ATLANTA – As part of its annual Fall Meetings in Atlanta, the Sun Belt Conference formally recognized award winners from the 2022-23 season at the Sun Belt Honors Banquet.
South Alabama claimed the league’s highest honor, the
Vic Bubas Cup, which is the Sun Belt’s all-sports championship trophy. The Bubas Cup is awarded annually to the top athletics department in the conference based on a points system. The honor is the conference-leading 16th all-time for the Jaguars, who have captured six of the past nine Bubas Cups.
South Alabama, which sponsors 17 of the Sun Belt’s 19 sports, tied for the Sun Belt regular-season men’s tennis championship and earned top-four league finishes in football, men’s cross country, women’s soccer, men’s indoor track & field, women’s indoor track & field, men’s golf, softball, men’s outdoor track & field and women’s outdoor track & field.
“We appreciate the dedication and accomplishments of all of our 2022-23 honorees,” said Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Keith Gill. “We were honored to recognize and celebrate their achievements tonight in Atlanta.”
The Sun Belt announced its Student-Athletes of the Year—Louisiana’s Karly Heath (softball) and Troy’s Carlton Martial (football).
The conference also acknowledged its previously-announced
Postgraduate Scholar-Athletes of the Year—ULM’s Korie Kreps (softball) and Louisiana’s Kacper Dworak (men’s tennis)—and its
NCAA Woman of the Year Nominees—Marshall’s Macie Majoy (women’s track & field) and Southern Miss’ Katelyn Cartwright (women’s cross country).
App State Associate Professor of Public Health & Exercise Science Dr. Zachary Farris was recognized as the
2023 Sun Belt Conference Faculty Member of the Year, while each institution’s nominee was also recognized.
From the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Louisiana received both the Community Impact and Community Service Awards.
James Madison received the Student-Athlete Graduation Rate Award, while Dukes Director of Athletics Jeff Bourne was recognized for his 25 years of service to the institution ahead of his retirement in Spring 2024.
