SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  – Drury wrestler Peter Kuster and women's basketball player Kaylee DaMitz-Holt were named honored with Drury University's Dr. Edsel Matthews Award at the Panther Gala on Monday night. The event, formerly known as the Drury All-Sports Awards, was hosted by Drury's Student-Athlete Advisory Council, marking the first time SAAC conducted the event.  
 
The Dr. Edsel Matthews Award, named for the former men's basketball head coach, Athletic Director and Vice President of Athletic Affairs, is the department's highest honor and is a combination of athletic and academic achievement throughout the student-athlete's collegiate career and displays the leadership qualities and character that is expected of premier student-athletes at Drury.
 
Peter Kuster is the only wrestler in Drury history to compete at the national championship tournament every year of his career. The Jefferson City native is a two-time All- American and was named to the All-GLVC first team five times. In 2023, Kuster went 22-5, finished 4th nationally in the 141-pound division, and he set the program's all-time record for wins. He was also ranked as high as number two nationally during the 2023 season. The Exercise Physiology major was a four-time Scholar All-American and a five-time Academic All-GLVC recipient.
 
Kaylee DaMitz-Holt was named an All-American by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association as well as the D2 College Commissioners Association. The Preston, Missouri, native was also named to First Team All-Midwest Region and First Team All-GLVC. During the 2022-23 season, Holt was named GLVC Player of the Week on three occasions and was ranked among the top five in scoring, assists, steals, and assist-to-turnover ratio. She helped her team to a seventh straight GLVC Tournament Championship after coming off an undefeated conference regular season. In her final season as a Panther, Holt helped lead her team to a 31-2 record and a number eight ranking in the final national poll. The Integrated Leadership graduate student was an Academic All-American and an Academic All-Region honoree.
 
The Drury men's and women's NCAA Newcomer of the Year was also awarded on Monday night.
 
Logan Applegate from the men's basketball team was named the Men's Newcomer of the Year. Applegate was named the GLVC Freshman of the Year, marking the first time since 2010 that a Drury Panther has won. Logan led all GLVC freshmen in points per game with 13.3 and steals with 34. The Nevada, Missouri, native ranked in the top-10 in the conference in free-throw percentage with.831 and three-point field goals made with 67. He was the only unanimous selection to the GLVC All-Freshman team.
 
Lexi Waller, from swimming & diving, was named the Women's Newcomer of the Year. The Edinburg, Scotland native won the National Championship in the 200 Backstroke and was third nationally in the 100 Back. She also finished in first place at the GLVC Championships in the 200 Back and was on the first place 400-Medley Relay team. Waller also swam to three 2nd place finishes at the GLVC Championships.
 
Other winners at the Drury Gala included:
Best Postseason Performance (NCAA Teams) – Men's Swimming & Diving
Best Women's Individual Performance (Non-NCAA Teams) - Amber Shetter- Women's Rugby
Best Men's Individual Performance (Non-NCAA Teams) - Noah Boyer- Shotgun Sports
Best Women's Individual Performance (NCAA Teams) - Kaylee DaMitz-Holt - Women's Basketball
Best Men's Individual Performance (NCAA Teams) – Peter Kuster – Wrestling
Team Service Award – Baseball
NCAA Team Record Breaking Performance – Men's Swimming & Diving
Non-NCAA Highest Team GPA – Drury Scarlets Dance Team
 
NCAA Academic Cup (Highest Team GPA, Spring of '22 through Fall of '22)
Women's winner – Women's Soccer (3.5998)
              Men's winner – Baseball (3.536)
 
The Drury Gala also announced the 2022-23 Panther Pride award winners. The individuals selected for the Panther Pride award are selected based on outstanding academic resumes, are positive role models, have overcome adversity, have made great improvements throughout their respective careers, and truly embody what it means to be a team player and wear Drury across their chest.
 
Drury Panther Pride Award Winners
o            Baseball- Carson Shaver
o            Softball- Victoria Garland
o            Men's Golf- Clayton Kaiser
o            Women's Golf- Isabelle Thrall
o            Men's Soccer- Jacob Schmidt
o            Women's Soccer- Christine Harpe
o            Volleyball- Kayli Duncan
o            Wrestling- Will Kuster
o            Men's Basketball- Adam Moore
o            Women's Basketball- Alana Findley
o            Men's Tennis- Casper Otten
o            Women's Tennis- Leana Chanove
o            Bass Fishing- Brock Bila
o            Dance- Rachael Elliot
o            Esports- Payton Cowan
o            STUNT- Delaney Stanley
o            Cheer- Mikayla Yarbrough
o            Men's Bowling- Brandon Lacy and Zac Barbee
o            Shotgun Sports- Avery Newell
o            Men's rugby- Drake Poth
o            Women's Rugby- Alexis Mann
o            Men's Ice Hockey- Devin Gilligan
o            Men's Lacrosse- Ethan Rogers
o            Women's Lacrosse- Molly Pemberton
o            Men's Swimming and Diving- Andrew Rodriguez
o            Women's Swimming and Diving- Gabby Fouchi
o            Triathlon- Abby Robinson
o            Men's Track and Field- Luke Kerr
o            Women's Track and Field- Ashley Childers
o            Men's Cross Country- Will Kershaw
o            Women's Cross Country- Mia Harris
 
 
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