Tar Heels Honor Leaders of Distinction

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Twenty-six UNC student-athletes have been recognized as Tar Heel Leaders of Distinction, honoring their excellence within the framework of the Richard A. Baddour Carolina Leadership Academy. The 2021-22 class brings the total number of award winners to 352 over UNC's 18 years of Leadership Academy programing.

The Leader of Distinction Award is the highest honor bestowed by the Leadership Academy and recognizes student-athletes for extraordinary leadership. Nominations may be submitted by coaches, staff and fellow student-athletes.

Three of the honorees – Ally Mastroianni (women's lacrosse), Emma Trenchard (women's lacrosse) and Rachel Jones (women's soccer) – were recognized for the second year in a row. Most Leaders of Distinction are seniors, so two-time winners are rare, with this trio bringing the all-time total of two-time recipients to 32.

This year's Leaders of Distinction span 16 different teams, with gymnastics (four), women's lacrosse (three), women's swimming & diving (three), rowing (two), men's soccer (two), and women's soccer (two) boasting multiple winners.

Over the course of the Leadership Academy's history, Leaders of Distinction have come from all 28 of UNC's varsity sports.

2021-22 Tar Heel Leaders of Distinction
Drew Aldridge
Gymnastics • Los Angeles, Calif.

Tucker Burhans
Swimming & Diving • Clemmons, N.C.

Brian Cernoch
Tennis • Rockville, Md.

Aleigh Gambone
Soccer • Clifton, Va.

Ryan Gerard
Golf • Raleigh, N.C.

Chris Gray
Lacrosse • Wading River, N.Y.

Santiago Herrera
Soccer • Barquismeto, Venezuela

Lilly Higgs
Swimming & Diving • Cornelius, N.C.

Rachel Jones
Soccer • Lawrenceville, Ga.

Sophie Lindner
Swimming & Diving • Matthews, N.C.

Julianna Love
Gymnastics • San Diego, Calif.

Heidi Lowe
Swimming & Diving• Cornelius, N.C.

Nicole Lu
Golf • Taipei, Taiwan

Ally Mastroianni
Lacrosse • Martinsville, N.J.

Jaelynn Murray
Basketball • Columbia, S.C.

Sarah Cate Niles
Rowing • Cary, N.C.

Jamie Ortega
Lacrosse • Centereach, N.Y.

Nik Pry
Baseball • Pinehurst, N.C.

Alec Smir
Soccer • Greensboro, N.C.

Shailyn St. Brice
Gymnastics • Mooresville, N.C.

Cassie Sumfest
Field Hockey • Lewisburg, Pa.

Emery Summey
Gymnastics • High Point, N.C.

Emma Trenchard
Lacrosse • Windsor, Conn.

Alessandra de Vito
Rowing • Newton, Mass.

Madison Wiltrout
Track & Field • Connellsville, Pa.

Troy Yearwood
Track & Field • Chesapeake, Va.

University of North Carolina Athletics

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