MOUNT BERRY, Ga. - Now that the spring season has concluded, the Berry College Athletic Department has released their 2025-26 Male and Female Student-Athletes of the Year. The Vikings also recognized all of this year's award winners at the annual Sneaker Ball.

Senior Riley Uhls has been named the Male Student-Athlete of the Year after a dominant season on the field and in the classroom for the baseball program. Uhls was also active in the community and on campus helping with the Vikings MLK service day by helping local schools and the Salvation Army. An unofficial team captain Uhls led weekly bible studies and helped mentor the younger players. A star in the classroom Uhls graduated with a degree in Finance and a 3.70 GPA as he was named a CSC Academic All-American for the first time after previously receiving CSC Academic All-District and SAA Honor Roll honors in his previous two seasons.

A native of Lexington, KY Uhls led the baseball team with a .448 batting average, 16 doubles, 60 RBIs, 123 total bases, 74 hits, 9 home runs, a .745 slugging percentage, a .517 on base percentage, 48 runs scored and a 1.262 OPS while being named the 2026 SAA Baseball Athlete of the Year. Uhls also received national recognition as he was named an ABCA/Rawlings Third Team All-American, D3baseball.com Fifth Team All-American, ABCA/Rawlings First Team All-Region and D3baseball.com First Team All-Region. Uhls finishes his hall of fame caliber career as the Vikings career record holder in RBIs (202), doubles (52) and putouts (831) while also ranking top 10 in at bats (587), runs scored (129), triples (7), hits (232), home runs (18), batting average (.395), hit by pitch (24) and on base percentage (.453). This season Uhls also set new single season records in batting average (.448), hits (74) and total bases (123). During his career he also set single game records in hits (6), RBIs (7), doubles (4) and is tied for the most home runs (2) and total bases (10). Uhls leaves the Vikings as one of the top hitters of all time and will forever hold a place in Vikings history.

Junior Madie Whitehead has been named the Mika Robinson Female Student-Athlete of the Year after leading the volleyball program to a historic high on the court. Whitehead was also active in the community and on campus volunteering with SHIFT, a physical therapy group and Restoration Rome. On top of that she has worked in the academic success center for the last years as an associate peer tutor and has worked with athletes bettering the community to organize MLK service day activities. An Exercise Science major Whitehead was named a 2025 CSC Academic All-American after previously receiving All-District and SAA Honor Roll honors. 

A native of Pearland, TX Whitehead led the Vikings with 482 kills, 3.77 kills per set and 571 points to go with 296 digs, 86 blocks and 44 aces to help lead the team to the SAA Tournament Championship and a run to the NCAA Final Four where they eventually fell in five sets to the eventual runner up LaVerne. On the way Whitehead was named First Team All-SAA and SAA Offensive Athlete of the Week three times. She also received national recognition as she was named an AVCA First Team All-Amercan and First Team All-Region. Whitehead was named to the NCAA Regional All-Tournament team after guiding the Vikings to a domimant Regional Championship including a 3-1 win over the hosts and No. 15 Virginia Wesleyan as they went 3-0 to advance to the Elite 8 for only the second time in school. Whitehead was then named to the NCAA Championship All-Tournament after leading the Vikings to a shocking 3-1 win over No. 1 undefeated East Texas Baptist. In the Spring Whitehead helped lead the beach volleyball team to a runner up finish at the AVCA National Championships. Whitehead enters the Vikings record books as she set single records for kills (482) and total attacks (1,243) while also setting an individual match record for points during a four set match with 26. Whithead will continue her great career with the Vikings looking to add more records and accolades in her senior season.

The Vikings also hosted their annual Sneaker Ball awards ceremony in April.

First was the Justus Edwards Inspiration Award.

The Justus Edwards Inspiration Award is presented to a male and female who, through a positive attitude, high personal motivation, will, and drive has overcome considerable challenges to affect Berry College, the Department of Athletics, or those in the Rome community in an affirmative manner.

This year's recipients were:
Troy Blackwood: Cross Country
Elly Callihan: Women's Basketball


















Next up was the Service Award:

The Service Award is presented to the male and female student-athlete or team that best embodies the spirit of "giving back" by working on campus or in the community to significantly impact those in need.

This year's recipients were:

Men's Soccer Team
Destynie Huynh: Women's Lacrosse



The Scholar Athletes of the Year were named after that.

To be named the Scholar-Athlete of the year, the student-athlete must excel both in and out of the classroom. The recipient must have a high-grade point average (3.5 and above) and be an active contributor to the team.

This year's recipients were:
Aiden Benoualid: Men's Tennis
Ava Fouts: Softball



The "Be Berry" Award was next.

The "Be Berry" Award is presented to an excelled male and female student-athlete. These student-athletes must set an example of leadership, dedication, values, and concern for others while effectively representing Berry College in the competitive arena.

This year's recipients were:
Dawson Livingston: Football
Bradynn Belcher: Softball



Lastly was the Newcomer of the Year

The Newcomers of the Year is presented to a male and female student-athlete in their first year of intercollegiate participation at Berry who has positively impacted their team and/or the Department of Athletics.

This year's recipients were:
JohnMark Christopher - Baseball
Ava Brovet - Volleyball



The full photo gallery from the Sneaker Ball can be found here: