RICHARDSON, Texas – Mary Hardin-Baylor senior Jefferson Fritz and Belhaven sophomore Kennedy Carruth were selected as the 2021-22 American Southwest Conference Athlete of the Year recipients, the league office announced Monday.
 
Fritz, a defensive back and punter from Kaufman, Texas, guided the Cru to a national title and undefeated season in 2021. He was a two-time All-American, two-time all-region and two-time All-ASC selection. Fritz also earned DCTF All-Small College Defensive Player of the Year, D3football.com Defensive Player of the Year, D3football.com Region 3 Defensive Player of the Year and ASC Defensive Player of the Year. Fritz was also a Gagliardi Trophy Finalist and only defensive player to make the 15-member semifinal list and five-member final list. He was also a two-time D3football.com Team of the Week selection and earned ASC Co-Special Teams Player of the Week. He was a team captain and helped the Cru to the program's second national title, knocking off the defending champions. Fritz also holds the ASC career record for interceptions.
 
“Jefferson Fritz is truly an exemplary young man who is a very deserving recipient of ASC Male Athlete of the Year honor,” said UMHB Vice-President for Athletics Dr. Mickey Kerr. “His preparation, character, work ethic, and respect for the game were evident every time he stepped on the football field.  Without question, Jefferson had exceptional athletic ability; but he was also a team leader and the consummate team player.”
 
Carruth, a pitcher from St. Francisville, La., was the Blazers top pitcher in the circle this season, finishing 2022 with a 26-5 record in 33 appearances with 186.0 innings pitched. She posted a 1.32 ERA, limited opponents to a .184 batting average and struck out 230, the new single-season ASC strikeout record. Carruth was named ASC Pitcher of the Year, ASC All-Conference First Team, NFCA All-Region X First Team and NFCA Second Team All-America. She set the tone for a team that won the ASC regular season, ASC Championship Tournament, the NCAA Division III Softball Regional Championship and was the Super Regional Runner-Up. The Blazers finished 2022 ranked No. 7 in the final NFCA top 25 poll.
 
“The things that Kennedy has accomplished are remarkable,” said Belhaven head softball coach Kevin Griffin. “While playing the most important position on the field, she has set herself apart from all of the other players in our conference. I’m proud of her growth, both as a player and as an individual, over the past two years.”

The ASC Athlete of the Year award recognizes a male and a female student-athlete whose athletic accomplishments best contributed to their sport, their institution's overall athletic program and to the conference during the past athletic year and is presented for the 22nd time in 2021-22. Selection is made from campus nominees with the recipients chosen by vote of the conference sports information directors.
 
 
2021-22 Athlete of the Year Nominees
# Athlete of the Year
 

Women
# Kennedy Carruth	Softball	Belhaven
Kerigan Bradshaw	Basketball	Ozarks
Annika Canaba	Volleyball/Softball	Sul Ross State
Madelyn Dowell	Soccer	Hardin-Simmons
Sarah Kmiecik	Golf	Mary Hardin-Baylor
Kelby Tidwell	Track & Field	McMurry
Courtney White	Softball	East Texas Baptist
Keauna Whitfield	Basketball	LeTourneau
Samantha Wong	Tennis	UT Dallas
Men
# Jefferson Fritz	Football	Mary Hardin-Baylor
Carlton Brown	Football	Belhaven
Sayers Collins	Baseball	East Texas Baptist
Ramon Garza	Baseball	UT Dallas
Nick Hamel	Baseball	McMurry
Jack Miller	Track & Field	LeTourneau
Jake Parker	Football	Howard Payne
Nathan Rankin	Track & Field	Ozarks
Marco Vazquez	Soccer	Concordia Texas
Boomer Warren	Football	Hardin-Simmons

 
Annual ASC Athlete of the Year Award Recipients
 

Year	Men	Women
1999-2000	Brad Parris, McMurry (track & field)	Ogonna Merritt, McMurry (basketball)
2000-01	(co) Aaron Kernek, Austin (football)	Talitha Belcher, McMurry (basketball, track & field)
	(co) Robert Moore, Mary Hardin-Baylor (basketball)
2001-02	Robert Moore, Mary Hardin-Baylor (basketball)	Kendra Anderson, Hardin-Simmons (basketball)
2002-03	Preston Meyer, Mary Hardin-Baylor (football)	Kendra Anderson, Hardin-Simmons (basketball)
2003-04	Cody Fredenburg, Mary Hardin-Baylor (football)	Brittany Cary, McMurry (golf)
2004-05	Cody Brotherton, McMurry (track & field)	Holly Glover, Mary Hardin-Baylor (golf)
2005-06	Aaron Crais, Texas Lutheran (baseball)	Sandi Clark, Louisiana College (softball)
2006-07	Josh Kubiak, Mary Hardin-Baylor (football)	Meia Daniels, Howard Payne (basketball)
2007-08	Jerrell Freeman, Mary Hardin-Baylor (football)	Meia Daniels, Howard Payne (basketball)
2008-09	Hann Ollison, McMurry (track and field)	Ashley Huston, Hardin-Simmons (track & field)
2009-10	Jake Mullin, McMurry (football, baseball)	Ayrika Henderson, East Texas Baptist (softball)
2010-11	Ben McLaughlin, Louisiana College (football)	Amy Kuykendall, Hardin-Simmons (soccer)
2011-12	Kevin Cunningham, McMurry (track and field)	Brittany Roberson, Howard Payne (basketball)
2012-13	Javicz Jones, Mary Hardin-Baylor (football)	Katie Kuykendall, Hardin-Simmons (soccer)
2013-14	Kyle Schleigh, UT Dallas (basketball)	Lauren Robenalt, UT Tyler (softball)
2014-15	Connor Bertsch, Concordia Texas (baseball)	McKenzie Ralston, Mary Hardin-Baylor (golf)
2015-16	Conner Combs, East Texas Baptist (baseball)	Kelsie Batten, UT Tyler (softball)
2016-17	Teidrick Smith, Mary Hardin-Baylor (football)	Whitney Simmons, UT Tyler (track & field)
2017-18	Haston Adams, Mary Hardin-Baylor (football)	Kenne Kessler, Hardin-Simmons (soccer)
2018-19	Casey Combs, East Texas Baptist (baseball)	Melissa Livermore, UT Dallas (softball)
2020-21	Josiah Johnson, Mary Hardin-Baylor (basketball)	Kathy Joseph, UT Dallas (tennis)
2021-22	Jefferson Fritz, Mary Hardin-Baylor (football)	Kennedy Carruth, Belhaven (softball)