Elon is one of only four CAA schools with multiple winners of the award.
Elon University athletics had a league-high five student-athletes honored as the latest recipients of the 2023-24 Coastal Athletic Association’s Leadership and Sport Excellence Award.
The award mimics the Chuck Boone Leadership Award in football and the Dean Ehlers Leadership Award in men’s and women’s basketball. One student-athlete, who represents the highest standards of teamwork, integrity, leadership and sportsmanship in his or her academic and athletic achievements, was selected in each of the other 21 sports sponsored by the Conference. The CAA’s Faculty Athletic Representatives voted on the winners.
Elon was one of only four CAA schools with multiple winners and the Phoenix’s five were one more than UNCW and two more than College of Charleston. It is the second time in the past three years in which Elon paced the CAA, after earning a school-record six honorees in 2021-22. It is the third consecutive year in which Elon received at least four honorees.
Zane Jackson
Men’s cross country
Jackson was an All-CAA runner, having received league accolades in 2022 with a top-10 finish at the CAA Championships. He also holds the third-fastest 8K time in school history at 24:29.7 while also ranking in the top-10 in program history in the 10K with a personal-best time of 31:51.6. Jackson has a 3.685 grade point average in exercise science with a minor in biology.
Matthew Doyle
Men’s golf
Doyle, who was the 2023-24 men’s golf team Coach’s Award winner, competed in all 11 tournament throughout the year, averaging a score of 72.88. He posted two top-10 finishes, tying for sixth place at the Phoenix Invitational, helping Elon take the team championship, and tying for seventh place as Elon’s top finisher at the Palmas del mar Collegiate. Doyle was named a GCAA All-America Scholar and made First Team All-CAA honors. He holds a 3.689 cumulative grade point average in finance and served a lead role in helping the team sign its first Team IMPACT kid.
Sammy Fisher
Lacrosse
Fisher, who was second team all-conference in 2024, led Elon with 37 goals and guided the Phoenix into the CAA Tournament semifinals during a remarkable turnaround season. She scored the overtime game-winner at Towson that propelled Elon into the CAA Tournament. During a four-game win streak to close the regular season, Fisher had 16 goals and she broke school records with 21 goals and 23 points in a single-season in conference play. Fisher maintains a 3.945 cumulative grade point average in sport management.
Gabi Schaal
Softball
Schaal was a second team All-CAA choice for the second time in her career this past spring. The Lakeland, Fla., native was the CAA-leader in home runs with 11 and finished third overall in the league in RBI with 38. Schaal is also in the top 10 of the CAA in slugging percentage (.556) and fourth in putouts (302) while also moving into a tie for third all-time in school history in career home runs with 27. Schaal maintains a 3.83 grade point average in biology.
Daniel Martin
Men’s tennis
Martin, the 2023 CAA Player of the Year and 2023 A.L. Hook Scholar-Athlete of the Year, will add another accolade to his list of awards at Elon. This is the second straight year that he has earned the CAA Leadership and Sport Excellence Award. Throughout his career with the Phoenix, Martin has won a total of 41 singles matches and 30 doubles matches. Additionally, Martin has been named to an All-CAA postseason team all three years representing the maroon and gold, including this year earning All-CAA third team honors in singles. A Letchworth, UK native, he graduated with a 4.0 grade point average in psychology and earned his master’s degree in business analytics with a 4.0 GPA.