Trotman & Fuzzard Named Athletes of the Year

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Appalachian State wrestler Austin Trotman and Chattanooga softball player Michelle Fuzzard have been named the 2012 Southern Conference Male and Female Athletes of the Year the league announced today (May 29).  Trotman and Fuzzard will be honored as part of the league's annual Honors Dinner Wednesday night in Asheville, N.C.

Fuzzard becomes the seventh Lady Moc to win the award and the first softball player in league history to be named the Female Athlete of the Year.  She was named the Player of the Year this season after leading the league in slugging percentage (.846), on-base percentage (.543), RBIs (63) and runs scored (52).  Fuzzard was second in the league in batting average (.416), total bases (126) and walks (39). 

A first team all-conference selection as the league's top designated player, Fuzzard also pitched in 36 games and made 27 starts for UTC and posted a 15-7 record.  During her senior season she became the league's career leader in RBIs.  As a junior she knocked in 74 runs, which set a new SoCon single-season record. 

The Huntington Beach, Calif., native was named first team all-conference four times and also garnered second team honors as a pitcher in 2009 to become the only player in league history earn all-conference accolades as both a position player and pitcher in the same season. 

Fuzzard graduated in 2011 with a degree in criminal justice and is currently working towards her Master's degree.  Away from the diamond she has spent over 270 hours as an intern at the Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute, providing assistance with the forensics and treatment team.  A three-year member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) at UTC, Fuzzard also serves on the school's Gender Equity Committee.

Trotman was named the Bob Waters Male Athlete of the Year following a senior season in which the Winston-Salem, N.C., native earned All-America honors.  He placed third at the NCAA championships after being named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the SoCon Championship. 

After posting an undefeated regular season in the Southern Conference, Trotman became a three-time individual champion at the SoCon Championships by winning the 184-pound crown in 2012.  He finished the year with 38 wins, the second highest single-season total at ASU.

His efforts helped the Mountaineers earn their first regular season SoCon crown since 2003.  At the NCAA championships, Trotman defeated the top-three ranked wrestlers at 184 to earn All-America status and give the Mountaineers their best national finish in 20 years.  Trotman finished his career as ASU's all-time leader in wins with 129. 

A communications major with a minor in sociology, Trotman is enrolled in the 2012 Southeastern Seminary graduate program.  He served as the president of ASU's SAAC and has mentored wrestlers ages 11-17 as an instructor and clinician.

The Athlete of the Year Awards are selected annually by the Southern Conference athletics directors and a media member representing each conference school. The award recognizes athletic achievement, academic performance and civic involvement.  Prior to 1990-91, the award was selected solely by members of the Southern Conference Sports Media Association. Beginning in 1991-92, the men's award was named after the late Bob Waters, who was Western Carolina's head football coach from 1969-88.