April 29, 2025

Casson, Bailey bring home high honors at 12th annual Frosty Awards Ceremony

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - Carson-Newman baseball's Kolton Casson 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 12th Annual Frosty Awards ceremony inside Carson-Newman's Gentry Auditorium.

VIDEO: 2025 Frosty Awards Ceremony

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - Carson-Newman baseball's Kolton Casson 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 12th Annual Frosty Awards ceremony inside Carson-Newman's Gentry Auditorium.

Additionally, the beach volleyball program captured team of the year.

The winners, finalists and award history is all below.

Male Athlete of the Year, Kolton Casson - Baseball

VIDEO: Male Athlete of the Year Finalists

Kolton Casson (Baseball): Casson has been spectacular in his first season with the Eagles. The freshman starting pitcher won his first 11 career starts and leads all of DII in wins this year. Casson has produced an earned run average below 2.5 for a majority of the season. The Benton native has complete game efforts in half of his starts this season and ranks top 20 nationally in strikeouts this season.

Other finalists: Jack Browder (Basketball), Andre Morrison (Track & Field), Major Williams (Football)

Past winners:

2014: Ross Frame (Men's 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)

Female Athlete of the Year, Macauley Bailey - Softball

VIDEO: Female Athlete of the Year Finalists

Macauley Bailey (Softball): Following impressive freshman and sophomore seasons, Macauley Bailey has delivered again in her junior season. The Cross Plains native became the program's career leader in home runs on March 1st against Southern Wesleyan and has continued to add to that tally, hitting 15 or more home runs for the third consecutive season. As a junior, she is also already the program record holder for RBI. She is top five in the SAC in batting average, runs batted in and home runs.

Other Finalists: Megan Corcoran (Swimming), Hayden Dye (Softball), Maddie Hurst (Volleyball)

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)

Team of the Year - Beacy Volleyball

VIDEO: Team of the Year Finalists

Beach Volleyball: Carson-Newman beach volleyball put together a historic 2025 season winning the first-ever South Atlantic/Conference Carolinas Regular Season and Tournament titles. The Eagles lived up to the #1 preseason ranking by dominating conference opponents, ending the season undefeated in conference play. The team finished the season with three All-Conference pairs. C-N won 17 straight matches from March 7 – April 17.

Other Finalists: Baseball, Football, Women's Basketball

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

Comeback of the Year - Football at Mars Hill

VIDEO: Comeback of the Year Finalists Video

Football at Mars Hill: It all began with a play the team dubbed, "The On-Sybert." Trailing by 13 with two minutes to go and by six with 1:35 left in the game, Carson-Newman recovered an onside kick and in spite of trailing for every single second of regulation against Mars Hill, the EKG Eagles pushed the ball into the end zone with all zeroes on the clock on a fourth-down, one-yard run from Jayden Sullins to escape Meares Stadium with a 28-27 victory.. The 13-point fourth-quarter comeback was the largest fourth quarter comeback in C-N history. The overall 17-point rally is the fourth-largest overall comeback in school history.

Other Finalists: Baseball v. Emory & Henry, Football at Catawba, Men's Basketball v. Anderson

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

Female Performance of the Year, Blair Cherry - Volleyball

VIDEO: Female Performance of the Year Finalists Video

Blair Cherry vs Lenoir-Rhyne: Almost earning a triple-double in a five-set thriller is one thing. Almost doing it in a sweep of then conference-leading Lenoir-Rhyne is another. Cherry found 39 assists, 11 digs, and eight kills, coming just two kills shy from the feat. Her performance, which included a service ace, saw Cherry hit .438 as Carson-Newman sunk its talons into the Bears, handing LR its first three-set loss of the season.

Other finalists: Megan Corcoran (Swimming), Syerra Rogers (Softball), Lindsey Taylor (Basketball)

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)

Upset of the Year - Women's Swimming v. #7 Wingate

VIDEO: Upset of the Year Finalists Video

Heading into the match against its in-state rival, C-N had not beat Tusculum since 2006 in the SAC Tournament. That changed on April 9th. Despite dropping the doubles point, the Eagles went on to win five of six singles matches to secure the win. All of C-N's wins came in straight sets, dominating the Pioneers en route to a top-30 victory.

Other Finalists: Baseball v. #11 Catawba, Football v. #23 Wingate, Men's Basketball at #16 Lenoir-Rhyne

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

Male Newcomer of the Year, Andre Morrison - Track & Field

VIDEO: Male Newcomer of the Year Finalists Video

Andre Morrison (Track & Field): Two words describe Morrison's first year as an Eagle: National Champion. The transfer broke the school record in the 60-meter dash, not once but three times, toppling 13-time All-American Devon Moore's name from the record book. His final time breaking the record this season came at the NCAA National Championship heat, where he took home the crown with a time of 6.59 seconds, breaking the six-six barrier for the first time.

Other finalists: Braden Ilic (Basketball), Cruz Temple (Football), Jackson Underwood (Baseball)

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)

Male Performance of the Year, Ryan Higgins - Baseball

VIDEO: Male Performance of the Year Finalists

Ryan Higgins (Baseball) v. E&H: Higgins put together one of the most impressive pitching performances in Carson-Newman baseball's history on February 14th. The sophomore pitched six perfect innings. He didn't allow a baserunner in the first 18 batters he faced in his first conference start of the year. The righthander pitched seven no-hit innings with six strikeouts in a 7-0 win over the Wasps.

Other Finalists: Ben Dukes (Soccer), Asger Hartvig (Swimming), Trey Hubbard (Basketball)

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)

Play of the Year - Andre Morrison - Track & Field

VIDEO: Play of the Year Finalists

Andre Morrison's national championship run in the 60 meters

Other Finalists: Tori Rutherford (Women's Basketball), Andrew Sybert (Football), Sherman Turner (Football)

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)

Female Newcomer of the Year, Jennifer Sullivan - Basketball

VIDEO: Female Newcomer of the Year Finalists

Jennifer Sullivan (Basketball): The junior guard acclimated quite well in her first season in Mossy Creek. Sullivan scored 14 points per game and made 43 percent of her three-pointers. The conference's newcomer of the year and All-SAC first-team player scored in double figures 23 times and had 18 games with at least three assists. Her best scoring game of the year came on January 15, when she poured in 29 points and made 11 baskets in a 32-point win over UVA Wise.

Other Finalists: Santana Anderson (Softball), Hala Awad (Tennis), Maria Del Mar Sarda Marti (Tennis)

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)

Coach of the Year, Tom Griffin - Baseball

VIDEO: Coach of the Year Finalists

Tom Griffin (Baseball): Picked to finish 7th in the conference's preseason poll, Griffin has coached his team to exceed those expectations in 2025. The Eagles have their most wins in a season since 2008 and produced their winningest season in South Atlantic Conference play as well. The strong regular season has Carson-Newman contending for a NCAA Tournament berth as well.

Other Finalists: Cat Collins (Beach Volleyball), Ashley Ingram (Football), Mike Mincey (Women's Basketball)

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)

Male Freshman of the Year, Kolton Casson - Baseball

VIDEO: Male Freshman of the Year Finalists

Kolton Casson (Baseball): Casson has tallied SAC and TSWA Pitcher of the Week honors within the first four weeks of starting his career at Carson-Newman. He leads the SAC in WHIP and wins, and is second in the league in strikeouts per nine innings. He has struck out 23 batters this year in games against nationally-ranked opposition.

Other Finalists: Turk Daniels (Football), Rhylan Jordan (Track & Field), Oluwatimi Williams (Track & Field)

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)

Female Freshman of the Year, Megan Corcoran - Swimming

VIDEO: Female Freshman of the Year Finalists

Megan Corcoran (Swimming): Corcoran was honored as the SAC Women's Swimming Freshman of the Year following a pair of gold medal finishes at the SAC Championships. She went on to compete in three events at the NCAA Championships – earning first team All-America honors in the 200 fly.

Other Finalists: Emerson Ahsmush (Beach Volleyball), Maddie Hurst (Volleyball), Addie Saunders (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)

Team Performance of the Year, Women's Basketball v. Glenville State

VIDEO: Team Performance of the Year Finalists

Women's Basketball vs Glenville State: Playing in their first ever game on New Year's Day, the Lady Eagles put on a show, demolishing Glenville State by 50, 114-64. The 114-point effort was a season-high in scoring and the fifth-most in a game in program history. The superb scoring day was highlighted by the program's second-most efficient day in school history. C-N shot 64.8 percent from the field and was above 50 percent in each quarter. C-N dished out 37 assists, one shy of tying the program record.

Other Finalists: Men's Basketball v. North Georgia, Men's Soccer v. Newberry, Volleyball v. Lenoir-Rhyne