GREENVILLE, S.C. — Belmont Abbey has captured the 2023-24 Overall Messick Award for displaying outstanding sportsmanship in Conference Carolinas, the league office announced today. This marks the sixth time that the department has been recognized with the award, which was presented at the Awards Banquet during the Conference Carolinas Spring Meetings.

The Abbey led both the men's and women's competitions as gender-specific awards were established in 2016-17. The wins mark the third for the men's teams and second for the women's.

Throughout the year, Belmont Abbey won Individual Sport Messicks in Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country, Softball, Men's Outdoor Track & Field, and Women's Outdoor Track & Field.

"We receive this good news with humility and gratitude, "Vice President and Director of Athletics Stephen Miss said. "For us, success in the Messick Award serves as proof of concept, emblematic of the entire Belmont Abbey College community's intentional and concerted commitment to Excellence, Virtue, and Sport Properly Directed."

The Messick Sportsmanship Awards are named after John D. Messick, who was the President of former conference member East Carolina from 1947-59. Messick truly championed sportsmanship and even wrote a book entitled, "Personality and Character Development."

A student-athlete and coach from each institution vote separately upon the sportsmanship of all conference competitors, with the averages determining the winner for each conference-sponsored sport. Overall awards are determined by the individual sport standings.
 
The mission statement of the Belmont Abbey athletic department emphasizes the importance of upholding standards of virtue and excellence in everything that the department does and creating a positive change in the culture of sport. Everyone working within the athletic department at The Abbey works to help develop the student-athletes as a whole person within their body, mind and soul.

"What an honor for Belmont Abbey to be recognized with the combined Messick Awards," said Head Track & Field Cross Country Coach Dan Finanger, whose teams captured four sport trophies. "Conference Carolinas offers so many opportunities to grow and shine and the Messick Award is special because it highlights our spirit for competition, and our drive for excellence on the track. It builds character in each student-athlete and coach, which results in an atmosphere of Excellence & Virtue at our track meets."