4/25/25
NORFOLK, Va. --- The Norfolk State Athletics Department hosted its annual Spartan Choice Awards event on Monday night.
The Spartan Choice Awards recognize the department's best performers and supporters, both on and off the court. Ross Gordon served as the master of the ceremonies.
NSU men's track & field and women's basketball programs took home the top prizes of the night - Diamond Johnson earned Female Athlete of the Year, as Kendrick Winfield was named Male Athlete of the Year.
Director of Athletics Dr. Melody Webb presented the statement of occasion for the evening, before Norfolk State president Dr. Javaune Adams-Gaston gave the closing remarks for the night.
Award winners are listed below:
Male Athlete of the Year: Kendrick Winfield (Men's Track & Field)
Female Athlete of the Year: Diamond Johnson (Women's Basketball)
Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Myles Crocker (Baseball)
Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Lashauna Burrus (Bowling)
Marvin Prince Award: Premier Wynn, Allysia Farrar (Men's and Women's Track & Field)
Spartan Award: Jeremy Faulk
Athletic Director Award of Excellence: Gerald Hunter
Volleyball
Most Valuable Player: Gabrielle Gilbert
Coaches Award: Sydney McGree
Outstanding Newcomer: Regan Chisholm
Most Improved: Catori Crawford
Football
Offensive Player of the Year: Vincent Byrd Jr.
Defensive Player of the Year: Jayden Smith
Special Teams Player of the Year: Jaylen. White
Women's Cross Country
Most Valuable Player: Leanna Lewis
Most Improved: Abigael Chebet
Coaches Award: Mercyline Kimaiyo
Women's Track & Field
Most Valuable Player: Brooklyn Robinson
Outstanding Newcomer: Kalyncia Taylor
Most Improved: D'Nysha Brightful
Coaches Award: Leslie Young
Men's Cross Country
Most Valuable Player: Gidion Sigei
Most Improved: Brian Rotich
Coaches Award: Victor Jumo
Men's Track & Field
Most Valuable Player: Kendrick Winfield
Outstanding Newcomer: Jaymes Saunders
Most Improved: Victor Jumo
Coaches Award: Troy McWilliams
Women's Bowling
Most Valuable Player: Kiersten Michel
Most Improved: LaShauna Burrus
Coaches Award: Jazmin Esquibel
Men's Basketball
Most Valuable Player: Brian Moore Jr.
Most Improved: Jalen Meyers
Outstanding Newcomer: Brian Moore Jr.
Coaches Award: Chris Fields Jr.
Women's Basketball
Most Valuable Player: Diamond Johnson
Lifetime Achievement: Niya Fields
Most Improved: Jenesis Hill
Coaches Award: Da'naijiah Williams
Men's Tennis
Most Valuable Player: Fred McRae
Outstanding Newcomer: Igor Kubalka
Most Improved: Irina Lurea
Coaches Award: Ines Sabadie
Baseball
Coaches Award: Jamal Ritter
Softball
Most Valuable Player: Qween Oliva Edmonds
Outstanding Newcomer: Amaya McPherson
Most Improved: Kailey Bryant
Coaches Award: Kachelle Refour
All-Academic Team
Regan Chisholm, Volleyball
Myles Crocker, Baseball
Anelina Maniawska, Women's Tennis
Jakub Solarski, Men's Tennis
Kadynce Taylor, Women's Track & Field
LaShauna Burrus, Bowling
Savannah Stover, Softball
Jahee Blake, Football
Da'Brya Clark, Women's Basketball
Brian Moore Jr., Men's Basketball
Brian Rotich, Men's Track & Field
Victor Jumo, Men's Cross Country
Abiagel Chebet, Women's Cross Country
4/24/25
Spartans Dominate Hornets, 4-0, in MEAC Tournament Quarterfinal
4/24/2025 | Women's Tennis
CARY, N.C. - The No. 4 seed Norfolk State women's tennis team stepped up to the occasion on Thursday, emphatically taking down No. 5 seed Delaware State 4-0 in the quarterfinal round of the MEAC
Tennis Championships.
The Spartans (12-11, 3-3 MEAC) advanced to the tournament's semifinals for the first time since 2021 with the victory. Norfolk State continued an incredible turnaround, rising from a 2-17 season in 2024 to now standing one win away from securing a spot in the conference championship match.
Norfolk State won the opening doubles point to take an early 1-0 lead over the Hornets (5-10, 2-4). After Delaware State won 6-0 on Court 1, Ines Sabadie and Sofiya Tsitavets evened the bout with a 6-2 triumph on Court 2. Carolina Nicholls and Yuliya Yurkova clinched the first point from there, earning a 6-4 victory on Court 3.
Sabina Iurea got the Spartans rolling in singles play, cruising past Brooklyn Bowen 6-0, 6-1 at the No. 5 position. Nicholls pushed the Spartans ahead 3-0 from there, defeating Victoria Linkovski 6-3, 6-2 on position three.
The Spartans wasted no time sealing the match. No more than 60 seconds after Nicholls' victory, Tsitavets closed out a 6-1, 7-5 triumph at the top position against Kit Yi Kaye Au-Yeung.
Norfolk State will face No. 1 seed South Carolina State in the semifinals on Friday morning, slated for a 9 a.m. start. The game will air live on ESPN+.
For complete coverage of Norfolk State Athletics, please follow the Spartans on social media at @nsuspartans (X), /NorfolkStateAthletics (Facebook), @NSUAthletics (Instagram), @nsuathletics (YouTube) or visit the official home of Norfolk State Athletics at nsuspartans.com.
4/21/25
Spartans Conclude Vick's First Spring Season with Annual Spring Game
4/19/2025 | Football
NORFOLK, Va. - For the first time ever, fans received the opportunity to watch Norfolk State head coach Michael Vick step on the gridiron as the leader of a college football program.
The Spartans completed their annual spring game on Saturday afternoon, marking the first opportunity for Spartan Nation to catch a glimpse of Vick's talented 2025 roster in person.
The highly anticipated event lived up to its lofty expectations, producing a tremendous crowd that included several Hampton Roads legends. NBA megastar Allen Iverson, NFL veteran Tyrod Taylor,
lightweight champion boxer Keyshawn Davis, Virginia state senator Aaron Rouse and congressman Bobby Scott headlined a star-studded list of attendees.
Legends in the house! #GoldStandard pic.twitter.com/jVTpVSkcUS
- Norfolk State Football (@NorfolkStateFB) April 19, 2025
"It was good to see," Vick said. "Those guys have been telling me they are going to come out and support, and I expect to see that all season. It's good to have the local hometown heroes come out.
Guys who our players can look at as role models, great citizens of the Hampton Roads and just good people."
The Spartans participated in a mix of position drills, seven-on-seven matchups, one-on-one showdowns, and full team live periods throughout the afternoon. William & Mary transfer Dresean
Kendrick, who wowed spectators earlier with a flashy one-handed grab in traffic, hauled in a goal line touchdown pass from Israel Carter for the first touchdown of the day.
Izzy finds DreSean #GoldStandard pic.twitter.com/lIQ2D54l7Z
- Norfolk State Football (@NorfolkStateFB) April 19, 2025
"Everything was just one step at a time this spring," Carter said. "He wanted us to just focus on one play, one install, one rep at a time. That's all that we can do, control what we can control, and
we'll be just fine. I felt that when we were out there today, how the offense was operating and everything. I'm super proud of those guys, and I can't thank my offensive line enough because those
dudes help me get the success that I need and without them I'm nothing."
A few minutes later, All-MEAC running back Kevon King converted close to the end zone for another score. Kam'Ryn Thomas also made a highlight grab, soaring high to complete a catch across the middle
of the field for a big gain.
Norfolk State's defense played tough throughout the day, putting on display the gritty culture the Spartans have instilled this spring. Delaware State transfer Khaleef Jimmison made an impressive play to break up a pass in the end zone, one of many bright spots in the Norfolk State secondary.
Jimmison emphasized the Spartans' tenacious mindset coming into Saturday's opportunity.
"We just wanted to compete" Jimmson said. "Compete, compete, compete. Be physical, intentional, detailed, and just compete.
Norfolk State opens the 2025 season at home on Thursday, Aug. 28 at William "Dick" Price Stadium against Towson. Season tickets are on sale now in-person at the NSU Ticket Office or online at nsuspartanstickets.universitytickets.com
For complete coverage of Norfolk State Athletics, please follow the Spartans on social media at @nsuspartans (X), /NorfolkStateAthletics (Facebook), @NSUAthletics (Instagram), @nsuathletics (YouTube) or visit the official home of Norfolk State Athletics at nsuspartans.com.
4/21/25 
NORFOLK, Va. - Justin Journette tied Norfolk State's career home run record with a three-run bomb to centerfield on Saturday, as the Spartans fell 8-5 in their series finale against LIU.
The homer from Journette marked the 35th of his collegiate career, tying Mel Wearing's school record. The historic number has been untouched for nearly 36 years since Wearing's final college season in 1989.
Nathaniel Varnier received the start for Norfolk State, putting together a strong outing. The senior left hander allowed just two earned runs over 5.0 innings, striking out two batters.
Varnier held LIU scoreless through two frames, but three singles in the third inning helped LIU take a 2-0 advantage. Kydese Queen produced an RBI in the fourth inning, before Journette tied the game up in the fifth with a timely base hit.
LIU broke the game open with a six-run sixth inning, capitalizing on two defensive errors and four walks by the Spartans.
Norfolk State struggled to get on base for the next stretch of the game, eventually heading to the ninth inning still trailing 8-2. Cam Mazell got on base with a single, before Jalan Jones walked. Journette cut the gap to three from there, blasting the milestone home run to put a trio of runs on the board.
4/21/25
4/19/2025 | Men's Track
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. --- The Norfolk State men's track and field team closed out another strong weekend against top programs at the UVA Challenge from Apr. 18-19.
Norfolk State earned a pair of top-five finishes in the 400 meters, led by Vincent Bond Jr. in second (46.42) and Kendrick Winfield in fourth (46.58). Winfield picked up another second-place finish in the 200 meters (20.85), while Bond clocked a time of 21.23 to take 11th. Julian Ward took 12th in the same event (21.26), while Christopher Basking earned 14th (21.37). Donovan Terry clocked a time of 21.26, placing 21st, while Lavontay Bond rounded out the Spartans' finishers in the 200 meters, placing 31st (21.80). Jaymes Saunders earned an outdoor season best time of 14.49, placing 21st in the 110 meter hurdles. Freshman Lewis Too led the NSU distance team, placing 11th in the 10,000 meters with a time of 32:00.37. Basil Koech followed in 12th, clocking a time of 32:37.04. Gidion Sigei put together a strong performance in the 1,500 meters, placing 21st in a field of 73 runners (3:53.22). Chazden Wilson kept the momentum going for Norfolk State in field events, taking sixth in the high jump (6-5). Saunders placed 13th in the long jump with a mark of 23 feet, 5.5 inches. Landon Walker cleared a height of 14 feet, 5.25 inches in the pole vault, placing 16th. Jayden Gordon took 16th in the triple jump (47-0.75), while Saunders took 23rd (45-9). The Spartans return to the track Apr. 24-26 at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pa. |
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