Written by: Ann Marie Martin May 31, 2024 Sam Wilhelm, one of The University of Alabama in Huntsville’s (UAH) outstanding scholar-athletes, earned four All-American distinctions in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track during the 2023-2024 season. He also won the Gulf South Conference Commissioner’s Trophy men’s award, presented annually to two student-athletes, one male and one female, who best combine outstanding performance on the field or court and high academic achievement in the classroom with significant community service and extracurricular activities. UAH Athletics Student-athletes at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) brought home several firsts and numerous other honors this spring as they continued their tradition of excellence in baseball, softball, lacrosse, and track and field. UAH is a part of The University of Alabama System. Baseball Chargers shortstop Merik Carter was responsible for a few notable firsts: All-Gulf South Conference (GSC) First Team National College Baseball Writers of America (NCBWA) All-South Region First Team Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) and American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) All-South Region First Team Carter, from Shelbyville, Tenn., led the Chargers in batting average, on-base plus slugging (OPS), hits, doubles, triples, home runs, and slugging percentage. Softball UAH gained its 42nd softball All-American when the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) named Alexa Douthitt to its 2024 NFCA All-Americans Second Team. She became the GSC Co-Player of the Year after leading the Chargers to a 40-18 overall record and the program’s 21st consecutive berth in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament. UAH softball star Alexa Douthitt UAH Athletics Douthitt also was named to the D2CCA All-South Region First Team, NFCA All-South Region First Team and All-GSC First Team. The Madison native ranked among the GSC’s top 10 in batting average, runs, hits, runs batted in (RBI), total bases, slugging percentage and on-base percentage. Teammate Lawren Hayes was recognized as the best defensive second baseman in all of NCAA Division II softball when she was named one of nine recipients of the prestigious NFCA Rawlings Gold Glove Award. UAH softball star Lawren Hayes UAH Athletics A native of Decatur, Hayes also was chosen for the NFCA All-South Region First Team, the GSC Top Ten Award, D2CCA All-South Region First Team and All-GSC First Team. Her .985 fielding percentage ranks the highest amongst GSC players with 80 or more assists, and she committed only one error across 105 total chances in GSC games for a .990 fielding percentage in conference play. Jada Henderson, a catcher from Hartselle, joined Douthitt and Hayes on the D2CCA All-South Region First Team and the All-GSC First Team. She also earned a spot on the NFCA All-South Region Second Team. Chargers teammates Katie Bracken, a pitcher from Decatur, and Josie Thompson, a pitcher from Bridgeport, were named to the All-GSC Second Team. Women’s lacrosse Riley Kirby of Milton, Fla.; Sarah Cole of Louisville, Ky., and Isadora Springer of Collierville, Tenn., were tapped for the All-GSC First Team in women’s lacrosse. Kirby, the GSC Defensive Player of the Year, also was chosen for the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) All-South Region First Team. Kourtney Bauroth of Simi Valley, Calif., and Sydney Schiavone of Parkton, Md., made the All-GSC Second Team, and Bauroth was named GSC Co-Freshman of the Year. Men’s lacrosse When the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) announced its 2024 All-Americans, Brayden O’Neill made the list as an honorable mention. He is the first UAH men’s lacrosse All-American selection. In another first for UAH, he was named Peach Belt Conference (PBC) Co-Defensive Player of the Year. O’Neill, from Woodstock, Ga., also was a USILA honorable mention for the All-South Region as well as a member of the All-PBC First Team. Chargers selected for the All-PBC Second Team were Ian Arnt of Mahtomedi, Minn.; Pete Fabrizio of Roswell, Ga., and Collin Galinski of Johns Creek, Ga. Teammate David Friend of Roswell, Ga., was named PBC Freshman of the Year. Track and field The UAH men’s track and field team placed 20th overall in the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships and produced five U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Americans. Student-athletes earned First-Team All-American honors by finishing in the top eight in their respective events. Sam Wilhelm, a native of Knob Noster, Mo., finished in the top four of the 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter races. Those two performances earned him First Team All-American honors and brought his 2023-2024 season total to four All-American distinctions in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track. Chargers relay team members Wilson McClain, top left; Michael Gizzi, top right; Tommy Rodriguez, bottom left, and Ke’Andre Campbell are The University of Alabama in Huntsville’s first All-Americans in the 4x100 meter relay since 2018. UAH Athletics Wilhelm also won the GSC Commissioner’s Trophy men’s award. The conference’s most prestigious honor is presented annually to two student-athletes, one male and one female, who best combine outstanding performance on the field or court and high academic achievement in the classroom with significant community service and extracurricular activities. The Chargers’ 4x100 meters relay team became First Team All-Americans with a seventh-place finish in the relay race. Wilson McClain of Dacula, Ga.; Michael Gizzi of Covington, Ga.; Tommy Rodriguez of Oneonta, and Ke’Andre Campbell of the British Virgin Islands are UAH’s first All-Americans in the 4x100 meters since 2018. Track and field season continues with the final set of awards presented in July. Learn More UAH Athletics Contact Kristina Hendrix 256-824-6341 kristina.hendrix@uah.edu
