UCF sprinter Octavious Freeman was named the College Athlete of the Year at the second-annual SPORTYS awards ceremony on Saturday evening. Freeman edged teammate Aurieyall Scott and Rollins College men’s tennis national champion Lucas Jovita.
Freeman and Scott were nominated for the award after phenomenal years on the track representing UCF all the way to the Olympic Trials this past June. The duo combined for seven All-America First Team honors during the indoor and outdoor campaigns and helped UCF to a program-best eighth-place finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships and the No. 19 spot overall outdoor.
UCF baseball coach Terry Rooney was also nominated for Coach of the Year, but Orlando City Soccer head coach Adrian Heath was selected as the winner in that category.
A crowd of more than 350 of Central Florida’s sports elite were on hand to experience the SPORTYS at Full Sail University. Hosted by the Central Florida Sports Commission, the event honored the top area teams, high school, collegiate and professional athletes, coaches, deserving local residents and businesses throughout Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia Counties.
The SPORTYS will be broadcast on WFTV Channel 9 on Saturday, Sept. 29 at 2 p.m. and on WRDQ TV 27 on Sunday, Sept. 30 at 5 p.m.