1-General | 4/26/2023 7:20:00 PM
Barry University Athletics hosted the Eighth Annual Bucky Awards on Wednesday, April 26, 2023.
The Bucs celebrated the past year's accomplishments of the student-athletes with awards for Newcomer of the Year, Most Improved Athlete, Champions In Life, Career Achievement, Best Game, and Best Play, the Iron Buc Awards, and the Athletic Training Student of the Year. In addition, 13 teams recognized their team award winners.
Newcomer of the Year
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The sophomore from Mozdok, Russia, led the nation in kills and points in her first season in The Shores, leading the Bucs to the South Region Championship and a berth in the NCAA Elite Eight. In addition to leading Division II in kills (634), and points (710.5), she led in kills per set (5.66), and points per set (6.34), and she added 212 digs and 85 blocks. She broke the program record with 42 kills in the win against Tampa at home and averaged 7.71 kills per set in the post-season. She was named First-team All-SSC and SSC Player of the Year as well as the AVCA National Player of the Year and the Honda Award winner for D-II volleyball. |
Most Improved Athlete  Â
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The sophomore from Miami Beach, exploded for the Bucs in 2022, leading the team with 10 goals, including three game-winners, and 22 points. He was named First-Team All-SSC, as he led the Bucs to the regular-season championship, and earned Third-Team All-America from United Soccer Coaches. |
Champions In Life
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The Baseball team was recognized as Champions In Life for their outstanding performance in academic progress, service in the Barry Community and being one of the most engaged teams in supporting the other teams on campus. |
Career Achievement
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AJ Ewart led the Bucs to back-to-back Sunshine State Conference championships. In his first three years, he was named first-team All-American by the Golf Coaches Association of America. As a junior in 2022, he won the GolfStat Cup as the top collegiate golfer across all NCAA divisions. He is only the second D-II golfer to win the Cup. He holds the Barry career record for wins (14), and ranks in the top-three for  scoring average, par-or-better rounds, finish percentage, and eagles. |
Best Game
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The Bucs battled through injuries and a grueling four-and-a-half hour match to defeat the second-ranked Nova Southeastern Sharks on Mar. 22. Although the Bucs lost the doubles point, they came back to win four of the six singles to keep their streak alive. Clara Versier, Selina Pichler and Daniela Farfan all won in straight sets. Deniz Khazan, despite battling through ailments, prevailed in a third-set tie-breaker to clinch the match. |
Best Play
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Facing match point in the fourth set, the Bucs staged a remarkable rally, in which five of the six players touched the ball, highlighted by a one-arm dig by Monica Lopez and a great save from Diana Akopova, who later put down the kill to get the point. Barry prevailed 28-26 in that set, then closed out the match 15-9 in set five. |
Strong Man of the Year
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Freshman from Homestead, Fla. |
Strong Woman of the Year
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Sophomore from Hillcrest, South Africa |
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