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Trophies at Awards Ceremony - 2026
Caleb Livengood

General K.C. Culler - Pfeiffer Athletics Communications

Pfeiffer Celebrates Athletic Excellence at the Inaugural Night of the Falcon Awards Ceremony

MISENHEIMER, N.C. (April 28, 2026) - Pfeiffer University Athletics marked a special milestone with the Inaugural Night of the Falcon Awards, an evening dedicated to celebrating excellence, resilience, leadership, and the unwavering Falcon spirit demonstrated throughout the 2025-2026 academic year. The ceremony, held in Merner Gym, honored standout student-athletes, coaches, and community members whose achievements and service defined a memorable season for Falcon Athletics.

Freshman of the Year Honors

The night began by recognizing remarkable first-year student-athletes who made an immediate impact.
  • Female Freshman of the Year – Abigail Bowman (Softball)
    From Lenoir, North Carolina, Bowman delivered a dominant debut season, currently boasts a 14-4 record, a team-best 1.90 ERA, 93 strikeouts, and a minuscule .178 opposing batting average. Her season featured the seven-inning perfect game in school history and an additional no-hitter, helping lead the Falcons to their fourth straight USA South Regular Season title.
     
  • Male Freshman of the Year – T.J. Palmer (Track & Field)
    A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Palmer captured USA South Conference titles in both indoor and outdoor 400 meters, anchored a championship 4x400 relay, and set a new outdoor USA South record (48.0 seconds)—a truly historic freshman campaign.

Childress Service Awards

The Childress Service Award spotlighted those who selflessly serve the Pfeiffer community.
  • The evening first honored the Childress family, including Coach Tom Childress and Interim AD Jeff Childress, for their enduring contributions to Pfeiffer Athletics.
     
  • Male Recipient – Stefan Iordache
    Iordache's leadership extended beyond competition through service in FCA, mentorship in the weight room, and deep involvement in campus life.
     
  • Female Recipient – Gabrielle "GG" Gama
    A model of excellence, Gama balances creative leadership, peer mentorship, honors academics, athletics representation, and faith-based service—all while shaping Pfeiffer's athletic brand and community.

 Freddie Award for School Spirit

  • Juan Cabrera earned the Freddie Award for School Spirit, recognized for his constant presence and enthusiasm at Falcon events—often supporting teams beyond his own and embodying true Falcon pride.

Comeback Athletes of the Year

These awards honored remarkable perseverance and resilience.
  • Female Comeback Player – Annalise Robinson (Women's Lacrosse)
    Robinson, from Winston-Salem, N.C., returned from injury to lead the Falcons with 68 goals in 2025, finishing her career with 243 total goals—a legacy of grit and excellence.
     
  • Male Comeback Player – Jack Brandle (Baseball)
    From Concord, N.C., Brandle's transformation was extraordinary—losing over 100 pounds and emerging as a cornerstone of the Falcon baseball lineup with 37 RBIs, seven home runs, and top-tier power and on-base numbers.

Captains of the Year

Leadership took center stage with the Captain of the Year awards.
  • Female Captain of the Year – Gabby Edwards
    Though unable to attend due to studying abroad, Edwards was honored for setting the standard through leadership and integrity.
     
  • Male Captain of the Year – Christian Daniels (Men's Lacrosse)
    Daniels exemplifies toughness, character, and selflessness, earning praise for his commitment to teammates, academics, and the Falcon mission.

Jack & Nancy Ingram Coach of the Year

Named in honor of the Pfeiffer Hall of Famer's Jack and Nancy Ingram, the Ingram Coach of the Year Award went to Head Men's Basketball Coach Pete Schoch. Schoch was celebrated not only for his coaching excellence but for his tireless support of student-athletes across all athletic programs, campus involvement, and willingness to serve wherever needed—often with his "world famous" popcorn and a Diet Coke in hand.

Falcon of the Year Awards

The night concluded with Pfeiffer's highest individual honors.
  • Female Falcon of the Year – Landry Stewart (Softball)
    Stewart leads both Pfeiffer and the USA South with a .542 batting average, set a school record with 58 stolen bases, and currently tops the USA South in hits (64) and on-base percentage (.559)—a season for the record books, that is yet to be completed.
     
  • Male Falcon of the Year – Jordan Jones & Alex Michael
    • Jordan Jones (Track & Field) dominated sprints nationally, ranking first in Division III in the 100 meters, winning a conference title, earning All-American status, and becoming Pfeiffer's first indoor track NCAA qualifier.
       
    • Alex Michael (Men's Soccer) capped a historic season as USA South Player of the Year, leading the league in scoring, earning First-Team All-Region, and becoming Pfeiffer's first DIII-era men's soccer All-American.  He is also the first Pfeiffer male student-athlete to be named a College Sports Communicators (CSC) First Team Academic All-American.
The Inaugural Night of the Falcon Awards celebrated far more than statistics—it honored character, perseverance, service, and unity. It was a powerful reminder of what it means to be a Pfeiffer student-athlete and sets the tone for many successful years to come.
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