From the Big South Conference Office
 
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Big South Conference has awarded its Dr. Edward M. Singleton Leadership Award to the Athletic Training Staffs of its member institutions for the group's dedicated work during this challenging 2020-21 year.  The Conference formally recognized the honorees Tuesday evening, May 25, as part of the league's annual Spring Awards Banquet at The Westin Resort in Hilton Head, S.C.

"The recognition and awarding the Singleton Leadership Award by the Big South Conference to the Athletic Training Staff of USC Upstate is an honor that is shared by many that have contributed to the health and well being of our student athletes at USC Upstate," said Associate Athletic Director for Sports Medicine Michael "Sandy" Sandago. "Our athletic training staff this past year of Abbey Earich, Eric English, Katlyn Ledbetter, Joel Curry and Kayce Wagner all were instrumental in administering care and education during the Covid-19 pandemic, spending an extraordinary amount of time and effort to help our students, coaches, and staff deal with the changing landscape that was thrust upon us. Our extended medical network consisting of Upstate Student Health Practitioners Mary Bucher and Georgina Ravan, team physicians Dr. John Lucas and Stefan Montgomery, as well as the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System made our job of managing Covid-19 for over 300 individuals involved in intercollegitate athletics possible. I am and wll be eternally grateful for everyone's contribution to this effort." 
 
The Singleton Leadership Award is named for the Big South's first commissioner and is not an annual award.  The purpose of the Singleton Leadership Award is to recognize a former Big South student-athlete or administrator that has exhibited exemplary leadership and character during their career.  The Singleton Award Selection Committee waived its normal criteria for this year in light of the extraordinary dedication of Big South athletic trainers during the pandemic.
 
The Big South Athletic Training Staffs were critical in developing the conference's Return To Play policies, COVID-19 procedures and protocols, and decisions in regards to Conference Championship operations amid the coronavirus pandemic.  In addition to their regular sports medicine responsibilities, the Athletic Trainers administrated countless COVID-19 tests to student-athletes and coaches, and facilitated health and safety measures that allowed the Big South to conduct nearly all of its regular-season competition and championship events in a safe manner.
 
"Having worked with our head athletic trainers since last spring on the Big South's response to the ever-changing pandemic, I witnessed firsthand their sacrifice, work ethic, and selfless dedication to Big South student-athletes," commented Big South Commissioner Kyle Kallander.  "If we told you the average number of hours worked by our athletic training staffs this year, especially when we had 17 sports competing at the same time, you would find it hard to believe.  Yet they carried on and found a way to make it happen.  The fact that Big South teams completed over 90% of their scheduled contests is directly attributable to our athletic training staffs, who helped craft policy, implement protocols, and kept our student-athletes and staff safe.  They are completely deserving of the highest leadership award the Big South presents -- the Dr. Edward M. Singleton Leadership Award."
 
The Big South Conference recognized the following individuals from each member's 2020-21 Athletic Training Staff as the recipient of the Singleton Leadership Award.
 
Campbell
Jackie Knight (Director of Athletic Training), Troyce Solley, Sean Reynolds, Kallie Hannon, Kelli Florio, Shane Harrell, Mackenzie Castillo, Anna Ciarlino, Logan Deese, Angelo Micozzi, Anthony Richardson, Renee Rightmyer, Sophia Rahim, Catie O'Neal, JP Roseman
 
Charleston Southern
Steele Morris (Associate Athletic Director of Medical Services), Lydia Johnson, Hannah Zech, Damon Edmond, Alanie Rhodes, Nathan McCroskey, Sara Steckman, Hunter Wright
 
Gardner-Webb
Kevin Jones (Assistant Athletic Director of Athletic Training), Kat Ayotte, Kenny Cabe, Manny Castro, Tripp Hastings, Ema Kossin, Becca Webb, Makenzie Dugger, Davis Ison, Lindsay Perrin, Holly Price
 
Hampton
Faye Tayag (Head Athletic Trainer), Tina Vickers, Ashley Harper, Dontonio Garrison
 
High Point
Joshua Geruso (Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine), Steve Dischiavi, Tyler DePew, Shelbie Hackett, Liz Lefever, Cam Linsley, Katie Yakel, Lauren Frye, Chris Mauer, Emily Stein, Angela Talaganis
 
Longwood
Carly Fullerton (Assistant Athletics Director/Sports Medicine), Lindsay Bentley, Yu-Jin Shim, Jessica Siler, Sam Wangner, Rachel Stapleford, Sean Berberich
 
North Carolina A&T
Janah Fletcher (Head Athletics Trainer), Ben Clapp, Pat Sogla, Tisheri Leonard, Katie Sacha, Aiyana Williams, Krizzel Galvez
 
Presbyterian College
Nelson Jones (Associate Athletic Director for Sports Medicine), Zachery James, Brandon Barnard, Robert Cooke, Kieran Damm, William Davis, Robert Foster, Danielle Heidt, Scott Hoff, Taylor Pitts, Jordan Sheppard, Joscelyn Trompeter
 
Radford
Chad Hyatt (Assistant Athletics Director for Sports Medicine), John Shifflett, Nicole Segala, Danny Rivas, Maggie Burton, Alaina Craig, Carlos Ocasio, Tyler Bouchard, Sarah Bowman
 
UNC Asheville
Tim White (Head Athletic Trainer), Eliza Parker, Justin Byland, Dan Welch
 
USC Upstate
Michael "Sandy" Sandago (Associate Athletic Director/Sports Medicine), Eric English, Katlyn Ledbetter, Joel Curry, Abbey Earich
 
Winthrop
Jeff Lahr (Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Training), Daniel Lundy, Seth Faulkner, Jenna Beer, Jessica Duthie, Kara McHouell, Morgan LaPrade
 
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