LEXINGTON, Va. – After leading their respective sports both in the field of play and with excellent academic marks, VMI recognized its top 2019-20 cadet-athletes with several end of year honors. Head football coach
Scott Wachenheim was also recognized for his teams' accomplishments this past season.
Intercollegiate Award (outstanding athlete among football, basketball, baseball, men's cross country/track & field teams)
Basketball: Garrett Gilkeson '20
Started all 33 games and played several positions and drew the toughest defensive assignments…Averaged 9.9 points and led the team in rebounding (5.7), assists (111), and minutes played (32.6)…had 14 games of double figure scoring including a career-high 28 points against Wofford Feb. 5 when he connected on 11 of 15 shots from the floor…finished his career with five double-doubles and collected 22 points and season-high 10 rebounds against Samford Jan. 4..also pulled down 10 rebounds against ETSU Jan. 11…dished out a career-high tying seven assists against Samford March 6…finished his career with 905 points, 558 rebounds, 263 assists in 124 games with 66 career starts.
Intercollegiate Award (outstanding athlete among lacrosse, rifle, men's soccer, swimming/diving and wrestling teams)
Wrestling: Neal Richards '20
Became just the third VMI wrestler and first since 1999 to earn All-American honors (second-team this year) … named the Southern Conference Tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler (co) for the second-straight year after winning the 174-pound individual championship and qualifying for the NCAA Division I Tournament … qualified for the NCAA Tournament three times in his career and earned his second SoCon title … finished the year with a 38-7 record with six major decisions, seven technical falls and five pins, with victories in 18 of his last 19 matches … also earned first-team all-state honors as a senior … won the individual title at 174 lbs. at the All-Academy Championships and was second at the Keystone Classic.
Intercollegiate Award (outstanding athlete among women's cross country/track & field, soccer & swimming/diving)
Water Polo: Isabel French '20
Finished the spring season as the leader in many categories in program history, including games played, minutes played, goals-against average and saves in a game, season and career … had an outstanding spring, boasting an 8-0 record, 86 saves, a .541 save percentage and a 8.68 goals-against average … she earned nine MAAC Player of the Week awards, including one this spring … ranked third in the MAAC in goals-against average this year and second in save percentage … the conference Rookie of the Year in 2017.
Distinguished Coaching Award
Scott Wachenheim (football)
Wachenheim guided the Keydet football team to five wins overall in 2019 – the most since 2003 when VMI posted a 6-6 mark. The Keydets closed out the regular season with a 31-24 win over Chattanooga to finish with a 4-4 mark in SoCon play which marked the first time since 1979 that the VMI had secured four conference wins in a season. The Keydets also reclaimed the Silver Shako trophy for the first time in 13 meetings after an October win over The Citadel in the Military Classic of the South. The 2019 squad established a new VMI school single season mark with for total offense (4,887) and passing yards (3,429) and the 370 points scored was the second highest in Institute history.
Wachenheim was voted 2019 Southern Conference Coach of the Year by the league coaches and became the first VMI coach to achieve the honor since Cal McCombs in 2002. He was also named one of 15 finalists to the STATS FCS 33rd annual Eddie Robinson Award which honors the FCS Coach of the Year.
The Frank Summers Team Leadership Award
To the First Classman chosen as the outstanding team leader.
Football: Jarrod Richmond '20
Returned to team as redshirt senior and started all 12 games on the defensive line…tied for the second most tackles on the defensive unit with 70 total including 19 solos and 51 assists…had five tackle-for-loss for 24 yards including 1.5 sacks…recovered a team high three fumbles and returned one 64 yards for a touchdown – the first time by a Keydet since 2014…had a season-high 12 tackles with a fumble recovery against Western Carolina November 2…had nine tackles against Army Nov. 16 and eight tackles against The Citadel Oct. 5. and helped the defense hold the Bulldog triple-option to under 100 yards rushing.
The Almond Award
To the graduating cadet who has throughout his/her career, demonstrated outstanding contributions to intercollegiate athletics while distinguishing himself/herself through academic achievement and soldierly bearing and aptitude.
Water Polo: Emma Noble '20
3.616 GPA in Mechanical Engineering…a senior center defender, wrapped up her VMI tenure with 96 goals, 100 assists and 186 points in 101 matches … named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week in early March … led the conference in assists per game this spring and was seventh in points per game … had 21 goals and 29 assists in 13 games as a senior … earned MAAC All-Academic Team honors as a sophomore and junior (will be awarded for 2020 in late April) … has been named to the SoCon Honor Roll.
The Henry Johnson Award
To the outstanding team manager
Daminica Moore (basketball)
"Daminica has been a valued member of our program for the past two seasons," said head coach
Dan Earl. "She is smart, motivated, and is always willing to help and contribute in any way that she can. She adds tremendous value to our team. We thank her for all of her efforts and congratulate her on the Henry Johnson Award!"
