Wake Forest Athletics Announces Arnold Palmer, Marge Crisp and Freshman of the Year Awards
7/15/2024 12:00:00 PM | General, Men's Golf, Track and Field, Women's Golf
Four Demon Deacon student-athletes were honored for their impactful contributions during an unforgettable year.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Capping off a year to remember, Wake Forest Athletics this week announced the winners of the following awards: Female Rookie of the Year, Male Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year, the Arnold Palmer Award (Male Athlete of the Year) and the Marge Crisp Award (Female Athlete of the Year).
Marge Crisp Award (Female Athlete of the Year)-Rachel Kuehn
Rachel Kuehn finished her fifth and final season in 2023-24 to cap off an outstanding career which includes leading Wake Forest women's golf to its first-ever NCAA National Championship in 2023 and the Demon Deacons' eighth ACC title in 2024. Kuehn won two individual titles during her final season, including the ACC Championship, joining her mother, Brenda, who won the individual title in 1986, to become the first mother-daughter duo to win ACC individual titles. Kuehn also brought home her eighth career individual win at the NCAA Regionals to move into third all-time in program history. Kuehn was also selected to the All-ACC team for the fourth consecutive season after going under par in 26 of her 32 rounds and having her score count for every round of the season for the team.
Winning the 2024 Marge Crisp Award caps off a historic career where Kuehn's leadership and efforts, along with her teammates, brought about a new standard for the women's golf program. Off the course, Kuehn, who received her master's degree in Sports Media after graduating with a degree in Business and Enterprise Management last year, won the 2023 and 2024 Scholar Athlete of the Year Award and was named to the All-ACC Academic team for the fourth consecutive year.
The Asheville, N.C., native was named to the ACC Honor Roll for the fifth time in 2024 and was named a WGCA All-American Scholar. Kuehn was also selected as Wake Forest's nominee for the Mary Garber Award, which is presented to the ACC Female Athlete of the Year.
Finally, Kuehn becomes the third Deac to win three consecutive Marge Crisp Awards, joining Jennifer Kupcho (2017-19) and Janelle Kraus (1998-00).
Arnold Palmer Award (Male Athlete Of The Year) - Michael Brennan
Michael Brennan completed his senior season in 2023-24 and capped an incredible career that includes leading Wake Forest to its first ACC Championship in 32 years (1989) in 2022. That team title brought home an Atlantic Coast Conference record 19th league title back to Winston-Salem. Additionally, his efforts as the Demon Deacons' No. 1 player the last two years were highlighted by winning back-to-back individual ACC Championships in 2023 and 2024 and leading the Deacs a postseason berth in the NCAA Championships those years as well.
Garnering the 2024 Arnold Palmer Award caps an incredible career where Brennan's leadership and efforts, along with his teammates, continued to raise the standard of success for Wake Forest's storied men's golf program. With that, off the course, Brennan was a four-time Academic All-ACC nominee and recently graduated with a B.A. in Economics following the 2024 spring semester. Additionally, the Leesburg, Va. native was Wake Forest's nominee for the 2023-24 Anthony J. McKevlin Award, which is presented to the ACC Male Athlete of the Year
Finally, Brennan is the first men's golfer to earn this prestigious award since Lee Bedford garnered this honor in back-to-back years in 2011-12.
Female Rookie of the Year-Macy Pate
Macy Pate completed her freshman season in the best way possible, as she was named the ACC Freshman of the Year for women's golf while also being named to the All-ACC Team. Throughout her stellar freshman season, Pate, a Winston-Salem native, finished within the top-25 in nine of 12 events, including a second-place finish at the East Lake Cup with a single-round score of 71 (-1). Pate also recorded three top-10 finishes that included a tied-7th finish at the NCAA Regionals at Bermuda Run. The freshman was one of just two members of the women's golf team, alongside Rachel Kuehn, to compete in every single event of the season, posting an average score of 71.48 across her 31 stroke play rounds, with 24 of those rounds being under par.
Male Rookie Of The Year-Rocky Hansen
Rocky Hansen capped off a stellar freshman campaign with a 16th place finish at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the men's 5000m, posting a 14:04.44 time. Hansen, a Hendersonville, N.C., native was the third highest freshman finisher at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, capping off a season in which he earned second-team All-American honors in the 5000m and Second Team All-ACC honors in the 1500m. During the Wake Forest Invitational, Hansen recorded a time of 13:44.16 in the 5000m to earn the fifth-fastest 5000m time in program history. The freshman was also named to the All-ACC Academic Team, as well as being the first true freshman since 2018 to be named ACC Performer of the Week in Cross Country on October 17. Hansen also placed fifth and sixth individually in his two cross country races on the season.
Marge Crisp Award (Female Athlete of the Year)-Rachel Kuehn
Rachel Kuehn finished her fifth and final season in 2023-24 to cap off an outstanding career which includes leading Wake Forest women's golf to its first-ever NCAA National Championship in 2023 and the Demon Deacons' eighth ACC title in 2024. Kuehn won two individual titles during her final season, including the ACC Championship, joining her mother, Brenda, who won the individual title in 1986, to become the first mother-daughter duo to win ACC individual titles. Kuehn also brought home her eighth career individual win at the NCAA Regionals to move into third all-time in program history. Kuehn was also selected to the All-ACC team for the fourth consecutive season after going under par in 26 of her 32 rounds and having her score count for every round of the season for the team.
Winning the 2024 Marge Crisp Award caps off a historic career where Kuehn's leadership and efforts, along with her teammates, brought about a new standard for the women's golf program. Off the course, Kuehn, who received her master's degree in Sports Media after graduating with a degree in Business and Enterprise Management last year, won the 2023 and 2024 Scholar Athlete of the Year Award and was named to the All-ACC Academic team for the fourth consecutive year.
The Asheville, N.C., native was named to the ACC Honor Roll for the fifth time in 2024 and was named a WGCA All-American Scholar. Kuehn was also selected as Wake Forest's nominee for the Mary Garber Award, which is presented to the ACC Female Athlete of the Year.
Finally, Kuehn becomes the third Deac to win three consecutive Marge Crisp Awards, joining Jennifer Kupcho (2017-19) and Janelle Kraus (1998-00).
- Career Accomplishments
- Ranks third all-time in Wake Forest history with eight individual titles
- The only Deacs with more wins than Kuehn are Stephanie Neal (10) and Jennifer Kupcho (9).
- Also holds 19 top-5 finishes and 27 top-10 finishes throughout her career.
- Finished her career as the all-time scoring leader in program history with an average score of 71.10 across 136 rounds played.
- Holds the four-year scoring record in program history with an average score of 71.19.
- Became the first Wake Forest women's golfer in program history and just the sixth ACC women's golfer to be named the ACC Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons in 2022 and 2023.
- Selected to the Arnold Palmer Cup team five times throughout her career.
- Earned All-ACC honors four times during her career, including her graduate season where she won the individual title at the ACC Championships, becoming the first Demon Deacon since Emilia Miglaiccio in 2019 to win the individual title.
- Also became the first mother-daughter duo to win the individual ACC title, joining her mother, Brenda, who won the title in 1986.
- Became the first Demon Deacon to win the individual title at the NCAA Regional since Jennifer Kupcho in 2018, recording a 204 (-12) over 54 holes to take home the title.
- Led the team to a 3rd place finish at the NCAA Regional.
- In her final outing of her collegiate career, Kuehn shot a 290 (+2) at the NCAA Championships.
- Shot a 72 (-1) in the final round of the NCAA Championships for her 26th round under par for the season.
- During the 2023 NCAA Championship, Kuehn finished even par over four rounds of stroke play and won every head-to-head match during the match play rounds to help guide Wake Forest to their first ever NCAA title in program history, which helped her earn WGCA All-American honors.
- Kuehn was named as a finalist for the ANNIKA Award for the best female collegiate golfer of the year in three consecutive seasons during her junior, senior, and graduate years.
- Averaged a score of 70.53 over 36 rounds during the 2022-23 season and a score of 71.18 over 33 rounds during the 2021-22 seasons.
- Won four individual titles during her two ANNIKA finalist seasons.
- Is the only golfer in ACC history to be named the ACC Women's Golf Scholar Athlete of the Year in back-to-back seasons in 2023 and 2024.
- Only the second player in program history to be named ACC Scholar Athlete of the Year alongside Natalie Sheary (2011).
- Became the second player in program history to be named to the All-ACC academic team four times in a career alongside Marissa Dodd (2012-15).
- Named a WGCA All-American Scholar in four consecutive years (2021-24).
- Earned five WGCA All-American honors, including being selected to the All-American First Team three times (2020, 2022-23).
- Also named Second Team All-American in 2021 and 2024.
- Ranks third all-time in Wake Forest history with eight individual titles
Arnold Palmer Award (Male Athlete Of The Year) - Michael Brennan
Michael Brennan completed his senior season in 2023-24 and capped an incredible career that includes leading Wake Forest to its first ACC Championship in 32 years (1989) in 2022. That team title brought home an Atlantic Coast Conference record 19th league title back to Winston-Salem. Additionally, his efforts as the Demon Deacons' No. 1 player the last two years were highlighted by winning back-to-back individual ACC Championships in 2023 and 2024 and leading the Deacs a postseason berth in the NCAA Championships those years as well.
Garnering the 2024 Arnold Palmer Award caps an incredible career where Brennan's leadership and efforts, along with his teammates, continued to raise the standard of success for Wake Forest's storied men's golf program. With that, off the course, Brennan was a four-time Academic All-ACC nominee and recently graduated with a B.A. in Economics following the 2024 spring semester. Additionally, the Leesburg, Va. native was Wake Forest's nominee for the 2023-24 Anthony J. McKevlin Award, which is presented to the ACC Male Athlete of the Year
Finally, Brennan is the first men's golfer to earn this prestigious award since Lee Bedford garnered this honor in back-to-back years in 2011-12.
- Career Accomplishments:
- Ranks tied-for-third in Wake Forest history with eight individual titles.
- The only Deacs with more or equal wins are Bill Haas (10), Gary Hallberg (9) and Curtis Strange (8).
- Two-time All-American with his second honor coming in 2024. The Leesburg, Va. native was named an All-American in 2022 too.
- His All-America honor in 2024 was the 101st accolade in the history of the program.
- Brennan is currently ranked 12th in the PGA Tour University and 28th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings. Brennan finished the 2023-24 season ranked as the 59th best player in National Collegiate Golf Rankings.
- A former Arnold Palmer Cup Team member ended his Demon Deacons career ranked fourth in Wake Forest history in career scoring leaders, with a career-stroke average of 71.46 over 134 rounds.
- Brennan is a back-to-back ACC individual champion with titles in 2023 and 2024. He became the 24th ACC Individual Championship winner from Wake Forest.
- In the 70 ACC Championships that have been held, the Deacs have accounted for over a third of the individual titles, the most in conference history and 10 more than the next closest conference member.
- Additionally, Brennan became the first person to win back-to-back ACC titles since Louisville's Robin Sciot-Siegrist in 2015 and 2016, and only the fifth time in ACC history that someone has accomplished this feat.
- He is one of three Wake Forest golfers to do this, joining Ronnie Thomas (1959, 1960) and Scott Hoch (1977, 1978).
- The rich history of ACC individual champions dates back to the first ACC Championship in 1954 when Arnold Palmer won at Old Town Club in Winston-Salem.
- He is one of three Wake Forest golfers to do this, joining Ronnie Thomas (1959, 1960) and Scott Hoch (1977, 1978).
- In his last outing, Brennan finished his historic career as a Demon Deacon tied for 82nd and tied as the top Deac on the individual leaderboard at the NCAA Championship.
- In his final round, Brennan shot 1-over par and his score counted for all three rounds.
- During Brennan's four years as a Demon Deacon, this was his third trip to the NCAA Championship in 2024.
- At the 2024 NCAA Austin Regional, Brennan finished as the top Demon Deacon on the individual leaderboard, tying for fifth at 5-under-par for the tournament.
- The senior came up clutch for the Deacs in the 5v5 playoff format that put one player from each team against each other on five separate holes. Brennan had a clutch par at the par-4 10th helping the Deacs punch their ticket to the NCAA Championship.
- At the Calusa Cup, Brennan finished the tournament tied for 12th at 4-over-par. Brennan had some key moments during round one, including a pair of birdies on the back nine and carding 12 pars through his opening round, ending the round with a 71 (-1).
- At the Valspar Collegiate, Brennan shot under par in the opening rounds including a low opening round score of 68 (-3), and ended the Valspar Collegiate Invitational tied for eighth and 3-under-par for the tournament. This is Brennan's second top ten finish of the 2024 spring season.
- In his outing at the Wake Forest Invitational, Brennan shot two-under par during the second round, scoring his lowest round of the tournament 68 (-2). Brennan ended the Wake Forest Invitational tied for thirteenth. At the Invitational at the Ford, Brennan recorded his lowest score in round one, 67 (-5), and ended tied for third.
- Four-time Academic All-ACC honoree.
- Ranks tied-for-third in Wake Forest history with eight individual titles.
Female Rookie of the Year-Macy Pate
Macy Pate completed her freshman season in the best way possible, as she was named the ACC Freshman of the Year for women's golf while also being named to the All-ACC Team. Throughout her stellar freshman season, Pate, a Winston-Salem native, finished within the top-25 in nine of 12 events, including a second-place finish at the East Lake Cup with a single-round score of 71 (-1). Pate also recorded three top-10 finishes that included a tied-7th finish at the NCAA Regionals at Bermuda Run. The freshman was one of just two members of the women's golf team, alongside Rachel Kuehn, to compete in every single event of the season, posting an average score of 71.48 across her 31 stroke play rounds, with 24 of those rounds being under par.
- Season Accomplishments
- Named the 2024 ACC Freshman of the Year, becoming the second Demon Deacon to win the award in the past three seasons alongside teammate Carolina Chacarra (2022).
- Earned First Team All-ACC honors after averaging a score of 71.48 over 31 rounds of golf.
- One of two players (Rachel Kuehn) to play in every single event during the season.
- Named a WGCA All-American Honorable Mention after shooting a 299 (+11) at the NCAA Championships, earning her a T50 finish.
- Finished in the top-25 in nine of 12 events.
- Placed a season-best tied for second at the East Lake Cup, recording a single-round 71 (-1).
- Earned three top-10 finishes across the season, including a seventh-place finish at the NCAA Regionals at Bermuda Run after shooting a 210 (-10).
- Was also in the top-10 at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate (T9) and Darius Rucker Intercollegiate (T8).
Male Rookie Of The Year-Rocky Hansen
Rocky Hansen capped off a stellar freshman campaign with a 16th place finish at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the men's 5000m, posting a 14:04.44 time. Hansen, a Hendersonville, N.C., native was the third highest freshman finisher at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, capping off a season in which he earned second-team All-American honors in the 5000m and Second Team All-ACC honors in the 1500m. During the Wake Forest Invitational, Hansen recorded a time of 13:44.16 in the 5000m to earn the fifth-fastest 5000m time in program history. The freshman was also named to the All-ACC Academic Team, as well as being the first true freshman since 2018 to be named ACC Performer of the Week in Cross Country on October 17. Hansen also placed fifth and sixth individually in his two cross country races on the season.
- Season Accomplishments
- Earned a 16th place finish in an experienced field with a time of 14:04.44 in the men's 5000m finals at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
- He was the third-highest finishing freshman in the 5000m.
- Earned second-team All-American honors following his performance.
- Named to All-ACC second-team in the 1500m following a sixth place performance with a 3:43.52 time at the ACC Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
- Holds the fifth-fastest 5000m time in program history following his performance at the Wake Forest Invitational on April 19 where he clocked a 13:44.16.
- In cross country, he was tabbed ACC Performer of the Week on Oct. 17, becoming the first true freshman to garner the accolade since 2018.
- Finished in sixth place with a time of 23:27.2 at the Nuttycombe Invitational in Madison, Wisconsin to win the ACC Performer of the Week honor.
- Was also the second-fastest freshman which helped him earn ACC Freshman of the Week as well.
- Placed fifth and was the top freshman in his first cross country event of his collegiate career at the Virginia Invitational 5k after posting a 23:30.9 time.
- The performance earned Hansen his first ACC Freshman of the Week honor.
- Earned a 16th place finish in an experienced field with a time of 14:04.44 in the men's 5000m finals at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
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