ARLINGTON, Texas – Former Stephen F. Austin football player Xavier Gipson and current Grand Canyon softball graduate student Kristin Fifield were each recognized as the 2022-23 Western Athletic Conference Joe Kearney Award winners. Named in honor of longtime WAC commissioner Joe Kearney, the awards are given annually to the top male and female student-athletes in the WAC during the preceding academic year.
 
Gipson was named the repeat WAC Offensive Player of the Year during the 2022 football season after hauling in 65 receptions for 1,163 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games for the Lumberjacks. Gipson added 12 punt returns for 300 yards and a pair of touchdowns in his senior season at SFA.
 
Gipson capped his SFA career as a four-time All-American with 244 catches for 4,321 yards and 37 receiving touchdowns, scoring four punt return touchdowns over 44 total games. Gipson was signed as a free agent by the New York Jets following the 2023 NFL Draft.
 
"Xavier Gipson is a once-in-a-career type athlete that I was fortunate to coach,” SFA football head coach Colby Carthel said. “His numbers on the field speak for themselves, but it’s who he is off the field that makes him so special. Despite being a four-time All-American, Xavier is one of the most humble people to be around. He was the ultimate team player, always putting the best interest of the team over himself. His dynamic play brought many a fan to their feet, cheering on amazing play after amazing play. But his smile and positive attitude lights up any room he’s in. Xavier is easy to root for because of the rare combination of extreme talent found in such a high charter person. There’s no doubt in my mind he’s going to have a long and productive career in the NFL.”
 
Fifield was one of the top power hitters in the NCAA during the 2023 season at GCU, batting .346 with a career-high 65 hits, 21 home runs and 56 runs scored while leading NCAA Division I with 85 RBI and 1.42 RBI per game. Fifield was an all-conference first-team choice for the third straight season and captured NFCA All-Region First-Team accolades.
 
Fifield returns to GCU as a graduate student with a .347 batting average, a 1.068 OPS, 196 hits, 44 home runs and 185 RBI in 190 career games with the Lopes.
 
"Kristin is the complete package,” GCU softball head coach Shanon Hays said. “She has developed into a great leader, she is a great student, and obviously she is a great athlete and player. She has been a central figure in the success of our program over the last two years. I have been very fortunate to
coach her. She’s really everything a coach could ask for.”
 
Fifield was the third GCU winner of the Joe Kearney Award, joining men’s basketball player DeWayne Russell (2017) and men’s swimming & diving athlete Mark Nikolaev (2019).
 
Joe Kearney Award Winners:
 
2023: Xavier Gipson, Football, Stephen F. Austin; Kristin Fifield, Softball, Grand Canyon
 
2022: Teddy Allen, Basketball, NM State; Annina Brandenburg, Track & Field, Abilene Christian
 
2021: Fardaws Aimaq, Basketball, Utah Valley; Ane Olaeta, Basketball, California Baptist
 
2020: Nick Gonzales, Baseball, NM State; Megan Hart, Volleyball, NM State
 
2019: Mark Nikolaev, Swimming and Diving, Grand Canyon; Brooke Salas, Basketball, NM State
 
2018: Jemerrio Jones, Basketball, NM State; Kelsey Horton, Softball, NM State
 
2017: Paul Hoffmeister, Soccer, Utah Valley/DeWayne Russell, Basketball, Grand Canyon; Shawnte’ Goff, Basketball, UTRGV
 
2016: Antoine Rozner, Golf, Kansas City; Gwen Murphy, Volleyball, NM State
 
2015: Michael McPherson, Track & Field, Utah Valley; Courtney Frerichs, Cross Country/Track & Field, Kansas City
 
2014: Mitchell Huxhold, Swimming and Diving, Bakersfield; Stephanie Verdoia, Soccer, Seattle U
 
2013: Kyle Barone, Basketball, Idaho; Hannah Kiser, Cross Country/Track & Field, Idaho
 
2012: Andrew Blaser, Track and Field, Idaho/Robert Turbin, Football, Utah State; Chelsea Hayes, Track & Field, Louisiana Tech
 
2011: Colin Kaepernick, Football, Nevada; Emma Friesen, Swimming and Diving, Hawai’i
 
2010: Kellen Moore, Football, Boise State; Amber Kaufman, Volleyball/Track and Field, Hawai’i
 
2009: Tom Mendonca, Baseball, Fresno State; Melanie Gloria, Tennis, Fresno State
 
2008: Steve Susdorf, Baseball, Fresno State; Emma Friesen, Diving, Hawai‘i
 
2007: Colt Brennan, Football, Hawai‘I; Kanoe Kamana’o, Volleyball, Hawai‘i
 
2006: Nick Fazekas, Basketball, Nevada; Kanoe Kamana’o, Volleyball, Hawai’i
 
2005: Gabriel Wallin, Track and Field, Boise State; Jamie Southern, Softball, Fresno State
 
2004: Kirk Snyder, Basketball, Nevada; Kim Willoughby, Volleyball, Hawai‘i
 
2003: Nick Watney, Golf, Fresno State; Kim Willoughby, Volleyball/Basketball, Hawai‘i
 
2002: David Carr, Football, Fresno State; Stacy Prammanasudh, Golf, Tulsa
 
2001: LaDainian Tomlinson, Football, TCU; Florence Ezeh, Track and Field, SMU
 
2000: Courtney Alexander, Basketball, Fresno State; Amanda Scott, Softball, Fresno State
 
1999: Andre Miller, Basketball, Utah; Martina Moravcova, Swimming and Diving, SMU
 
1998: Lars Frolander, Swimming and Diving, SMU; Amanda Scott, Softball, Fresno State
 
1997: Keith Van Horn, Basketball, Utah; Martina Moravcova, Swimming and Diving, SMU
 
1996: Keith Van Horn, Basketball, Utah; Nina Lindenberg, Softball, Fresno State
 
1995: Stoney Case, Football, New Mexico; Susanne Metz, Gymnastics, Utah
 
1994: Marshall Faulk, Football, San Diego State; Amy Van Dyken, Swimming and Diving, Colorado State
 
1993: Marshall Faulk, Football, San Diego State; Mikki Kane-Barton, Volleyball, Utah
 
1992: Carlton McDonald, Football, Air Force; Anu Kaljurand, Track and Field, Brigham Young