April 28, 2026

Browder, Bailey bring home high honors at 13th annual Frosty Awards Ceremony

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - Carson-Newman men's basketball's Jack Browder and softball's Macauley Bailey brought home top honors as the Frosty Award winners for Male and Female Athlete of the Year, respectively, Tuesday evening at the 13th Annual Frosty Awards ceremony inside Carson-Newman's Gentry Auditorium.

VIDEO: 2026 Frosty Awards Ceremony

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - Carson-Newman men's basketball's Jack Browder and softball's Macauley Bailey brought home top honors as the Frosty Award winners for Male and Female Athlete of the Year, respectively, Tuesday evening at the 13th Annual Frosty Awards ceremony inside Carson-Newman's Gentry Auditorium.

Additionally, the women's basketball program captured team of the year.

The winners, finalists and award history is all below.

Male Athlete of the Year, Jack Browder - Basketball

VIDEO: Male Athlete of the Year Finalists

The SAC Player of the Year and a first-team All-American, Browder became the second player in both SAC and school history to average 25 points per game over the course of a season. Browder was the only player in NCAA Division II to lead his league in both scoring and rebounding. On top of that, he was named the CSC Academic All-American of the Year for his efforts in the class room.

Other finalists: Logan Floyd (Baseball), Rylan Jordan (Track & Field), Gabriel Morales (Swimming)

Past winners:

2014: Ross Frame (Soccer)

2015: Andy Hibbett (Football)

2016: Damian Baker (Football)

2017: Charles Clark (Basketball)

2018: Tanner Stepp (Track and Field)

2019: Luke Greer (Cross Country)

2020: Devon Moore (Track and Field), Desmond Fairell (Football)

2021: Brayden Coe (Baseball)

2022: Jonathan Nielsen (Golf)

2023: Maka Charamba (Track and Field)

2024: John Zhao (Basketball)

2025: Kolton Casson (Baseball)

2026: Jack Browder (Basketball)

Female Athlete of the Year, Macauley Bailey - Softball

VIDEO: Female Athlete of the Year Finalists

Carson-Newman softball's all-time leader in home runs and runs batted in, Macauley Bailey has added an outstanding final chapter in her career. Bailey is leading the South Atlantic Conference with a .456 batting average and 54 RBIs. She is Division II's active leader in career RBIs. Bailey is second in the SAC with a career-best 68 hits and is posting the best batting average and on-base percentage marks of her career.

Other Finalists: Emerson Ahsmuhs (Volleyball), Hala Awad (Tennis), Megan Corcoran (Swimming)

Past Winners:

2014: Kelli Hensley (Softball)

2015: Rachel Harper (Volleyball)

2016: Margaret Stansberry (Swimming)

2017: Lauren Wade (Women's Soccer)

2018: Lauren Wade (Women's Soccer)

2019: Averi Williams (Women's Soccer)

2020: Kayla Marosites (Basketball)

2021: Braelyn Wykle (Basketball)

2022: Emily Harris (Softball)

2023: Manon Compagner (Swimming)

2024: Braelyn Wykle (Basketball)

2025: Macauley Bailey (Softball)

2026: Macauley Bailey (Softball)

Team of the Year - Women's Basketball

VIDEO: Team of the Year Finalists

The Lady Eagles produced the program's 24th 20-win season in 2025-26 which was highlighted by winning their second-ever Southeast Regional Championship. To make the Elite Eight, Carson-Newman defeated three straight ranked teams which included three of the top four seeds. C-N continued be a staple at the NCAA Tournament, making its eighth tournament in the last nine years. Four different players were honored with All-SAC selections during the program's 24-win season.

Other Finalists: Beach Volleyball, Volleyball, Softball

Past winners:

2014: Men's Soccer

2015: Volleyball

2016: Volleyball

2017: Women's Soccer and Softball

2018: Women's Soccer

2019: Women's Soccer

2020: Volleyball

2021: Women's Swimming

2022: Men's Golf

2023: Women's Swimming

2024: Women's Basketball

2025: Beach Volleyball

2026: Women's Basketball

Comeback of the Year - Baseball v. Wingate

VIDEO: Comeback of the Year Finalists Video

Carson-Newman rallied from another three-run ninth inning deficit and a seven-run deficit overall. This one was against #19 Wingate and was all done with two outs. Five straight batters reached base with two outs. Maddox Greene made it a one-run game with a two-run single, and then fellow freshman Matthew Bishop followed with a two-run single down the right field line to complete the ninth inning comeback. The three-run comeback in the ninth was the program's second this season.

Other Finalists: Baseball at Anderson, Men's Basketball at UVA Wise, Volleyball at Lee

Past winners:

2014: Women's Basketball and Whitney Kyle at Newberry

2015: Women's Golf at the SAC Championships

2016: Men's Basketball at Newberry

2017: Women's Tennis v. Newberry

2018: Volleyball v. Anderson

2019: Women's Basketball at Newberry

2020: Softball at Tusculum

2021: Football at UVA Wise

2022: Women's Basketball at Anderson

2023: Softball v. Tusculum

2024: Baseball v. Tusculum

2025: Football at Mars Hill

2026: Baseball v. Wingate

Female Performance of the Year, Megan Corcoran - Swimming

VIDEO: Female Performance of the Year Finalists Video

Corcoran delivered a dominant performance at the SAC Championships, sweeping all four of her individual events with gold medals in the 200 butterfly, 200 backstroke, 200 IM, and 400 IM. Corcoran was named Female Swimmer of the Meet. Corcoran won her four races by an average margin of 2.60 seconds over the runner-up.

Other finalists: Emery Fisher (Golf), Caroline Hill (Women's Basketball), Maddie Hurst (Volleyball)

Past Winners:

2014: Tiana Mills (Track and field)

2015: Kristen Pickett (Volleyball)

2016: Alli Webster (Softball)

2017: Elizabeth England (Golf)

2018: Maggie Melhorn (Swimming)

2019: Haris Price (Basketball)

2020: Kayla Marosites (Basketball)

2021: CJ Jensen (Swimming)

2022: Kailee Morgan (Swimming)

2023: Manon Compagner (Swimming)

2024: Braelyn Wykle (Basketball)

2025: Blair Cherry (Volleyball)

2026: Megan Corcoran (Swimming)

Upset of the Year - Baseball v. #3 Catawba

VIDEO: Upset of the Year Finalists Video

Carson-Newman's only win over a ranked team in 2026 was in the series finale with #3 Catawba. The Eagles rallied from down two runs in the 6th inning to win 6-4. The win for the Eagles was their first over a top five team since defeating top-ranked Tampa in 2020. Pinch-hitter Matthew Bishop scored two runs to tie the game with a single. Later in the frame, Cole Nathan launched a go-ahead home run, his first of the season that sealed the win.

Other Finalists: Football at #19 Wingate, Women's Basketball v. #18 Lenoir-Rhyne, Women's Tennis v. #34 Anderson

Past Winners:

2014: Men's Basketball v. #7 LMU

2015: Men's Basketball v. #1 LMU

2016: Women's Basketball v. #6 Columbus State

2017: Baseball v. #15 Catawba

2018: Baseball v. #2 Belmont Abbey

2019: Baseball v. #9 Newberry

2020: Baseball v. #1 Tampa

2021: Women's Tennis v. #18 Queens

2022: Men's Soccer v. #11 Limestone

2023: Football v. #9 Newberry

2024: Men's Tennis v. #30 Tusculum

2025: Women's Swimming v. #7 Wingate

2026: Baseball v. #3 Catawba

Male Newcomer of the Year, Gabriel Morales - Swimming

VIDEO: Male Newcomer of the Year Finalists Video

Morales put together All-America swims in the 100 fly, 200 fly and 100 backstroke in his first season in the water for the Orange and Blue. Morales also reset the school and SAC records while capturing bronze in the 100 fly. His bronze medal finish is the highest mark by a Carson-Newman swimmer at nationals.

Other finalists: Richemard Mellien (Football), Bradley Soto Diaz (Baseball), Brady Wentz (Golf)

Past Winners:

2014: Ross Frame (men's soccer)

2015: Tanner Stepp (Track and Field)

2016: Kevin Snead (Track and Field)

2017: Shaun Jones (Basketball)

2018: Dillon Cate (Baseball)

2019: Mike Wroth (Baseball)

2020: Braxton Westfield (Football)

2021: Joseph Oreva (Track and Field)

2022: DeQuan Dudley (Football)

2023: Hayden Hunneke (Golf)

2024: Trey Hubbard (Basketball)

2025: Andre Morrison (Track and Field)

2026: Gabriel Morales (Swimming)

Male Performance of the Year, Jack Browder - Men's Basketball

VIDEO: Male Performance of the Year Finalists

Browder altered the record books in his penultimate home game in Holt Fieldhouse. He dropped 46 on Mars Hill for the fourth-best scoring night in school history. He connected on 12-of-20 shots from the field, 5-of-9 threes and 17-of-17 free throws. The perfect night at the stripe broke Tommy Everette's 59-year old school record for most free throws made in a game without missing.

Other Finalists: Jack Browder (Basketball), Christian Henderson (Baseball), Gabriel Morales (Swim)

Past Winners:

2014: De'Andre Thomas (Football)

2015: Charles Clark (Men's Basketball)

2016: Andrew Hall (Men's Golf)

2017: Charles Clark (Men's Basketball)

2018: Tom Forster (Men's Golf)

2019: Tom Forster (Men's Golf)

2020: Tom Forster (Men's Golf)

2021: Tripp Davis (Men's Basketball)

2022: Elliot Macgregor (Men's Golf)

2023: Braxton Westfield (Football)

2024: Nick Brenegan (Men's Basketball)

2025: Ryan Higgins (Baseball)

2026: Jack Browder (Men's Basketball)

Play of the Year - Molly Bukiewicz - Women's Soccer

VIDEO: Play of the Year Finalists

Molly Bukiewicz's goal with 16 seconds left to equalize versus Anderson

Other Finalists: Kyle Adams (Baseball), Abbi Martin (Softball), Jennifer Sullivan (Women's Basketball)

Past Winners:

2014: Rachel Harper (volleyball)

2015: Rurik Pereira (Men's Soccer)

2016: Zack Pangallo (Men's Basketball)

2017: Jake Headrick (Men's Golf)

2018: Tanner Stepp (Track and Field)

2019: Devon Moore (Track and Field)

2020: Braxton Westfield (Football)

2021: Charlie Brown, Micah Genter and Matt Parkinson (Baseball)

2022: Ryan Potts, Micah Genter and Matt Parkinson (Baseball)

2023: Maka Charamba (Track & Field) and Manon Compagner (Swimming)

2024: Abbi Martin (Softball)

2025: Andre Morrison (Track & Field)

2026: Molly Bukiewicz (Women's Soccer)

Female Newcomer of the Year, Grace Gregory - Softball

VIDEO: Female Newcomer of the Year Finalists

After missing last season with an injury at North Alabama, Gregory has been one of the most dangerous bats in the Carson-Newman order. She is top three in the SAC in home runs, RBI and total bases. Gregory is hitting .480 since spring break with eight multi-RBI games.

Other Finalists: Lucy Bartee (Beach Volleyball), Rachel Ehlers (Volleyball), Lovelynne Larrame (Track & Field)

Past Winners:

2014: Combined male and female newcomer of the year was presented to men's soccer's Ross Frame

2015: Elizabeth England (Women's Golf)

2016: Jules Herrity (Soccer)

2017: Lauren Wade (Soccer)

2018: Kayla Marosites (Basketball)

2019: Allison Rager (Softball)

2020: Kaina Roehrkasse (Volleyball)

2021: Lindsey Taylor (Basketball)

2022: Emily Harris (Softball)

2023: Sade De Sousa (Track and Field)

2024: Emma Frost (Softball)

2025: Jennifer Sullivan (Women's Basketball)

2026: Grace Gregory (Softball)

Coach of the Year, Cat Collins - Beach Volleyball

VIDEO: Coach of the Year Finalists

Collins was named SAC Coach of the Year after the beach volleyball team did the double, winning both regular season and tournament titles for a second straight year. On the national stage, the Eagles placed seventh at the AVCA Small College Beach Volleyball Tournament to cap the season. Collins has now led her program to back-to-back undefeated conference seasons going a combined 20-0 over the last two years.

Other Finalists: Michael Graves (Softball), Mike Mincey (Women's Basketball), Kieran Showler-Davis (Track & Field)

Past Winnners:

2014: Richard Moodie (men's soccer)

2015: Vickee Kazee-Hollifield (Softball)

2016: Richard Moodie (women's soccer)

2017: Vickee Kazee-Hollifield (Softball)

2018: Simon Duffy (Women's Soccer) and Mike Mincey (Women's Basketball)

2019: Simon Duffy (Women's Soccer)

2020: Stephen Lyons (Men's Soccer)

2021: Chuck Benson (Men's Basketball)

2022: Randy Wylie (Men's Golf)

2023: Ben Young (Women's Swimming)

2024: David Needs (Women's Track)

2025: Tom Griffin (Baseball)

2026: Cat Collins (Beach Volleyball)

Male Freshman of the Year, Cadence Dolgin - Track & Field

VIDEO: Male Freshman of the Year Finalists

Dolgin made an early first impression breaking the school's indoor pole vault record in his first event at 4.70 meters, earning himself SAC Athlete of the week. He broke the record twice more during indoor season, capping the campaign with a silver medal at the SAC Championships. The Lebanon, Tennessee native picked up where he left off breaking Carson-Newman's outdoor pole vault record with 4.85 meters at the Lee University Invitational. Dolgin has podiumed in seven events this year, winning gold three times.

Other Finalists: Dylan Frein (Golf), Maddox Greene (Baseball), Sebastian Rodriguez (Baseball)

Past Winners:

2014: No award given

2015: No award given

2016: Carson Wise (Football)

2017: Tom Forster (Golf)

2018: Devon Moore (Track and Field)

2019: Matt George (Swimming)

2020: Christian Shouse (Track and Field)

2021: Ren Dyer (Basketball)

2022: Elliot Macgregor (Golf)

2023: Tyree Nelson (Football)

2024: Mekhi Brown (Football)

2025: Kolton Casson (Baseball)

2026: Cadence Dolgin (Track & Field)

Female Freshman of the Year, Maliyah Smith - Softball

VIDEO: Female Freshman of the Year Finalists

Smith has been at the top of the order and starting shortstop in every game this season for one of the nation's top offenses. With more than 70 hits, she leads the SAC and is fourth nationally. Smith leads Carson-Newman with 25 multi-hit days, including 10 three-hit outings. She has had a nine-game hitting streak and reached base safely in 15 consecutive games.

Other Finalists: Katie Edmunds (Track & Field), Chloe Heath (Basketball), Atiana Stamper (Softball)

Past Winners:

2014: No award given

2015: No award given

2016: Varin Ness (Soccer)

2017: Lacie Rinus (Softball)

2018: CJ Jensen (Swimming)

2019: Maeve Cummins (Golf)

2020: Manon Compagner (Swimming) and Braelyn Wykle (Basketball)

2021: Macey Hughes (Softball)

2022: Hayden Dye (Softball)

2023: Macauley Bailey (Softball)

2024: Blair Cherry (Volleyball)

2025: Megan Corcoran (Swimming)

2026: Maliyah Smith (Softball)

Team Performance of the Year, Men's Basketball at Lander

VIDEO: Team Performance of the Year Finalists

Carson-Newman got a 30-point, 15-rebound double-double from Jack Browder and used a man-to-man defense to confound Lander into a rough shooting night in a 74-61 win over the Bearcats. C-N held the eventual national runners up to 35.7 percent shooting and a 5-of-25 mark (20 percent) from beyond the arc. The scoring and shooting percentages were season lows for Lander.

Other Finalists: Football v. Lenoir-Rhyne, Women's Basketball v. Coker, Women's Basketball v. Lenoir-Rhyne

Past Award Winners

2014: No award given

2015: No award given

2016: No award given

2017: Men's Golf at the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate

2018: Women's Soccer v. Columbus State

2019: Men's Golf at the Aflac Cougar Invite

2020: Volleyball v. USC Aiken

2021: Men's Basketball v. Queens

2022: Women's Basketball v. Anderson

2023: Women's Basketball v. North Georgia

2024: Women's Basketball v. Anderson

2025: Women's Basketball v. Glenville State

2026: Men's Basketball at Lander

Championship Moment, Mattie Nuckolls - Women's Basketball

VIDEO: Championship Moment Finalists

Leading the way in Carson-Newman's run to a Southeast Regional Championship was Tournament MVP Mattie Nuckolls, who finished off regional play with another dazzling performance. She scored 19 points in the championship game on seven of 13 shooting with three more triples. Nuckolls finished the Southeast Regional Tournament averaging 22 points, six rebounds and two steals per game. Her 22 points per game came on a ridiculous 66.6% shooting percentage from the field and a 65% mark from three-point range.

Other Finalists: Madison Trondle and Kelsey Peterson (Beach Volleyball), Rylan Jordan (Men's Track & Field), Gabriel Morales (Men's Swimming)