Mycherie Onwuzuruike of Southern Wesleyan Chosen Herff Jones Conference Carolinas Female Athlete of the Year
GREENVILLE, S.C. - Mycherie Onwuzuruike of Southern Wesleyan has been chosen as the Herff Jones Conference Carolinas Female Athlete of the Year for the 2022-23 academic year.
Onwuzuruike becomes the first student-athlete from Southern Wesleyan to be chosen as the Female Athlete of the Year in Conference Carolinas. Southern Wesleyan joined the league officially as a full NCAA Division II member on July 1, 2016.
“What a great ending to an incredible track & field career at SWU,” Southern Wesleyan track & field head coach Greg Thiel said. “Mycherie is all what track & field is about. She is a great competitor, she is humble and she is an incredible ambassador for the sport, the conference and Southern Wesleyan. Most importantly, is how Mycherie always gave God all the glory and shared her love for Jesus to all no matter success or struggles. Jesus is her anchor.”
Onwuzuruike put together a stellar final track & field season for Southern Wesleyan.
Competing at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships for the first time this past March, Onwuzuruike earned All-American honors in the women’s long jump with a fourth-place finish. The graduate student from Powder Springs, Georgia posted a mark of 6.09m (19-11.75) on her second jump of the championship to claim the honors. Her mark was also a Warriors and Conference Carolinas record in the event.
The All-America and national fourth-place finish came after an indoor season for Onwuzuruike where she repeated as the Conference Carolinas Field Athlete of the Year as she won the long jump with a meet record mark of 5.91m (19-4.75) and placed third in the triple jump with a mark of 11.57m (37-11.5). She also competed on the SWU championship women’s 4x400m relay team and claimed third-team all-conference honors in the triple jump with a mark of 11.57m (37-11.5). She was an all-region choice in both the 4x400m and the long jump.
Onwuzuruike also competed in the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field nationals where she finished 16
th in the long jump. The top-16 finish at nationals came after an outdoor season where she was named all-region in the 4x100m relay, the 100m, the triple jump and the long jump. She was selected first-team all-conference in the long jump and the 4x100m relay. She was second-team all-conference in the 100m. Her mark of 6.16m in the long jump at the 2023 Conference Carolinas Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Championship set the meet and conference record in the event.
“It’s an honor and privilege to be on a platform such as this as an unapologetic Christian female athlete,” Onwuzuruike said. “I have the opportunity to represent my father, best friend and savior, the Lord Jesus Christ in such a beautiful way. I also get to represent Southern Wesleyan, my family and Nigeria. I hope to continue to strive to be a great light and leader to others, not just athletically but mentally, emotionally and spiritually as well.”
The Athlete of the Year Award (one male and one female each year) is the most outstanding student-athlete for the year in the league. Per Conference Carolinas Directors of Athletics vote, nominations will be accepted from member institutions to only include conference-sponsored sports and all nomination information, statistics and accomplishments are solely based on athletically-related criteria.
Herff Jones Conference Carolinas Female Athlete of the Year Winners
2022-23 Mycherie Onwuzuruike, Southern Wesleyan
2021-22 Shanika Peterkin, Barton
2020-21 Jharna Alston, Emmanuel
2019-20 Shanika Peterkin, Barton
2018-19 Leah Hanle, Mount Olive
2017-18 Shannon Sisk, Limestone
2016-17 Jasmine Kearse, Limestone
2015-16 Jasmine Kearse, Limestone
2014-15 Alicia Brookins, Limestone
2013-14 Nyeshea Willie, Barton
2012-13 Kay Schellenberg, Belmont
Abbey
2011-12 Ashley Alderin-Fleagle,
Limestone
2010-11 Racquel Prager, Limestone
2009-10 Tanya Zeferjahn, Queens
2008-09 Lauryn Wise, Limestone
2007-08 Samantha Mitchell, Mount Olive
2006-07 Deidra Langston, Anderson
2005-06 Keauna Vinson, Barton
2004-05 LaShonda Chiles, Anderson
2003-04 Tina Gonsalves, St. Andrews
2002-03 Jennifer Potts, Longwood
2001-02 Shemkia Reid, Barton
2000-01 Jen Calderwood, Lees-McRae
1999-00 Angela Placona, Belmont Abbey
1998-99 Missy Paterson, Coker
1997-98 Missy Paterson, Coker
1996-97 Missy Paterson, Coker
1995-96 Staci Albright, Coker