WISE – The UVA Wise Athletic Department held their annual Smiddy Awards Monday evening, as they celebrated the successes of the 2025-26 year.

The evening opened with commemorations of three coaches who reached the 100 win plateau this year – Jamie Cluesman with women's basketball, Meghan Dennehy with the lacrosse team (it was the team's 100th win as a program, she had her 100th career win in 2019), and Alex Hunt with men's and women's tennis.

Athletic Director Kendall Rainey then presented UVA Wise Assistant Professor of Physical Education Ray Schweighardt with the Outstanding Service Award, which recognizes any faculty, staff or friend of the College (outside of athletics) who has contributed to the growth and development of the athletic department through participation and involvement in enhancing the quality of student-athlete experiences at UVA Wise. Schweighardt has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to supporting UVA Wise Athletics and our student athletes. Ray consistently attends an incredible number of athletic events, including traveling to Carson-Newman for the SAC Volleyball Tournament. His support spans across multiple programs, demonstrating a genuine passion all student-athletes. The student-athletes recognize and appreciate the consistency, energy, and encouragement he brings. Simply put, Ray helps create an environment where our athletes feel supported and valued every time they compete and he is also a dedicated advisor and mentor to student-athletes.

Mable James was then presented with the Female Freshman of the Year Award. A standout on the volleyball team, Mable played in 62 sets in 21 matches. She was fifth on the team in kills with 101 and her .202 attack percentage was one of the highest on the team. She led the team and the SAC in blocks with 13 solo and 43 block assists for 56 total blocks, equating to 1.17 blocks per set. Mable was named to the South Atlantic Conference All-Freshman team, while helping UVA Wise to a fifth place finish in the SAC regular season.

The Male Freshman of the Year Award went to Cy Hardy. Hardy had an outstanding freshman campaign on the men's basketball team, averaging 7.4 points per game and 2.0 rebounds a game. He was second on the team in assists with 81 and third on the team in steals with 35. His total assists led all SAC freshman, on his way to being named to the South-Atlantic Conference All-Freshman Team, and helping UVA Wise secure a top six finish in the league.

Women's basketball Head Coach Jamie Cluesman then was named the recipient of the  school's Coach of the Year Award. The UVA Wise Women's Basketball Team was picked eighth in the 2025-26 preseason poll after a tenth place finish in 2024-25. Then, before playing their first game of the season, the team suffered a key injury to their leading returning scorer from the previous year and the devastation of the loss of a former teammate. Coach Cluesman's leadership was instrumental in helping the Women's Basketball team come together despite these difficult moments and their "V Over Me" culture helped carry the team to a fifth place finish in the SAC regular season which included wins over Regional Champion Carson-Newman and SAC Regular season champion Lenoir-Rhyne. The team finished with a six win improvement in SAC play from the 2024-25 season despite numerous challenges along the way.

Off the court, Coach Cluesman's team participated in the bear backpack program packing Thanksgiving Meals for local children, was active volunteering with Lunchbox 276, participated in numerous Fist Bump Friday's, as well as Day of Service.

The lacrosse team then was presented with the Team of the Year Award, s given to a team that has had an outstanding season, and shown unity, togetherness and sportsmanship on and off the court. The 2026 lacrosse team just completed one of its most successful seasons, finishing 13-5 and marking the best overall winning percentage among UVA Wise teams. The 13 wins tie for the second most in a season in school history with the 2019 team and the 7-3 SAC record tied the 2021 team also for second best conference record in program history. They led the SAC in ground balls and were second in assists and caused turnovers and ranked in the top three in goals. Success for this program extends far beyond the field. In the classroom, they have maintained a team GPA of 3.5 and faculty report genuinely enjoying having team members in their classes, noting their engagement, accountability, and work ethic.

The lacrosse team has also made a meaningful impact in the community. This year, they volunteered weekly at Norton Elementary School and participated in several service initiatives including Lunchbox276, UVA Wise Trunk or Treat, Legion Park litter clean-up, Christmas Shoebox efforts, Fist Bump Fridays, and the UVA Wise Day of Service. Overall, this group represents UVA Wise at the highest level, demonstrating excellence, commitment, and character both on the field and in everything they do beyond it.

The Individual Sport Athlete of the Year was awarded to Kenzy Abdelaal from women's tennis. The award recognizes the male or female student-athlete who has excelled most this year in the individual sports. The student has shown consistent dedication to their sport while striving for constant self-improvement. The player has excelled as an athlete and has contributed significantly to the success of their program. Kenzy had an 11-8 overall singles record at #1 singles and a 13-8 overall record in #1 doubles. Her singles record is the best of any women's tennis player since the school joined the SAC and her doubles record is the third best. Kenzy was named All-South Atlantic Conference as a doubles player. Her effort helped lead the team to their first ever wins over Carson-Newman and Coker, and an eventual appearance in the South Atlantic Conference Tournament, the first in program history for the Women's Tennis Program.

The Female and Male Athlete of the Year Awards were then presented. This year there were two winners on the female side.

Caroline Mullins earned Female Athlete of the Year Honors on the heels of the most successful season by a women's basketball player in the program's NCAA era. Caroline was named WBCA All-America Honorable Mention — the first WBB All-American in the NCAA era and the first in the program since 2006. She was Second Team D2CCA All-District, SAC Player of the Week twice and the program's first WBCA National Player of the Week in November. Caroline led the team and the SAC in scoring, averaging 19.7 points a game to go along with 8.7 rebounds, 2.32 assists, 1.50 steals and 0.79 blocks per game. Her 551 points scored this season were the most since 2007 and she is the third player in UVA Wise women's basketball history to score more than 550 points in a season. Caroline's leadership helped the Women's Basketball team to a six-win improvement in South Atlantic Conference play and a 5th place finish in the regular season.

Joining Mullins as Co-Female Athlete of the Year was lacrosse's Caitlyn Schultz. Schultz led the women's lacrosse team and currently is second in the SAC in scoring with 63 goals and she led the team in points with 74, the second highest point total in a UVA Wise season all-time. Her 63 goals set a new school record for goals in a season, breaking the previous record of 56 by McKayla Grasham. She ends her career with 141 goals, 4th all-time, 41 assists, 7th all-time, and 182 points which is 4th all-time. She earned First Team All-SAC honors, which is the second time she has made an all-conference team. Additionally, she led her team to a 4th place regular season SAC finish, where the 13 overall wins and 7 conference wins tie for second best in program history.

The Male Athlete of the Year was men's basketball's Evan Ramsey. Ramsey earned first Team All-South Atlantic Conference and was named to the Collegiate Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team. He led the team in total points scored with 436, free throw percentage at 80.1%, and blocks with 1.8 per game. Evan was Second on the team in scoring with 14.1 points a game and rebounding with 7.8 rebounds per game. He finished the season in the top four in the SAC in blocks, rebounds per game, and field goal percentage. Evan was a key leader for a Men's Basketball team that had four top-25 wins including a road win at National Runner Up Lander. The team was ranked as high as fifth in the region on their way to 20 regular season wins, the third 20 win season in program history.
The Play of the Year Award was then presented, which was chosen out of five nominees. The play chosen was an over-the shoulder behind the back goal by Kaylea Paterson in the women's lacrosse game at Newberry on March 28.

Next up was the Athletic Department Award for Service, which recognizes an internal staff member who has contributed to the growth and development of the athletic department through participation and involvement in enhancing the quality of student-athlete experiences at UVA Wise. This year's Athletic Department Award for Service goes to Patrick Fisher, Director of Strength and Conditioning.

In his first year, he has made an impact on our programs, setting a new standard for what it means to lead with purpose and passion. His attention to detail is evident in everything he does from structured workouts to the way he corrects even the smallest aspects of technique. Nothing goes unnoticed, and that level of precision has helped our athletes not only improve physically but also gain a deeper understanding of their training. From a performance standpoint, his impact is clear. Our teams are stronger, faster, and more physically prepared because of the work he puts in behind the scenes. He plays a critical role in injury prevention, recovery, and overall athletic development, giving our student athletes the tools they need to compete consistently throughout the season.

Beyond his technical expertise, what truly sets him apart is his ability to connect with people. He is incredibly personable, taking the time to build genuine relationships with each athlete. He knows when to push, when to encourage, and how to communicate in a way that resonates. His positivity is contagious, creating an environment where athletes feel motivated, confident, and excited to put in the work every day. His support extends far beyond the weight room. Whether it's checking in on athletes academically, offering advice during tough times, or simply being someone they can talk to, he has become a trusted mentor. In just one year, he has not only elevated performance but also strengthened the culture of the entire program.

The award was then re-named as the Phil Robbins Award for Service after the former football coach, who passed away back in September. Athletic Director Rainey had this to say about the change, "Phil Robbins was the master of connections. Connections and relationships…always in the service of others. The epitome of a servant leader; he loved, supported, and served the UVA Wise football program and department for nearly 15 years. Known as Uncle P to the players and as a Southwest Virginia legend to all, he was a seven-time state champion coach, a mentor, and a friend who touched countless lives and his memory will live on forever. He built deeply personal connections with so many throughout his life, always encouraging and coaching, and proud to celebrate them."

"Phil was the person who would make sure everyone here was fed, at a good price, and probably scold me tomorrow for doing this. The embodiment of a Volunteer for Life, there are countless examples of what he did to help people from his first years of coaching, culminating with the Bear Backpack Program. For his dedication we present the Athletic Department Award for Service to his beloved wife, Patty and for the standard of servant leadership that Phil taught us we will henceforth refer to this award as the Phil Robbins Award for Service."

The final award presented was the Cavalier of the Year Award, which is presented to the student-athlete who is distinguished academically and athletically and embodies the core attributes of NCAA Division II: Learning, Balance, Resourcefulness, Sportsmanship, Passion, and Service. This student-athlete shows school spirit and supports their peers and the athletic department. This year the award went to lacrosse student-athlete Logen Davis.

In the words of Coach Dennehy, "Logen has embodied everything you hope for in a student-athlete, and even more so, everything you hope for in a person. Logen is selfless; the type of person who will drop everything she is doing to help a teammate, a coach, or anyone in need without hesitation. She consistently puts others before herself, and that mindset has had a lasting impact on the culture of women's lacrosse and the entire athletic program. "On the field, Logen has been a cornerstone of our success. As a multi- year starter, she has made a tremendous impact through her consistency, toughness, and commitment to the team."

She finishes her career with 96 goals and 97 assists for 193 points. The points are the second-most in program history behind Jessie French's 289, while her 97 assists are third all-time and the 96 goals are eleventh all-time. Her eight assists on Saturday vs. Newberry in the SAC Tournament tied for the third most in a game in school history. As a Sport Management major with marketing minor, Logen has also excelled academically, earning a place on the Dean's List multiple times, with a 3.5 GPA.

Logen has also been integral to the growth of SAAC. She runs the SAAC social media, supports all sports as a fan and encourages others to do the same. She has shown up on Friday mornings to most Fist Bump Fridays, and is the first person to volunteer to help with whatever is needed, including sweeping for a basketball game when we were short student workers. Logen represents UVA Wise with pride and integrity in every setting. Her selflessness, leadership, and impact both on and off the field will leave a lasting mark for years to come.

The evening also featured short speeches from senior student-athletes Taryn Moreno and Morgan Blankenship. Senior were also presented with a "V" plaque