LEXINGTON, Va. – With the school year in the books, VMI faculty and staff announced its Cadet-Athlete award winners for the 2022-23 academic year.
The Intercollegiate Athletic Award – Justin Starke '24 (Baseball)
To the outstanding athlete among football, basketball, baseball, men's cross country/track & field teams.
Starke has played a massive role in the success of VMI baseball this season, pacing the team in batting average – a category in which the Keydets have ranked top five in Division I all season long. Splitting time at third base and catcher, Starke has one of the top career batting averages in program history and is currently hitting a team-best .381. A native of Prince George, Virginia, Stark currently ranks 21st in the country in stolen bases, totaling 29 on the year. Among SoCon players, Starke is second in total bases and sacrifice flies, while ranking third in hits and fourth in both hits per game and runs scored.
The Intercollegiate Athletic Award – Hartley Jordan '23 (Lacrosse)
To the outstanding athlete among lacrosse, rifle, men's soccer, swimming/diving and wrestling teams.
A fourth-generation cadet, Jordan is one of the best midfielders to ever play in the program's 40-year history. A team captain, Jordan is one of 20 players in program history to record 100 points, ending his career with 62 goals and 40 assists in 102 games played. This past season, Jordan ranked second on the team in goals (24) and assists (18), recording a point in every game and scoring in all but two contests. One of two juniors to earn first team All-SoCon honoree status in 2022, Jordan earned All-MAAC First Team honors this season.
The Intercollegiate Athletic Award – London Yerasimides '23 (Women's Swimming and Diving)
To the outstanding athlete among women's cross country/track & field, soccer & swimming/diving.
A captain for the 2022-23 season, Yerasimides was the top-point earner on the team in each of the past two seasons, claiming America East Diver of the Week awards once each as a junior and senior. As a junior, Yerasimides became the first female diver from VMI to qualify and compete at the ECAC in nearly 10 years. This year, Yerasimides, who commissioned into the Navy, wrapped up her stellar career with a sixth-place finish at this year's America East Championship.
The Frank Summers Team Leadership Award – Cassidy Dufour '23 (Rifle)
To the First Classman chosen as the outstanding team leader.
Serving as a team captain for the rifle program, Dufour embraced the leadership role this past season. Helping coach up her teammates, Dufour aided VMI to numerous victories the past two seasons including a win over Wofford in which she posted the eighth-best individual score and the seventh-best air rifle score among male and female competitors. A three-year Air Force ROTC Scholarship winner, Dufour has earned Dean's list as well as Institute honors while serving as Cadet Chaplain. Recently Dufour, who commissioned into the United States Air Force on Monday, earned the Southern Conference Presidential Scholarship.
The Almond Award – Scout Ripley '23 (Lacrosse)
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.
A 2022 recipient of VMI's prestigious Three-Legged Stool Award, Ripley is one of the most decorated lacrosse players in program history, finishing his career with 59 goals and 14 assists in just 33 games played. Despite suffering a season-ending injury in the third game this season, Ripley embraced his role on the sideline and continued to excel as a team leader. Prior to the injury, helping VMI take down Queens 10-9 in double overtime, scoring five goals including the game-winner. Ripley, who scored four goals in the season opener, will attend law school in the fall.
The Henry Johnson Award – Josh Licona '24 (Men's Soccer)
To the outstanding team manager.
This year as the men's soccer manager, Licona picked up the slack for a staff that had no full-time assistant, with his efforts being described as "above and beyond what is normally expected for a team manager." A native of Stafford, Virginia, Licona is described as dependable and trustworthy. A junior, Licona is a computer science major.
The Distinguished Coaching Award – Sam Roberts (Baseball)
A 2011 graduate of VMI, Roberts was named head coach on August 5, 2022, and has made an immediate impact in his first year at the helm. Although the season is not over, Roberts has led VMI to its most wins and conference wins since 2018. The Keydets' first win of the season was over Mississippi State – a program that claimed the 2021 National Championship – before registering three non-conference sweeps. Roberts' aggressive style of play has been a big part of the Keydet success, as VMI leads the nation in stolen bases and stolen bases per game, ranking in the top five in batting average and top 10 in doubles and doubles per game, and just outside the top 10 in hits and scoring.
