HENDERSON — On Tuesday night, the Freed-Hardeman University Lions and Lady Lions traded their uniforms for suits and dressed to celebrate the fourth annual Roar Awards presented by FirstBank. In the gala, nearly 500 student-athletes, family, and friends celebrated the accomplishments of the 2025-26 season with a Cinco de Mayo themed dinner.

Last month, each sport's student-athletes voted amongst themselves for three categories: Outstanding Teammate, Outstanding Christian Example, and Team MVP. Many coaches highlighted how impressive it was to see how the results turned out, with many raced decided by one vote.

At the end of the evening, four awards were presented by FHU athletic director Jonathan Estes and representatives from FirstBank. These four awards were nominated by and then voted upon by the coaches and other athletics staff members. After a standout season where he tied both the single-season and career assists record, men's soccer's Thabo Mahlaha was presented the Outstanding Individual Accomplishment award. Named a first-team All-American, women's basketball's Jenna Satterly was recognized as the Outstanding Female Student-Athlete of the Year. With 18 home runs and a first-team All-Conference selection, Drake Blackwood was the Outstanding Male Student-Athlete.

Named for long-time coach, administrator, and hall-of-fame member, the Charlie Smith Heart of a Lion Award is presented to an outgoing senior that best exemplifies what it means to be a Freed-Hardeman student-athlete. From work on the field of play, to leadership, to work in the classroom, the Heart of a Lion Award is the top award presented to a student-athlete. For her career in maroon and white, women's basketball's Brooklyn Crouch was presented with the award.

 

Sport Outstanding Teammate Outstanding Christian Example Team MVP Men's Cross Country Andrew Wrenn Blake Brown Neal Rowlett Women's Cross Country Megan Lampley Mackenzie Reames Eliza Poe Men's Track and Field Luke Kirchbaum Haden Bland Jackson Overton Women's Track and Field Mary Pearce Sophie Sodergren LaCaria Moore Men's Basketball Rico Sain Eli Pounders Rico Sain Softball Abbi Storey Hannah Jones Myleah Hardy Baseball Drake Blackwood Dean Bechman JJ Pruneau Women's Soccer Ericka Montenegro Gracie Trice Isabel Croke Esports C.J. O'Hara Jacob Farber Preston Bolton Men's Tennis Tom Marie Brayden Hanna Daan van Miltenburg Women's Tennis Elise Kruzan Morgan Brown Suri Gomez Women's Basketball Elli Chumley Alaina Stiles Lilly Kee JV Women's Basketball Nevaeh Bunch Brooke Ketchum Men's Golf Ben Sebilian Braden Riddle Drew Massengale Women's Golf Zoe Phillips Maggie Crouch Hannah Ruth Walton Cheer Kaylan Brewington Zola Dorris Ariel Faulkner Men's Soccer Joshua Kuykendall Jorge Martinez Thabo Mahlaha Volleyball Becca Heineman Morgan Jackson Audrey Orton JV Volleyball Audrey Satterfield Allie Lowhorn