ROANOKE, VA - The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is proud to announce nine Hollins University Student-Athletes have received the 2022 All-American Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year Award– Tia Tucker (basketball), Madisen Charles (soccer), Selena Wolfe (volleyball), Katherine Komarek (swimming), Kaitlyn Okin (cross-country), Dymond Williams (track & field), Tate Hurley (lacrosse), Austin Gore (Equestrian/riding), and Carlia Kearney (tennis).
The NSCA All-American Strength and Conditioning Athletes of the Year program recognizes collegiate student-athletes whose athletic accomplishments, in the opinion of their strength and conditioning coach, reflect their dedication to strength training and conditioning.? The NSCA All-Americans are also recognized for their academic and personal accomplishments as well as integrity as student-athletes.
Nominated by Director of Sports Performance and Student Wellness, Leslie Williams of Hollins University, these student-athletes' determination to improve athletic performance while maintaining academic prominence is a great model for all student-athletes at Hollins University.
"We are proud to have Hollins University Sports Performance join the NSCA in its mission to safely improve athletic performance," says Eric McMahon, NSCA's Coaching and Sport Science Program Manager, "Supporting our student-athletes like these nine recipients guarantees a stronger future for the NSCA."
Congratulations to these student-athletes and for an updated list of the All-American Athletes of the Year award, visit www.nsca.com/All-American.
Statement from Director of Sports Performance and Student Wellness, Leslie Williams
"Our sports performance team is proud of the accomplishments made by all of our student-athletes, and we are grateful for the opportunity to work with an outstanding group of future leaders at Hollins University. We appreciate the National Strength and Conditioning Association for recognizing and honoring their efforts and accomplishments. This recognition goes to student-athletes who consistently give a great effort, provide a positive example to their teammates in training, and consistently go above and beyond in the weight room and taking care of their physical development."
TIA TUCKER
BASKETBALL
"Tia is an exemplary student-athlete and tremendous contribution to Hollins University athletics program. Her energy, leadership, and work ethic in the weight room, on the court, and in the classroom have contributed to the team's overall success. Tia holds performance test records in the vertical jump, broad jump, pro-agility, back squat, bench press, and deadlift. She also excels academically, earning recognition on the Dean's List multiple semesters, Honor Roll, and ODAC All-Academic Team. Additionally, Tia is an active member of the Black Student Alliance. Tia consistently shows up ready to work hard with a positive attitude and a hunger to improve daily. Her ability to inspire and challenge others, is part of what makes her a tremendous competitor, leader, and a momentous part of our Women's Basketball Program. She is without a doubt one of the strongest and toughest student-athletes, both physically and mentally that I've ever coached. It is a privilege to coach, mentor, and assist in the development of a young woman with such incredible character and drive". ~ Coach Leslie Williams
MADISEN CHARLES
SOCCER
"Madisen is one of the most dedicated and hardworking students-athletes I have encountered in my career.?I've had the pleasure of Coaching and mentoring Madisen as a student-athlete on the soccer team and as an intern strength and conditioning coach for most of her career at Hollins. She consistently gives amazing effort and positive energy in everything that she does. Madisen has an extremely strong work ethic, she always shows up, puts in the work, and is coachable. She has been extremely dedicated to strength training, increasing her personal records in all her lifts every year. Beyond that, Madisen has been a leader academically as she was named to the ODAC All-Academic Team and the dean's list for multiple years. Additionally, she is currently serving as the president of the student-athlete advisor committee.
Madisen has shown tremendous courage and resilience, persevering through extremely some difficult circumstances while always striving to do her best at everything that she does and push others in the same way. Madisen has the heart of gold and has been a tremendous leader for her team and many others. It has been a privilege to Coach Madisen and watch her mature into such an amazing young adult. They sky is the limit for this young woman!". ~ Coach Leslie Williams
SELENA WOLFE
VOLLEYBALL
"Selena is sophomore outside hitter on the volleyball team and played on the basketball team as her secondary sport this year. Selena transferred from Bridgewater college and has been a pleasure to coach since day one. She has set high standards for herself and her teammates through her dedicated to strength and conditioning training and hard work. She has a quiet yet kind demeanor with a powerful work ethic, strong drive to get better every day, and never complains. Some highlights over the past year include, being named to the ODAC All-Academic Team, member of the pre-med club, pre-vet club, and the HRDC club. It is my pleasure as her strength coach to nominate her for this award". ~ Coach Leslie Williams
TATE HURLEY
LACROSSE
"Tate has shown incredible commitment to strength and conditioning as well as tremendous leadership in the weight room and on her teams. She is a multi-sport student-athlete, a member of the lacrosse, equestrian, and soccer teams. Tate has been a standout student-athlete since the moment she arrived on campus and her commitment to excellence goes far beyond the athletic realm. She is naturally one of the most athletic student-athletes we have while also one of the most dedicated and hardworking of any athlete I've worked with. Tate has consistently improved her strength and conditioning personal records each semester she's been at Hollins. Her positive energy and kind demeanor is infectious. I have seen her overcome difficult circumstances with tremendous grace, maturity, and toughness. She is also a courageous leader, always putting others and her teams before herself. It is a great honor to coach a tremendous student-athlete like Tate". ~ Coach Leslie Williams
CARLIA KEARNEY
TENNIS
"Carlia is extremely dedicated to improving her performance, she requested additional strength training and tennis skill sessions during the off-season. As a result, she has shown tremendous improvements in her sport performance through her dedication to strength and conditioning and improving her craft on the court. Carlia has also excelled academically, being named to the dean's list, and the ODAC All-Academic Team this year while also participating as an active member of the black student alliance. Carlia has a positive energy that is infectious, and she has the best sense of humor. We can always count on her to put a smile on our faces and make us laugh. It is with great pleasure that I nominate her for this award". ~ Coach Leslie Williams
KATHERINE KOMAREK
SWIMMING
"Katherine is a sophomore student-athlete on the women's swimming team for Hollins University, pursuing her major in business with a concentration in marketing. Katherine has been a tremendous leader from the first day she arrived on campus and is one of our most dedicated student-athletes to the strength and conditioning as well as sport performance improvement in general. Katherine is an exemplary leader in the classroom, in the pool and in the weight room, always bringing positive energy and setting high standards for the entire team. This year she has battled a difficult back injury but has maintained a positive and optimistic attitude and continues to work hard to persevere and improve daily. Katherine exemplifies our core values of leadership, integrity, commitment, attitude, effort, and respect. She has also participated as a member of the tennis team and Hollins outdoor sports H.O.P program. Katherine excels not only in her sports but academically as well, earning ODAC All-Academic Team recognition for the second year". ~ Coach Leslie Williams
KAITLYN OKIN
CROSS-COUNTRY
Kaitlyn is a senior student-athlete on the cross-country team at Hollins University. I have had the opportunity to coach Kaitlyn for most of her career at Hollins. She has been committed to improving her performance and abilities and as a result she has improved her strength, mobility, and endurance tremendously. She has dealt with a hip injury which she is going to have surgery for but has never stopped working hard to get better despite the pain. She is tough as nails! Kaitlyn has had an outstanding academic career at Hollins, majoring in public health, she has consistently made the dean's list and ODAC All-Academic team. Beyond that, Kaitlyn has been a leader in the??weight room, on her team, and in many other contexts. She has always been extremely thoughtful, consistently putting others before herself and doing random acts of kindness for others. It is a pleasure being her strength coach". ~ Coach Leslie Williams
DYMOND WILLIAMS
TRACK & FIELD
"Dymond is a sophomore student-athlete on the indoor and outdoor track & field program at Hollins University. She has a relentless drive and dedication to improve every day in the weight room and on the track that has led to her success in her short time here at Hollins so far. Dymond continuously breaks her personal and school records in each of her events on the track as well as in the weight room. It is a pleasure to coach and mentor such an amazing student-athlete and person like Dymond". ~ Coach Leslie Williams
AUSTIN GORE
EQUESTRIAN / RIDING
"Resiliency, perseverance, grit, toughness, and leadership are just a few of the characteristics that come to mind when describing Austin Gore. During the summer of 2021, Austin had a traumatic accident where she was thrown off a horse and suffered a broken pelvis and sacrum. Because of this, she had to return home to be on bed rest and heal instead of starting her Fall 2021 semester on campus and riding with her team. Instead of feeling sorry for herself, she committed to the rehabilitation process and has returned in October 2021, which is much faster than anyone anticipated. Her unshakable commitment to her own recovery and improvements, as well as her teams, is remarkable. She always brings a positive and inspiring energy and passion to the program that motivates her teammates to be better every single day. Her incredible work ethic has driven her to come back from a devastating injury to participate in the spring season. It is my honor as her strength coach to nominate her for this award".
~ Coach Leslie Williams
