INSTITUTE, W.Va. -- The 2022 Stinger Awards is the third edition of the annual awards ceremony that honors the achievements of student-athletes, coaches, and staff involved with WVSU Athletics. The 2022 Stinger Awards recognizes the most outstanding accomplishments of the 2021-22 season.

Nominations for each award category were made by the head coaches of all ten varsity sports that were active participants in the 2021-22 campaign. All employees of the Athletic Department then voted in a poll to determine winners of the 17 different categories.

Without further ado, here are the winners of the 2022 Stinger Awards:

Male Athlete of the Year (Best overall male athlete)


Female Athlete of the Year (Best overall female athlete)


Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year (Excelled both academically and athletically)


Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year (Excelled both academically and athletically)


Male Freshman of the Year (Best freshman male athlete)


Female Freshman of the Year (Best freshman female athlete)


Male Iron Yellow Jacket Award (Put forth the most effort in the weight room)


Female Iron Yellow Jacket Award (Put forth the most effort in the weight room)


Male Comeback Player of the Year (Returned from injury and performed at a high level)


Female Comeback Player of the Year (Returned from injury and performed at a high level)


Male Breakthrough Athlete of the Year (Player with the most dramatic improvement from previous season)


Female Breakthrough Athlete of the Year (Player with the most dramatic improvement from previous season)


Coach of the Year


Game of the Year

Recap | Five-Set Thriller: State Knocks Off Wheeling Friday
Video | WVSU Volleyball vs. Wheeling (Oct. 22)

Upset of the Year

Recap | West Virginia State knocks out No.2 West Liberty in overtime; moves on to next round in NCAA DII Tournament
Video | West Liberty University Men's Basketball vs. West Virginia State University

Come-From-Behind Performance of the Year

Recap | Yellow Jackets battle to end and beat Concord, 34-32
Video | West Virginia State at Concord

Best Individual Performance of the Year (Best single game effort)

Recap | Moore scores 39 in victory over Bobcats
Video | West Virginia State at WVWC

Play of the Year


Sportsmanship Award (Athlete or coach who treats others with the utmost respect)


Teammate of the Year (Athlete who always put the team before themselves)


Male Black & Gold Award (Transcends their own sport by being active on campus and promoting athletics as a whole)


Female Black & Gold Award (Transcends their own sport by being active on campus and promoting athletics as a whole)


Award for Service (Individual or collective team that contributed most to the community throughout the year)


Male 'Cal Bailey' Career Achievement Award 
*Must be a graduating student-athlete that played at least four years at WVSU or a retiring coach/staff member that spent the majority of his/her career at WVSU

Glen arrived on our campus in the fall of 2017 and is leaving as a three-time First Team All-MEC player and a member of the 2,000-point club. He helped get us back to, and win in, the national tournament. He earned his bachelor's degree and has an opportunity to finish his master's degree. Sounds like a pretty good career for a young man from Chicago.
- Head Men's Basketball Coach Bryan Poore

Female 'Cal Bailey' Career Achievement Award 
*Must be a graduating student-athlete that played at least four years at WVSU or a retiring coach/staff member that spent the majority of his/her career at WVSU

Jenna Dufresne and her class helped revive the volleyball program at State. She's arguably the best-ever all-around player to play here and is our only All-American. She was a fierce attacker and the ultimate competitor. All the while, she was the consummate student-athlete and earned two undergraduate degrees from WVSU.
- Head Volleyball Coach Kris Kern