1-General | 5/28/2020 11:56:00 AM

Barry University Athletics hosted the Fifth Annual Bucky Awards on virtually Thursday, May 28 on Facebook Live.

The Bucs celebrated the past year's (April 1, 2019 through March 31, 2020) accomplishments of the student-athletes with awards for Newcomer of the Year, Most Improved Athlete, Comeback Player of the Year, Career Achievement, Best Game, and Best Play. Additionally, the Sister Jeanne O'Laughlin Service Award, the Strong Man/Woman Awards, the Professor Neill Miller Scholar-Athletes of the Year , and Female & Male Athletes of the Year were awarded.

Newcomer of the Year

A freshman from Coquitlam, British Columbia, AJ led the Buccaneers to a #2 national ranking, including a school record five straight tournament victories. He was named to the GCAA All-Freshman team and earned 3rd team All-America honors. AJ also led the Bucs in average score, winning two tournaments and logging four more top-12 finishes in just his first season in the Shores.

Most Improved Athlete

A native of Greencastle, Pennsylvania, Myles had a transformational senior season. The hard throwing right-hander improved significantly in every statistical category over last season. He posted a perfect 4-0 record with a 0.21 ERA in 43.2 innings, which was third-best in the nation. He averaged allowing less than one baserunner per inning (0.83 WHIP) and held the opposition to a .178 batting average. He tossed the only complete game in the Sunshine State Conference in 2020, a 13-2 win over Florida Southern.

Comeback Player of the Year

A senior from Oslo, Norway, Ingrid Lian battled back from a season ending injury in 2018 which forced her to miss all of last season as well as the beginning of 2019. She returned to the lineup in late September, anchoring the Buccaneer defense and sparking an eight-match win streak, including six shutouts, helping the Barry women's soccer program capture its 14th Sunshine State Conference championship. Having previously won the Bucky for Most Improved Player in 2018, she is the first Buccaneer to take home two different awards in her career.

Career Achievement

A three-time ITA All-American, from Beaumont, France, Pierre Montrieul helped the Buccaneers capture three straight Sunshine State Conference Championships while earning all-conference honors each year. He played an integral role in the Bucs' three straight trips to the NCAA title match, including 2019, when he led the men's tennis program to its fourth National Championship, winning at #1 singles over the top player in the nation in straight sets in the Buccaneers thrilling win over Columbus State in the national finals.

Best Game

In a heart-pounding five-set match, the volleyball team defeated the defending national champion Tampa Spartans, 3-2, in the NCAA South Region semifinal. The Bucs jumped out to commanding 2-0 lead in the match before the Spartans battled back to force a fifth set. In the final set, which produced 18 ties and four lead changes, the Bucs staved off seven match points to win set five 21-19, and providing one of the most exciting victories in Barry Athletics history.

Best Play

Harrassed and doubled-teamed for most of the game, Tylan Birts' 3-pointer with two seconds left in regulation brought the Bucs back from a 13-point deficit to tie the game at 86-86. The senior forward played all 20 minutes of the second half, draining his first three-pointer of the night to send the game into overtime where the Buccaneers would defeat the Tritons 96-93 in epic down-to-the-wire finish.

Sister Jeanne O'Laughlin Service Award

A captain and All-American on the Buccaneer volleyball team, Anastasiia Samokhvalova has also led through her service off the court as an accounting and finance tutor to fellow Barry University students. The junior from Moscow, Russia, has been a leader in the classroom with a 3.99 cumulative grade point average as a double major in accounting & finance and earlier this month was awarded both Barry University's St. Catherine Medal, which is conferred each year upon an outstanding Barry student who has displayed high ideals and leadership In Catholic education, and the Dr. George Wako Award, which is presented to the university's most outstanding junior. In addition, she's volunteered in a variety of community out-reach efforts including the Miracle League of Miami, teaching students at Sibley Elementary School, and is a member of the Barry University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Strong Woman of the Year

Nicole Rafols has won the Strong Woman honor for the second straight year. A senior from Miami, Florida, she has been an important part of the Buccaneer women's soccer program for the past three seasons helping the Bucs capture back-to-back Sunshine State Conference Championships.

Strong Man of the Year

A senior from Florida City, Florida, Tylan Birts earns the Male Strong Man award for the second straight year. Not only did he lead the Bucs in hard work in the weight room, he also led the Bucs in points (19.4), rebounds (8.9), steals (1.6) and blocked shots (1.5) on the court, earning First-Team All-Conference and All-Region honors

Professor Neill L. Miller Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year

A junior biology major from Wimauma, Fla., Taylor Checekley has a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point average through her first three years as a Buccaneer. The speedy centerfielder for the Barry softball team is a two-time NFCA Scholar-All-American as well as a member of the Sunshine State Conference Commissioner's honor roll. In addition, she is a charter member of Barry University's Chi Alpha Sigma chapter which honors student-athletes for excellence in the classroom.

Professor Neill L. Miller Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year

A senior management major from Naples, Italy, Stefano Cammarota posted a 3.91 cumulative grade point average in three years at Barry University. He was named the NCAA Elite 90 award winner for NCAA Division II Men's Soccer as a junior, and was a member of the Buccaneers 2018 National Championship team. In addition, he is a charter member and Vice Chair of Barry University's Chi Alpha Sigma chapter which honors student-athletes for excellence in the classroom and has earned Sunshine State Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll all three seasons.

Female Athlete of the Year

A junior from Rosnoen, France, Julie Razafindranaly was a perfect 9-0 in dual matches this spring and reached the semi-finals of the ITA South Region tournament, earning All-America honors. She led the Bucs to the first-ever ITA Indoor Tennis National Championship in Edmond, Oklahoma. Last May, she played an important role in Barry's National Championship three-peat with a decisive straight set win in the title match over Lynn. Over three seasons on the court, she has compiled a remarkable 47-1 record in singles play and another 51 victories in doubles play.

Male Athlete of the Year

Myles Gayman adds the Male Athlete of the Year to his Most Improved award. He was on pace for a historic season with a 0.21 Earned Run Average, third best in the nation. He led the Sunshine State Conference in wins (4-0), ERA, innings pitched (43.2) and runs allowed (4). In addition, Myles tossed a school-record 10 scoreless innings against Florida Tech and a complete game victory over Florida Southern in back-to-back weekends. He produced a stretch of over 27 innings without allowing a single earned run, one of the most dominant performances in college baseball.

Here are the team awards: