The 2006-07 athletic season officially came to an end Thursday, as Sweet Briar College Athletics held its annual Varsity Sports Awards Ceremony. The night featured the presentation of seven major awards, as well as varsity letters and team awards.

Senior softball student-athlete Meagan Chenault (Amherst, VA/Amherst County) received the Crysler Four Year Acievement Award. The Crysler Four Year Achievement Award has been given since 1979, and was named after its first recipient, Cannie Crysler Shafer '79, a three sport, four-year varsity athlete at Sweet Briar. It honors an outstanding four-year varsity athlete who has demonstrated commitment, sportsmanship and achievement in sport.

Chenault had the highest batting average among ODAC second basemen (.424), and received second-team honors, a significant achievement on one of the newest teams in the conference. She led the ODAC during the regular season with 53 hits and finished the year with the seventh-highest batting average in the ODAC. Her 27 RBIs were second on the team, and she posted a .925 fielding percentage.

Throughout her four years, Chenault has provided dedication, example, spirit and skill. “We will miss her great qualities. She is leaving a big hole in both of her coaches’ hearts,” head coach Tony Campbell said.

The Athlete of the Year Award is given to a varsity athlete from any class who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in sport this year. This year’s honoree was first-year two-sport athlete Hannah Hesser (Richmond, VA/Trinity Episcopal).

Hesser, who began the swimming season late after the conclusion of the soccer season in late October, jumped right into the pool and before Thanksgiving had earned ODAC Athlete of the Week recognition by winning three events and helping the Vixens to a narrow victory over Randolph-Macon Woman’s College. Hesser went on to earn Athlete-of-the-Week recognition again in January, and a week later broke the Sweet Briar record in the 800 M. freestyle.

Her most outstanding accomplishments were achieving the fastest time in the conference in two events, the 200 Y. butterfly and 200 Y. freestyle, and making the ODAC All-Conference team. In the conference championships she placed second in two events, the 100 Y. butterfly and 500 Y. freestyle, and was fourth in the 200 Y. butterfly.

Coach Jason Gallaher said of Hesser: “She is very smart and aggressive during practice. I was impressed with how she would train through the injury that she suffered during soccer season. She has a very good understanding of what she needs to do to make herself a better swimmer. I think she will continue to be one of the top swimmers in the conference throughout her time at Sweet Briar.”

The Class of 1977 Sportsmanship Award was presented to swimmer Jennifer Milby ’08 (Mechanicsville, VA/Lee-Davis). This award has been awarded since 1979, and is presented to a student-athlete selected with regard to her sportsmanship, team spirit and commitment to varsity sports.

Milby is a three-year letter winner. She consistently works hard, completing grueling sets of individual medley swims, not her specialty, on very little rest and without complaint. Her hard work paid off with lifetime best times and a ninth place at the conference championships in the 200 Y. backstroke.

Milby’s commitment and sportsmanship are evidenced in her willingness to help, whether it be recruiting a prospective student, gathering her team for meetings, or presenting plans for the Fitness and Athletics Center to the Board.

Sophomore field hockey and lacrosse student-athlete Megan Behrle (Manassas, VA/Stonewall Jackson) was presented the Whiteman Scholar Athlete Award. The award is presented to a student athlete with a high scholastic average, sportsmanship and outstanding achievement in sport.

Behrle has started every field hockey and lacrosse game in during her first two years at Sweet Briar. In the classroom, she has received Dean’s List and First Year Honors. Her work ethic in the classroom is every bit as exemplary as her play on the field.

The Pschirrer First Year Athlete Award honors dedication, motivation, sportsmanship and love of sport, and was presented this year to #1 singles player Virginia Edahl (Charlotte, NC/Providence).

In the fall, Edahl took first place in the Virginia Women’s College Tennis Tournament, and second place in the Meredith College Tournament. She also captured first place in doubles with Caroline Byrd.

This spring, she finished 7-3 in her last 10 #1 singles matches and was one of two nominees for ODAC rookie of the year.

Senior lacrosse player Julie Sellers (Virginia Beach, VA/Norfolk Academy) received the Coaches’ Award, given to a graduating athlete who has demonstrated dedication, sportsmanship and excellence in sports at Sweet Briar.

After transferring to Sweet Briar as a sophomore, Sellers has provided scoring punch throughout her career. She returned to Sweet Briar this year after a semester abroad and despite having a new coach, and a team coming off a tough year, she dug in and provided needed senior leadership, scoring power, and determination. Sellers led her team in scoring with 43 goals, and more importantly, demonstrated that there are players who play, and players who play with passion.

The Susan Lehman Courage Award was presented to two student-athletes, junior Krystal Ellis (Rustburg, VA/Rustburg) and first-year Molly McGonegle (Virginia Beach, VA/Floyd Kellam) The Susan Lehman Courage Award is presented when circumstances warrant it to student-athletes who have demonstrated courage above and beyond the usual rigors of training and competition.

Ellis made an immediate impact on the softball program after transferring to Sweet Briar last year. In 2005, she hit the program’s first home run and pitched the first no-hitter. This year, she came back after two off-season surgeries to play first base. Early in the season, she dislocated her left shoulder and played the rest of the season injured leading her team in doubles, home runs and walks. Krystal received ODAC first-team honors and was third in the conference in slugging percentage.

McGonegle started the first eight field hockey games in the midfield this fall before becoming ill with bacterial meningitis in early October. Thanks to superior medical treatment and a fast recovery, McGonegle traveled with the team to Roanoke on Oct. 20 for the final regular season game and on Oct. 28, just three and a half weeks after first being sick, she played in Sweet Briar’s first round ODAC game. This spring, McGonegle played tennis at #4 singles and #2 doubles.

Cheryl Steele was honored with the Barlow Faculty Staff Award, given by the student athletes of Sweet Briar College to a member of the faculty or staff who has shown spirited support of Vixen Athletics throughout the year.


2006-07 Award Honorees: Jennifer Milby, Megan Behrle, Virginia Edahl, Hannah Hesser, Molly McGongegle, Krystal Ellis, Meagan Chenault, Julie Sellers

Sweet Briar Pink and Green Awards, honoring the MVP of each varsity sport, were presented to Cat Cox ’08 (Prince Frederick, MD/Calverton) Field Hockey; Julie Sellers ’07 (Virginia Beach, VA/Norfolk Academy) Lacrosse; Meagan Chenault ‘07 (Amherst,VA/ Amherst County) Softball; Jennifer Milby ’07 (Mechanicsville, VA/Lee-Davis) Swimming; Virginia Edahl ’10 (Charlotte, NC/Providence) Tennis; and Natalie Cutchin ’09 (Windsor, VA/Nansemond-Suffolk) Volleyball.