MIAMI SHORES, Fla.--The athletic department celebrated the 2024 Buckys 2.0 on Friday, June 14, awarding the final and major awards for the 2023-24 athletic season.

The Neill L. Miller Scholar-Athletes of the Year were awarded for the 17th year, while the Athlete of the Year awards, named after long-time Barry faculty athletic representative Dr. Eileen McDonough, were named for the second time.

Professor Neill Miller Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year

Roy Shohat, a junior from Givat Ada, Israel, is the 10th winner from the men's soccer team. The men's soccer team has dominated the award in recent years, winning four of the last five and seven of the last 10.  He graduated in the spring with a degree in exercise physiology, with a perfect 4.0 GPA. He contributed one assist in four games as the Bucs won the Sunshine State Conference regular season and tournament championships in the same year for the first time. 

Professor Neill Miller Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year

Ella Wallfur Skiljic, a junior from Sävedalen, Sweden, is the fifth winner from women's soccer and the first since 2014. Wallfur Skiljic graduated in May with a degree in management, compiling a 3.982 GPA. She played in 15 games, starting 8, with one goal and one assist from her midfield slot. 

Dr. Eileen McDonough Male Athlete of the Year

David Polanco, a junior from Key Biscayne, Fla., led the Buccaneers to the regular-season and tournament championships in the Sunshine State Conference for the first time in men’s soccer history in 2023. He was rewarded by being named the Player of the Year in the conference and the Most Outstanding Player at the SSC Tournament. The South Region Player of the Year by the D2CCA, he was named Third-Team All-American for the second straight year. He led the conference with 15 goals, four game-winners and 31 points and signed a professional contract after the fall with the Carolina Core FC.  

Dr. Eileen McDonough Female Athlete of the Year

Diana Akopova had another outstanding year at the net for the volleyball team in 2023, earning First-Team All-Sunshine State Conference and Second-Team All-America honors. She wins the award for the second straight year, just the seventh repeat winner in program history and the first back-to-back winner since Emma Onila (women's tennis) in 2014 and 2015. She became just the second Buccaneer in program history to top 1000 kills in just two seasons. She currently ranks seventh in total kills and first in kills per set after two years. She led the conference in points per set, almost a full most more than second place, which happened to be teammate Vavara Osychenko.