Spartanburg Methodist College Celebrates Student-Athlete Success at Inaugural “Big Blue Night of Excellence”

Danny Kambel Published: April 17, 2026 | Updated: April 17, 2026 1 minute read

Read Time:57 Second

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Spartanburg Methodist College hosted its first annual Big Blue Night of Excellence on April 15, a premier awards ceremony recognizing the academic and athletic achievements of Pioneer student-athletes.

The event brought together student-athletes, coaches, and staff to celebrate the hard work, dedication, and resilience demonstrated throughout the competitive season.

Award winners included:

Emerging Athlete Award – Krystal Johnson (Women’s Basketball); Ryan Hunter (Men’s Cross Country/Track & Field)
Comeback Athlete of the Year – Caitlin Lagos (Women’s Soccer); Marshall Lamb (Men’s Basketball)
Trailblazer Award – Halle Traylor (Women’s Basketball); Romeo Brown (Men’s Track & Field)
Scholar-Athlete of the Year – Leilani Campbell (Volleyball); Ben Ohl (Men’s Soccer)
Pinnacle Pioneer Award – Halle Traylor (Women’s Basketball); Tomas Vega (Men’s Soccer)
Team Academic Excellence Award – Volleyball; Men’s Soccer
Outstanding Pioneer Award – Destiny Middleton (Women’s Basketball); Layton Cave (Men’s Soccer)
Pioneer Team of the Year – Women’s Basketball; Baseball

As the Big Blue Night of Excellence establishes itself as a new tradition, it reflects SMC’s continued commitment to excellence in athletics, academics, and the holistic development of its student-athletes.