Softball standout Lexie Dean and versatile baseball player Kyle Briner have been selected by the Lee University coaching staff and athletic administrators as winners of the annual Charles Paul Conn Athlete of the Year Award.
The awards are presented annually to individuals who best exemplify the athletic, academic and spiritual leadership of Lee University student athletes.
Dean is the daughter of Skip and Kellie Dean of Ooltewah, Tenn. She is a Health Science major, a member of Alpha Chi National Honor Society since 2014 and was the winner of the Tucker Foundation Math & Science Department award. Sheholds a minor in Psychology and will graduate Suma Cum Laude this weekend.
Dean plans on attending nursing school and later going on to become a nurse practitioner.
“I have never coached a player that has had so much of their self together in all aspects of their lives," said Lee softball coach Emily Russell. "I strongly believe she will succeed in whatever she attempts if she has the same focus and drive that I have seen and that she has practiced each day during her time at Lee. I am proud to have coached her.”
Dean’s accolades include: Lee’s career all-time hits leader; four-year starter on softball team: 2013-2014 NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete; 2013-2014 NCCAA Scholar-Athlete award; 2014 NCCAA Mid-East First Team All-Region; 2014 NCCAA Second Team All-American, 2014-2015 NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete; 2014-2015 NCCAA Scholar-Athlete award; 2015 NCCAA Mid-East First Team All-Region; 2015 NCCAA First Team All-American, and 2015 NCCAA All-Tournament Team; 2016 Second Team All-Gulf South.
Briner is the son of Troy Briner and Lori and Daniel Sheffield. The fifth-year senior holds a double-major in Accounting and Business Administration w/ Finance emphasis. He owns a 3.33 GPA and will graduate this weekend.
“Kyle is one of the most amazing young men I have had the honor to coach," said Lee baseball coach Mark Brew. "He excels in the classroom and on the field and is a winner in every sense of the word. He has been a leader in our program as a captain and team chaplain and has a passion to serve his teammates and his campus community. He has done all of this while battling adversity on the field, suffering a major arm injury that would have ended most players careers. Kyle seeks excellence in all aspects of his life.”
Kyle is President of the SAAC Committee and involved in raising $2000+ for Make-a-Wish annually; Team captain; Team chaplain; Involved in numerous service outreaches, cross-cultural trip with service component to the Dominican Republic, Military Appreciation Day, Disabled American Veterans Car show, and many other team community projects; Actively involved in City Church in Cleveland, created a bi-weeklyFriday night team Bible study; Team mission trip to Dominican Republic (December 2015)
On Field Accomplishments; FR – 2.70 ERA, 3-0, 18 G, 33.1 IP, 9 BB, 29 K (Final Four NAIA World Series); SO – 2.55 ERA, 3-0, 17 G, 24.2 IP, 8 BB, 28 K (Final Four NAIA World Series)JR – 3.29 ERA, 2-0, 2 SV, 8 G, 13.2 IP, 4 BB, 12 K (Medical Red-Shirt and part of NCCAA World Series Runner-Up); R-JR – 2.95 ERA, 1-2, 4 SV, 14 G, 18.1 IP, 7 BB, 19 K (NCCAA World Series Runner-Up); R-SR – current stats – 4.88 ERA, 4-2, 3 SV, 19 G, 27.2 IP, 7 BB, 20K; Current hitting stats - .289, 83 AB, 24 H, 5 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 14 RBI (after not hitting in any of the previous four years)