For the second straight year, Mary-Sean Wilcox is a finalist for the YRL Unsung Hero Award.
Mary-Sean Wilcox a Finalist for YRL Unsung Hero Award
Thursday, May 19, 2016 | Lacrosse
Wilcox has been honored by the One Love Foundation for a second straight year.
BRONXVILLE, N.Y. -- Florida senior goalkeeper Mary-Sean Wilcox is one of five women's finalists for the Yeardley Reynolds Love "YRL" Unsung Hero Award for the second consecutive year. Awarded by the One Love Foundation, the honor recognizes the accomplishments of student-athletes who help their teams achieve success in ways that may not be measured in goals, saves or ground balls.
"Mary-Sean defines the saying, 'actions speak louder than words,' inspiring those around her to become better people, on and off the field," Chris Solomon, Co-Chair of the YRL Unsung Hero Committee remarked. "She is humble about all of her accomplishments, and is selfless in always putting her team first. We are very excited to honor Mary-Sean as a two-time finalist for the YRL Unsung Hero Award."
Awarded in honor of Virginia women's lacrosse player Yeardley Love, who lost her life from relationship violence in May 2010, the Unsung Hero Award places an emphasis on integrity, humility, hard work, community service, leadership, kindness and sportsmanship -- all qualities Yeardley exemplified throughout her life. Two award winners -- one male and one female -- will be announced on Wednesday, May 25. Winners are awarded a donation from the One Love Foundation to contribute to their favorite charity.
Connected to Yeardley Love through her older cousin, Kelly, Love was an inspiration to Wilcox growing up.
While Mary-Sean shines on the field for the Gators in the cage, perhaps her selfless contributions off the field, in the community and in the locker room are where she's made the most impact. Wilcox's devotion to giving back in the lacrosse community, her character as a leader, mentor and teammate are second-to-none.
After tragically losing her father just three weeks before her freshman year at the University of Florida began, Wilcox stepped up to become a source of inspiration instead of using the situation as an excuse. She's additionally consistently proven her resilience as a person and lacrosse player through injury (ACL), yet still positively impacted those around her in the best of ways.
In her mother's words, from the moment Mary-Sean was born, she was part of a team with all odds against them. Three and a half months premature, weighing in at two pounds each, Mary-Sean and her triplet brothers faced the fight of their lives as soon as they were brought into the world. As the three grew healthy and grew up with each other, her unique relationship of being a triplet taught her the importance of a bond. Mary-Sean developed the same kind of relationship with her teammates, becoming sisters and unknowingly creating a dynamic bond that is forever strong.
Wilcox's impact stretches far and wide. From a FCA trip to Nicaragua to teach lacrosse, to community service in Gainesville and Baltimore, to the mental toughness of a goalkeeper and encouraging & leading her teammates day in and day out, Wilcox defines what the Unsung Hero Award stands for and embodies the ideals of the One Love Foundation.
A LOOK AT MARY-SEAN WILCOX'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS
"Mary-Sean defines the saying, 'actions speak louder than words,' inspiring those around her to become better people, on and off the field," Chris Solomon, Co-Chair of the YRL Unsung Hero Committee remarked. "She is humble about all of her accomplishments, and is selfless in always putting her team first. We are very excited to honor Mary-Sean as a two-time finalist for the YRL Unsung Hero Award."
Awarded in honor of Virginia women's lacrosse player Yeardley Love, who lost her life from relationship violence in May 2010, the Unsung Hero Award places an emphasis on integrity, humility, hard work, community service, leadership, kindness and sportsmanship -- all qualities Yeardley exemplified throughout her life. Two award winners -- one male and one female -- will be announced on Wednesday, May 25. Winners are awarded a donation from the One Love Foundation to contribute to their favorite charity.
Connected to Yeardley Love through her older cousin, Kelly, Love was an inspiration to Wilcox growing up.
While Mary-Sean shines on the field for the Gators in the cage, perhaps her selfless contributions off the field, in the community and in the locker room are where she's made the most impact. Wilcox's devotion to giving back in the lacrosse community, her character as a leader, mentor and teammate are second-to-none.
After tragically losing her father just three weeks before her freshman year at the University of Florida began, Wilcox stepped up to become a source of inspiration instead of using the situation as an excuse. She's additionally consistently proven her resilience as a person and lacrosse player through injury (ACL), yet still positively impacted those around her in the best of ways.
In her mother's words, from the moment Mary-Sean was born, she was part of a team with all odds against them. Three and a half months premature, weighing in at two pounds each, Mary-Sean and her triplet brothers faced the fight of their lives as soon as they were brought into the world. As the three grew healthy and grew up with each other, her unique relationship of being a triplet taught her the importance of a bond. Mary-Sean developed the same kind of relationship with her teammates, becoming sisters and unknowingly creating a dynamic bond that is forever strong.
Wilcox's impact stretches far and wide. From a FCA trip to Nicaragua to teach lacrosse, to community service in Gainesville and Baltimore, to the mental toughness of a goalkeeper and encouraging & leading her teammates day in and day out, Wilcox defines what the Unsung Hero Award stands for and embodies the ideals of the One Love Foundation.
A LOOK AT MARY-SEAN WILCOX'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- March 8 BIG EAST Defender of the Week
- YRL Unsung Hero Award Finalist for the second consecutive year
- Ranks No. 2 all-time at Florida in career saves (278) and wins (42)
- Went 17-1 in 2016
- Wilcox's 17 wins are second-most in a single-season in school history
- Started all 20 games her senior campaign in 2016, racked up six ranked wins (three on the road) with eight or more saves in all
- Played a career-high 61:01 minutes in win at No. 2 Syracuse and had nine saves, one shy of career high, in Florida's win at No. 2 UNC
- Graduated from the University of Florida May 1, 2016, with her degree in Sociology
2016 YRL UNSUNG HERO AWARD FINALISTS
Men's 2016 Finalists
Brennan Donville, Cornell University
James Chakey, Penn State University
Elijah Conte, University of Delaware
Connor McKemey, High Point University
Joseph Radin, Marist College
Women's 2016 Finalists
Meagan Gulmi, University of Cincinnati
Maddie Kiep, Cornell University
Kara Stroup, Temple University
Bridget Vilbig, Ohio State University
Mary-Sean Wilcox, University of Florida
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Men's 2016 Finalists
Brennan Donville, Cornell University
James Chakey, Penn State University
Elijah Conte, University of Delaware
Connor McKemey, High Point University
Joseph Radin, Marist College
Women's 2016 Finalists
Meagan Gulmi, University of Cincinnati
Maddie Kiep, Cornell University
Kara Stroup, Temple University
Bridget Vilbig, Ohio State University
Mary-Sean Wilcox, University of Florida
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Players Mentioned
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