BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. - Following the second round of play at the Mountain East Conference Spring Classic at Lexington Golf & Country Club in Virginia, the Mountain East Conference today unveiled its 2022-23 postseason awards and all-conference teams for women’s golf.
The All-MEC women’s golf team is selected based on individual performances by players during five rounds of MEC sponsored play during the 2022-23 season. The first three rounds of MEC play took place from Oct. 3-5 at Avalon Golf and Country Club in Warren, Ohio during the 2022 MEC Championships back in the fall. The final two rounds were played over the last two days at Lexington Golf & Country Club during the 2023 MEC Spring Classic.
The University of Charleston’s Iciar Canalejo was named the 2022-23 MEC Player and Freshman of the Year in women’s golf after averaging a round score of 76.0 during the five rounds at MEC events this season. She was joined on the All-MEC first team by UC teammate Beatrice Dietz, Wheeling’s Emily Holzopfel, Glenville State’s Hailey Hendershott and Kendall Wall, and Davis & Elkins’ Paulina Narvaez.
The Davis & Elkins duo of Lucrezia Speranza and Michelle Guerra were named to the All-MEC second team, along with Glenville State’s Elizabeth Bickar and Holly Elliott. Notre Dame’s Cataline Uribe and Concord’s Mary Denney rounded out the six-person All-MEC second team.
Six MEC standouts also earned MEC honorable mention in 2022-23, including Charleston’s Victoria Witouski and Lauren Besford, Notre Dame’s Olivia Jackson, Davis & Elkins’ Sierra Knowlton, West Liberty’s Erin Shockey and Wheeling’s Nicole Lincicome.
Glenville State head coach Mike McGarry was named the 2022-23 MEC Coach of the Year after leading the Pioneers to the MEC Tournament Championship back in October.
GSU also took first place at this week’s MEC Spring Classic with a two-stroke advantage over the University of Charleston in second place (641-to-643). Wheeling placed third this week with a two-round score of 658, followed closely by Davis & Elkins in fourth place with a 659.
Canalejo shot an even-par 72 on Sunday and took medalist honors on the individual leaderboard by two shots. She shot a 150 (78-72) for the tournament. Holzopfel (152) took second place at the MEC Spring Classic with a 152, followed by Wall (158), Bickar (160) and Narvaez (160) in the top five.
Mountain East Conference
2022-23 Women’s Golf Postseason Awards/All-Conference Teams
Player of the Year: Iciar Canalejo, Charleston
Freshman of the Year: Iciar Canalejo, Charleston
Coach of the Year: Mike McGarry, Glenville State
First Team All-MEC
Iciar Canalejo, Charleston
Emily Holzopfel, Wheeling
Beatrice Dietz, Charleston
Hailey Hendershott, Glenville State
Kendall Wall, Glenville State
Paulina Narvaez, Davis & Elkins
Second Team All-MEC
Cataline Uribe, Notre Dame
Lucrezia Speranza, Davis & Elkins
Elizabeth Bickar, Glenville State
Michelle Guerra, Davis & Elkins
Holly Elliott, Glenville State
Mary Denny, Concord
Honorable Mention All-MEC
Victoria Witouski, Charleston
Lauren Besford, Charleston
Olivia Jackson, Notre Dame
Sierra Knowlton, Davis & Elkins
Erin Shockey, West Liberty
Nicole Lincicome, Wheeling