GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – USTFCCCA National Women’s Athlete of the Year Katelyn Tuohy of NC State and Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Pitcher of the Year Rhett Lowder of Wake Forest are the top ACC female and male athletes for the 2022-23 academic year, as voted upon by a select media panel (81 voters).
“Rhett and Katelyn are incredible representatives of the ACC and are extremely deserving of being named the league’s top male and female athletes of the year,” said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D. “These two amazing individuals have not only excelled athletically but have also done so academically. It was another banner year for the ACC, which is a tribute to our student-athletes, coaches, administrators and institutional leadership.”
Tuohy earned the 33rd Mary Garber Award as the ACC’s most outstanding female athlete, as she becomes the first Wolfpack student-athlete to claim the honor since Julie Shea in 1980 and 1981. The Stony Point, New York, native won three individual NCAA titles throughout the 2022-23 athletic year, winning the 2022 NCAA Cross Country championship and 3000m and 5000m during the indoor season. Away from the NCAA Championships, Tuohy set two NCAA indoor records (3000m and 1-mile) and one outdoor record in the 5000m. For her efforts, she was awarded the H.C. Kennett Award which recognizes the top female student-athlete at NC State.
“I am honored to be named the ACC Female Athlete of the Year,” Tuohy said. “There are so many incredible female athletes in the ACC, and I’m truly honored for this recognition. I have to thank my coaches and teammates for their constant support and pushing me to be the best I can be.”
Tuohy received 15 votes to lead the Garber Award balloting, followed by Clemson softball student-athlete Valerie Cagle (13 votes) and Virginia Tech basketball student-athlete Elizabeth Kitley (12).
"We are incredibly proud of the historic year Katelyn has had here at NC State,” Head Coach Laurie Henes said. “She is an outstanding student athlete, and an even better teammate and person. In a conference full of so many amazing athletes, we are thrilled for her to be recognized as the ACC Female Athlete of the Year."
Lowder received the 70th Anthony J. McKevlin Award as the conference’s premier male athlete and becomes the first Demon Deacon to earn the honor since Tim Duncan in 1997. The Albemarle, North Carolina, native closed the season as the only pitcher in the country to finish 15-0 on the season. Prior to the start of the conference tournament, the right-hander was the ACC leader in ERA (1.73), wins (12), innings pitched (88.2) and strikeouts (108). For his efforts, he was named a finalist for the Dick Howser Trophy, which is awarded the top collegiate player.
“It truly is an honor to be named the ACC Male Athlete of the Year,” Lowder said. “I want to thank the coaching staff at Wake for giving me the opportunity to represent this great program, Wake Forest University and the ACC. It is a dream come true to be on the same list as such great athletes.”
Lowder led the McKevlin Award balloting with 30 votes, followed by Duke’s Brennan O’Neill (men’s lacrosse) with 14 votes and Pitt’s Nino Bonaccorsi (wrestling) with six votes.
“Coaching Rhett Lowder has truly been an honor,” Wake Forest Baseball Head Coach Tom Walter said. “Whether it be in the classroom, on the baseball diamond or in his social life, Rhett exudes excellence. The impact he has made on our program and his teammates is immeasurable. He exemplifies our Wake Forest motto, Pro Humanitate, and is the consummate Deac. I could not be prouder.”
Both Tuohy and Lowder were named ACC Scholar-Athletes of the Year this previous year, as Tuohy won the award twice in cross country and indoor track & field. The Wolfpack sophomore was also named the 2023 Honda Award winner for Cross Country, one of the top honors for a college athlete.
The ACC Athlete of the Year Awards are given in memory of two distinguished journalists. McKevlin was a sports editor of the Raleigh (North Carolina) News and Observer, while Garber, of the Winston-Salem (North Carolina) Journal, was a pioneer as one of the first female sports journalists in the nation.