Swords Awards 2018

ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – Celebrating another successful academic and athletic year, the 2018 Swords Awards were held on Tuesday night, acknowledging the UCF student-athletes for their accomplishments in and out of competition.
 
Student-athletes, coaches, staff and members of the Golden Knights Club gathered for the annual tradition at CFE Arena.

One female and one male student-athletes were recognized for their athletic successes with the Iron Knight, Heart of the Knight, Freshman Of the Year and Athlete of the Year honors.

The Swords Awards saw the addition of an award at the 2018 event, as those in attendance were able to cast their votes for Moment of the Year. On the women's side, rowing took home the inaugural award for completing the "three-peat" by winning the 2017 American Athletic Conference Championship. For the men, Mike Hughes' game-winning kickoff return in the War on I-4 took home the trophy.

This year, the Knights were again excited to celebrate the highest honor a UCF student can receive. Volleyball's Taylor Wickey, football's Matthew Wright, men's basketball's Anthony Catotti and track and field's Bailey Ranson were recognized for being named to the Order of Pegasus. Order of Pegasus recognizes exemplary performance by graduate and undergraduate students in the areas of academic achievement, outstanding university involvement, leadership and community service.

The Dr. Richard Lapchick Servant Leader Award, which measures both athletic and academic achievements, along with community service, was presented to Aliyah Gregory (women's basketball) and Jay Hollman (cheer).

Kayla Adamek (women's soccer) and Logan Heiser (baseball) were honored with the Bill Callarman Perseverance Award, which is named after UCF's former NCAA Faculty Representative.

The Dr. John C. Hitt Scholar-Athletes of the Year winners were track and field's Rosie Chamberlain and football's Matthew Wright.

Tennis swept the highest team grade-point average awards. For the third consecutive year, women's tennis earned the highest female team GPA (3.66), while the men's tennis team held the highest male team GPA (3.43). The football team earned the Excalibur Cup Award, which encompasses great community service, leadership development, academic and athletic excellence and support and pride for their peers' events.

The following is a look at the awards that were handed out Tuesday night:
 
Athlete of the Year
Female: Morgan Ferrara, Women's Soccer
Male: McKenzie Milton, Football

Dr. John C. Hitt Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Female: Rosie Chamberlain, Track and Field
Male: Matthew Wright, Football
 
Highest Team GPA
Women's Tennis
Men's Tennis
 
Excalibur Cup
Football
 
Dr. Richard Lapchick Servant Leader Award
Female: Aliyah Gregory, Women's Basketball
Male: Jay Hollman, Cheer
 
Dr. Bill Callarman Perseverance Award
Female: Kayla Adamek, Women's Soccer
Male: Logan Heiser, Baseball
 
Heart of the Knight
Female: Aliyah Gregory, Women's Basketball
Male: Shaquem Griffin, Football
 
Iron Knight Award
Female: Megan Greenwell, Softball
Male: Jonathan Dean, Men's Soccer
 
Freshman of the Year
Female: Dina Orschmann, Women's Soccer
Male: Yoni Sorokin, Men's Soccer