BEAUMONT, Texas – Despite the fact a handful of teams are still competing, Lamar University held it's annual Cardinal Choice Awards Monday evening at McDonald Gym. More than 400 student-athletes, coaches, administrators and dignitaries arrived to honor and look back at the memories of the 2022-23 Cardinals' academic season. 
 
The annual banquet, which was revitalized for the 2018-19 season and moved to a virtual event during the COVID pandemic, was moved back to an in-person event last season. It recognizes the accomplishments of the LU student-athletes for their work in the competition arena, classroom and community.  
 
From soccer's epic run to the 2022 Southland Conference title - and NCAA Championships, to national marks in track and field, buzzer-beating performances on the hardwood and baseball's stunning upset of No. 5 Texas A&M, the Cardinals relived those moment's Monday and honored the student-athletes and teams who made those memories come to life.
 
Below is a list of the 2023 award winners:
Female Freshmen of the Year: Megan Do (tennis) and R'Mani Taylor (basketball)
Male Freshman of the Year: Cameron Chin (track & field)
Team GPA Award: Women's Golf (3.71 GPA)
Red Cup Award: Softball
Female Individual Performance of the Year: Portia Adams
Male Individual Performance of the Year: Ryan Snell
Best Moment of the Year: Baseball's Upset of No. 5 Texas A&M
Babe Didrikson Zaharias Award: Sabria Dean
Female Newcomers of the Year: Femke Tjon-A-Joe (tennis) and Grace Connelly (golf)
Male Newcomer of the Year: Chris Pryor (men's basketball)
Female Strength & Conditioning Athlete of the Year: Faith Outing (track and field)
Male Strength & Conditioning Athlete of the Year: Daniel Cole (baseball)
Comeback Athlete of the Year: Hunter Hesseltine (baseball)
Best Team Performance: Soccer Wins SLC Regular Season/Tournament Titles
Mary Gray Presidential Awards: Linnea Jerlebo (women's golf)
John Gray Presidential Awards: Eli Peveto (men's cross country and track & field)
Female Student Athlete of the Year: Nicole Panis
Male Student Athletes of the Year: Ryan Snell (baseball) and Max Amling (tennis)