RICHARD BLAND ATHLETICS CELEBRATES SECOND ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY

PETERSBURG, Va. – The Richard Bland College Athletic Department brought the athletic season to a close with the Awards Ceremony on Sunday, April 26, at the Barn Theater.

Men's soccer freshman Godfred Obed-Baisel (Cape Coast, Ghana) and softball sophomore Taylor Slate (Emporia, VA) were named Male and Female Student-Athletes of the Year.

Obed-Baisel was named All-Region DI Honorable Mention for men's soccer this past season after leading his team to its first post-season appearance in the program's second year of existence. He became the first player in program history to score 21 goals including a top performance scoring four goals in an outing against USC Lancaster to secure a birth in the conference post-season.

Slate wrapped up her softball career at RBC as a two-time first-team All-Region X and Player of the Year runner-up (2013, 2014). She led the Statesmen with a batting average of .417 for the season, finishing her career with 90 hits, 10 doubles, five triples, two home runs, 48 RBI and 71 runs scored.

Former Richmond Kicker, Rob Ukrop was the event's guest speaker.

Below is a list of the night's award winners, broken down by sport:

Men's Basketball

Coaches Award: Brian Adkins and Melvin Gregory

MVP: Tavon Mealy

Defensive Player of the Year: Avery Ugba

Men's Soccer

Coaches Award: Eduardo Quintanilla

MVP: Godfred Obed-Baisel

Softball

Coaches Award: Mikie Williams and Abby Eichelberger

MVP: Tara Heatwole and Erin Forbes

Batting Average: Taylor Slate

Women's Track & Field

Coaches Award: Evan Wagner

MVP: Tia Holmes

Men's Track & Field

Coaches Award: Torry Miller

MVP: Joshua Washington

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