and Matt Richardson (Mr. Consistency).

Coach Mark Elliston’s track and field squad acknowledged Caitlin Beeler (Outstanding Track), Justine Robertson (Outstanding Field) and Veronica Day (High Point Award).

Coach Sandra Bays’ cheerleading squad recognized Chelsey McGinnis (Coach’s Award) and coach Kristin Belton’s dance team selected Michelle Murphy (Coach’s Award) as its honoree. Eric Storsved’s athletic trainers acknowledged Hollis Theard (Sports Medicine Award).