HUNTSVILLE – University of North Alabama senior women’s soccer goalkeeper Adriana Wright and sophomore men’s basketball guard Jacari Lane won College Athlete of the Year awards at the 2024 Rocket City Awards last week.
The second annual Rocket City Awards was presented by Woody Anderson Ford and highlighted local athletes, coaches, and programs from the North Alabama region. The show was hosted by ESPN 97.7 The Zone and WHNT News 19.
UNA athletes were also nominated for two other honors, including two nominations for the Women’s College Team of the Year. The Lion soccer and softball teams received nominations after stellar campaigns.
UNA soccer head coach Chris Walker was also nominated for College Coach of the Year after leading the program to its best Division I season with an 11-5-6 record and an appearance in the 2023 Atlantic Sun Conference Championship Final.
The 2024 Women’s College Athlete of the Year, Wright spent four years at Alabama-Huntsville before transferring to UNA for her fifth season. She was outstanding in net for the Lions, setting the North Alabama program record for shutouts in a season on her way to being selected to the All-South Region Second Team.
Wright was tabbed ASUN Goalkeeper of the Year, ASUN All-Conference First Team, and entering the 2023 NCAA College Cup, Wright was tied for the NCAA lead in shutouts with 13.
“It’s a fantastic achievement for Adriana and a great way to end her college career,” Walker said. “We are extremely proud of her. It’s also great recognition for how well our program did this past season.”
Lane made history as back-to-back winner of the Male College Athlete of the Year after taking home the inaugural award in 2023. Lane earned first team all-conference honors after starting all 32 games this past season. He averaged 14.7 points per game and nearly 16.0 PPG in conference play. He broke his own UNA Division I school record with 122 assists, averaging nearly 4.0 assists per game.
“I am very proud of Jacari for winning back-to-back Athlete of the Year awards,” said UNA head men’s basketball coach Tony Pujol. “I am thrilled to watch Jacari move into a leadership role in our program this upcoming season and cannot wait to see what he can accomplish as a junior.”
Other awards were distributed in the high school, college, and professional categories. Baltimore Orioles pitcher and Huntsville native Craig Kimbrel headlined the night as the Professional Athlete of the Year from the North Alabama area.
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