BIRMINGHAM, Ala.  – The Birmingham-Southern athletics department recognized the accomplishments of its student-athletes and teams by announcing the winners of its annual awards banquet on Monday, May 8. During the 2022-23 athletic year, Panthers received 113 all-conference honors, 10 all-region selections, eight SAA major awards, four conference championships, seven All-America honors, and there are still spring sports competing. There are also 105 graduating seniors in the class of 2023 leaving BSC athletics.
 
A full list of the big awards and their recipients are below.
 
Sigma Alpha Alpha
BSC inducted 20 new members into Sigma Alpha Alpha, the honors society formed by the Southern Athletic Association for graduating seniors. This group has achieved above a 3.5 cumulative grade point average over the course of their time at BSC, and have represented the athletic department on either the 1st or 2nd all-conference teams. This year's inductees were: Izzy Berkopec (softball), Noah Best (baseball), Price Bryan (golf), Josh Childers (basketball), Alyssa Coats (volleyball), Kennedy Dickens (volleyball), Wil Dotson (tennis), Gigi Fields (volleyball), Mary Miller Goldberg (swimming and diving), Sarah Slater Hicks (soccer), Trey Hines (soccer), Aiden Hood (football), Jack Hunt (soccer), Coleman Jennings (soccer), Will Lantis (baseball), Sabrina Morgavi (swimming and diving), Leah Nielsen (volleyball), Cassie Ruiz (swimming and diving), Joe Swing (swimming and diving), and Brooke Westhoelter (basketball). 

Male and Female Newcomers of the Year
Justin Toth and Anna Cate Goodson of swimming and diving were named male and female newcomer of the year. As a freshman diver Toth broke a team record, earned first team All-SAA, and won Men's High Point Diver of the Year for the Southern Athletic Association. He won an individual conference championship and moved on to compete at the National Championship where he placed in the top 10 in both the 1-meter and 3-meter dives. His top 10 finishes earned him Second Team All-American status for both events. Goodson broke three team records in the 1-meter and 3-meter dives. She won an individual conference championship that earned her first team All-SAA and Women's High Point Diver of the Year. 
 
Ben Sinclair Teammate of the Year
This is the fifth year of the Sinclair Award. It is given annually to a student-athlete who enriches his or her program through their attitude, positivity, and by being their teammates' biggest fan and supporter every single day. They serve as a role model by the way they live their life and are considered the hardest working member of any team. This year's recipients are Hannah Daoust from women's soccer and Race Marin from football. The two-year captain was described by her coach, Katie Williams, as "one of the hardest working people on and off the field and exemplifies what it means to be a great teammate. She leads by example and pushes everyone around her to do their best. She is the first one to lend a helping hand and is always there to offer encouragement and support to her teammates." Head Coach Anthony Colucci described Marin as, "someone who embodies the definition of servant leadership. For four years he has put his teammates first and has had their best interest at heart. His impact within the program and on our campus will last for years to come."
 
Johnny Johnson Most Inspirational Senior
Johnny Johnson was one of the most beloved and dedicated administrators at Birmingham-Southern. Prior to his untimely death in November of 2001, Johnson served the college as vice president for business and financial affairs and was instrumental in helping the college develop a plan for moving its athletic program to the NCAA Division I level. In honor of his behind-the-scenes work for two decades at Birmingham-Southern, the athletic department created an annual award honoring senior student-athletes who exemplify the qualities of scholarship, leadership, citizenship, and the selfless attitude in and out of the athletic arena, who inspires teammates, coaches, and fans. This year's recipients were Ben Edwards from men's lacrosse and Wil Dotson from men's tennis. Edwards was described as someone who has never complained about anything in their time with the men's lacrosse program. Head Coach Casey Kear spoke on Edwards, "as the best teammate and member of a team they could ever ask for, he treats this team truly as a family. He has continued to put in work everyday without anything guaranteed to them." Dotson was a three-year captain and starter for the men's tennis team and has played a tremendous role in their growth this season. Head Coach Jimmy Weinacker described him as the heartbeat of the team. He athlete leads through his competition and verbal support of his teammates.
 
Ann Dielen Female Athlete of the Year
The Female Athlete of the Year was named for long-time tennis coach Ann Dielen, who coached for over 40 years on the Hilltop. She amassed over 700 wins coaching both the men's and women's tennis programs. Her success at Birmingham-Southern was highlighted by coaching up some of the best athletes in Panther Athletics history and by serving as the Senior Woman Administrator. Dielen was instrumental in the advancement of women's sports at Birmingham-Southern. This year's winner was Izzy Berkopec from softball. Named first team All-SAA, Berkopec led her team in six statistical categories and earned a spot on the All-Tournament team for the SAA Conference Championship. She was in the top ten of the conference in 9 different statistical categories, including leading in three of them. At one point this season she led the nation in one of those categories.
 
Larry D. Striplin Male Athlete of the Year
The Male Athlete of the Year award was named in honor of late benefactor Larry D. Striplin, who passed away in 2012 at the age of 82. He was a 1952 graduate of Birmingham-Southern and is a member of the BSC Sports Hall of Fame. Striplin served for many years on the Birmingham-Southern Board of Trustees and was Chairman of the Athletic Affairs Committee of the Board. The BSC baseball field, Striplin Field, is named in his honor, as well as the Larry D. Striplin, Jr. Physical Fitness and Recreation Center on the BSC campus. This year's award recipient went to two athletes, Coleman Jennings from soccer and Maurice Sutherland from track and field. Jennings earned SAA Offensive Player of the Year for the third year in a row and a spot on first team All-SAA. He helped the men's soccer program earn their first SAA Conference Tournament Championship and was awarded Tournament MVP. He led the conference in four statistical categories, breaking three conference records, he is the all-time leading scorer in conference history and one of the most decorated student-athletes among all sports. He was selected to the All-Region team and earned All-American status. Sutherland has been a strong and consistent force for track and field. He earned first team All-SAA and won an individual conference championship in the triple jump. He earned All-Region four his performance in the indoor track and field season and holds two school records. He competed at the 2023 DIII Indoor Track & Field National Championship and placed fourth in the triple jump to earn All-American status. 
 
Man and Woman of the Year
The Man and Woman of the Year awards were created by the Southern Athletic Association in 2013 to be the league's biggest and most prestigious awards. Nominees must be seniors with no remaining eligibility. BSC's selections will go on to be in the running for 2023 SAA Man and Woman of the Year.  The 2023 Man and Woman of the Year are Trey Hines from soccer and Mary Miller Goldberg from swimming and diving. Hines has helped his team create historic moments with their first regular season SAA title in 2021, in that same season he was ranked in three statistical categories nationally. He is a four-time SAA Honor Roll member, two-time first team All-SAA and one time Second Team honoree. In his senior season, he was in the Top 5 in three statistical categories in the SAA, helped lead his team to their first SAA Tournament Championship and NCAA Championship Appearance. He earned Academic All-District, All-Region selection, Academic All-American and Scholar All-American honors. Outside of his sport, he has worked hard within the Athletic Department, helping the Sports Information Department in numerous ways. Goldberg has played a major role in the success of the women's swimming and diving team. She not only excels in the classroom, but has helped her team win three consecutive conference championships. In doing so she earned 4 individual conference championships, and placed second individually seven times. She was a three-time first team All-SAA, one time Second Team All-Conference honoree, earned Newcomer of the Year for the SAA in 2020 and is a three-time SAA Honor Roll member. Outside of her sport, she student-teaches and is a member of the Chi Omega Sorority
 
Team of the Year
The Team of the Year award is given to the BSC team with the most outstanding performance this athletic year and the awarded to 2023 Baseball Team. This team started off their season with an impressive record that earned them the No. 1 spot in the nation for 6 consecutive weeks. They went on to win a conference regular season and tournament championship. Earning Head Coach, Jan Weisberg, SAA Baseball Coach of the Year and Hansen McCowen, Pitcher of the Year. This highly successful team put four athletes on first team All-SAA, six on second team, and one honorable mention. They have clinched a birth into the NCAA postseason play with their conference tournament win and will continue their season.