INSTITUTE, W.Va. -- The 2023 Stinger Awards is the fourth edition of the annual awards ceremony that honors the achievements of student-athletes, coaches, and staff involved with WVSU Athletics. The 2023 Stinger Awards recognizes the most outstanding accomplishments of the 2022-23 season.

Nominations for each award category were made by the head coaches of all ten varsity sports that were active participants in the 2022-23 campaign. All employees of the Athletic Department then voted in a poll to determine winners of the 18 different categories.

Without further ado, here are the winners of the 2023 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)


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


Coach of the Year


Game of the Year

Recap: Yellow Jackets walk-off twice versus Concord on Sunday
Video: Game 1 | Game 2

Upset of the Year

Recap: WVSU stings No. 2 Glenville State, shuts down Pioneers in waning moments
Video: WVSU Women's Basketball vs. Glenville State (1/18/23)

Comeback of the Year

Recap: West Virginia State advances to second round of NCAA DII Championship with overtime victory over Bloomsburg
Video: #4 Bloomsburg vs. #5 West Virginia State (11/10/22)

Best Individual Effort (Best single game effort by an individual)

Recap: Baseball launches 10 goners in sweep of Notre Dame College
Video: Game 1 | Game 2

Best Team Effort (Best single game effort by a team)

Recap: Yellow Jackets win second-straight road game by a grand margin
Video: Davis and Elkins College vs. West Virginia State University (2/8/23)

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)


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)


The '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

Kasey Murphy has stood by the WVSU softball program for the last five years through all the highs and the lows. She never wavered and was awarded with All-MEC First Team honors and two Second Team All-Region selections towards the end of her career. Whether she was at the plate or in the circle, she always gave it her all to put her team in the best position to win. Most of all, she was an uplifting presence with an infectious positive attitude that was felt throughout the program.
-Head Coach Mattie Best