On Saturday, April 26, the Bob Jones University Bruins Athletic Department hosted student-athletes, family and friends for the annual awards ceremony as they celebrated the accomplishments from the 2024-25 academic year. Twelve awards were handed out at The Brodys highlighting individual as well as team accomplishments. 

In addition to celebrating the accomplishments from the 2024-25 school year, the Bruins also inducted the 2025 class to the Hall of Fame. The inaugural 2013 cross country teams, the 203-14 inaugural golf team, Mike LeViere, Chris Carmichael, and Jonny Gamet were enshrined into the Bruins Hall of Fame.

Female Student-Athlete of the Year - Mia Marks, Women's Soccer



Mia was an offensive force for the Bruins this year. She scored 16 goals and tallied 15 assists helping lead her team to another national championship. In her 22 matches played, she scored or assisted in 17 of them. She also scored and assisted in each match at the national tournament which resulted in her being named the tournament's most valuable player. She finished the season as a first team All-American, South Region Player of the Year, and National Player of the Year. Throughout the Spring track season, she has set multiple personal bests in the 60 meter, 100 meter, and 200 meter races as well as in the javelin throw.

Nominees: Mia Marks (women's soccer and track & field), Anna Layne Wylder (women's basketball), Faith Blalock (women's volleyball)

Male Student-Athlete of the Year - Devin Pope, men's basketball



This season, Devin made an impact on the court as he averaged 19.9 points per game through 16 games played. On March 14 at the national tournament, Devin set a new career high with 34 points in the win against Campbellsville Harrodsburg. At the start of the postseason, Devin earned a spot on the NCCAA DII South Region Team and was named the South Region Player of the Year. After the basketball team captured the region championship title, the team made their way to the national stage where Devin was named First Team All-American.

Nominees: Devin Pope (men's basketball), Mario Figueroa (men's soccer), Joshua Landry (track & field)

Freshman of the Year - Keely Price, women's basketball



Keely came out with a bang, asserting herself as a huge piece for the Bruins. In the first game of her collegiate career, she scored 29 points with 12 rebounds against Columbia College. That kind of play continued as she averaged 14.5 points and 10.4 rebounds the rest of the season. That helped her become the South Region Freshman of the Year and earn a spot on the South Region First Team.

Nominees: Keely Price (women's Basketball), Hayley Prater (women's volleyball), Mac Carroll (baseball), Braxton Murray (men's basketball)

Comeback Player of the Year - Sam Gaddis, men's soccer 



After breaking his collarbone in preseason, Sam remained patient and led from the sideline hoping he could get back on the soccer pitch later in the season. After getting cleared, he was able to play significant minutes in eight games this season. His calm presence in the midfield helped the Bruins ball movement and possession. He had a key assist in the second game of the National Tournament against Kansas Christian College, a game which the Bruins won 4-0.

Nominees: Sam Gaddis (men's soccer), Bethany Estell (women's volleyball), Evan Seaman (cross country and track & field)

Scholar-Athlete - Matthias Baladi, men's soccer



The Scholar-Athlete award is given to the student-athlete who has the highest GPA during their time here based on the number of credit hours earned and time spent competing in their sport. Matthias Baladi had a three-year career with the men's soccer team where he made an impact in his sport and in the classroom. On the field, he totaled over 4,700 minutes in 57 games played where he recorded nine goals and assisted on four others. He finishes his academic career as a two-time NCCAA Scholar-Athlete and will graduate in just a few weeks with a degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with 150 credits earned with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

Team of the Year - Women's Soccer



The Bruin's women's soccer team dominated all season long. After starting 2-2, they went on to win 15 of their last 18 games. The team had the impressive ability to score goals and put games out of reach for their opponents. They were able to cruise their way to a South Region Championship and National Championship, not allowing a single goal in either tournament. In their last six games of the season, they had a combined score of 34-0.

Nominees: Women's Soccer, Baseball, Men's Soccer, Men's Basketball

Moment of the Year - Mac Carroll's Walk-off Grand Slam



Nominees: Mac Carroll's Walk-off Grand Slam, Mia Marks' Game-Winning Goal at Homecoming, Elyse Vest's 25 Point Serving Streak

Staff Member of the Year - Wyatt Parker, director of athletics



The Staff Member of the Year award honors an individual who has demonstrated a commitment to excellence throughout the year. Through their hard work and willingness to support others, they embody the values and mission of our organization. This year's recipient is Bruins director of athletics, Wyatt Parker.

Brenneman Servant Award



The Brenneman Servant Award is presented in memory of Mr. Sam Brenneman. Sam served for over 21 years in various positions in facility operations at the University. He was an integral part of supporting the Bruins athletics department through various projects over the years. His tireless efforts often went on behind the scenes as Sam and his team helped to provide the best possible experience for our student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans. Sam was a friend of the Bruins and often spent much time cheering the teams on from the stands at games.

This year's recipients are Jeff Carr and Dan Boone. From the inception of the Bruins, these two were instrumental in developing the Bruins webcast. With their knowledge and expertise, the Bruins livestream rivaled many top athletic departments. Beyond their technical skills, our recipients were always willing to go the extra mile—patiently answering questions, training students and staff, and stepping in without hesitation whenever challenges arose. Their teamwork, professionalism, and willingness to support others have made a lasting impact, and we are so grateful for everything they have done to make the Bruins webcast a success.

Male Heart of the Bruin - Brandon Autry, golf



Brandon's passion for golf has grown significantly in the past few years. He began as an inexperienced freshmen to the #1 golfer on the Bruins team. He is a consistent threat and has had multiple top-5 finishes individually in fields with 60 or more collegiate golfers. His work ethic has been unmatched. In the fall, he qualified as an individual golfer for the 2024 NCCAA National Championship. He serves as a co-captain for the Bruins golf team due to his excellence on the golf course and his spiritual example and influence off of it

Nominees: Brandon Autry (golf), Trevor Brunson (men's basketball), Micah Hennegan (men's soccer)

Heart of the Bruin - Eden Swihart, women's volleyball



While she wasn't able to contribute on the court due to injury, Eden spent her senior season serving the volleyball team in a variety of ways. She was the team manager working with the team's defense throughout the season, managing inventory, and making sure the team was prepared for practice and game days. She also stepped in as the team's chaplin, leading the team in devotions and overseeing the team's discipleship outreach program. Throughout the year she has also served as the secretary for the Student Athlete Advisory Committee.

Nominees: Eden Swihart (women's volleyball), Elizabeth Farley (cross country and track & field), Mia Marks (women's soccer)