SPARTANBURG, S.C.  (May 3, 2024) – The Southern Conference announced its monthly award winners for April, and ETSU's Dimitri Badra (men's tennis), Mats Ege (men's golf) and Fernanda Carvajal (women's tennis) earned SoCon Athlete of the Month honors.
 
Badra played a key role in the ETSU men's tennis team clinching both the SoCon Regular Season and Tournament Championships in April. Overall, Badra went 5-0 in singles and 4-2 in doubles for the month. During the month, Badra became the first player in conference history to be named SoCon Player of the Year four times. In the SoCon Tournament, Badra went undefeated (2-0 singles, 3-0 doubles) and clinched the Championship match for the Bucs over Samford, 4-2. For his efforts, Badra was named the Most Outstanding Player for the tournament. 
 
Ege had another stellar month in April where he earned a share of the individual title with teammate Matty Dodd-Berry at the Southern Conference Championship, while the Bucs captured their fourth straight conference crown. Ege, who made it back-to-back SoCon titles, shot a 13-under-par 203 at The Oconee Course in Greensboro, Ga. after rounds of 67-65-71. Ege became the first player to win back-to-back SoCon titles since Western Carolina's and current PGA Tour member J.T. Poston accomplished the feat in 2014-15. With the win, Ege – who led the field with 19 birdies at the SoCon Championship – has five victories for his career. Ege began the month finishing tied for third at the Augusta Haskins Award Invite with a score of 6-under-par 210 with three straight sub-par rounds of 71-69-70. The two-time SoCon Golfer of the Year winner registered one eagle, 13 birdies and 32 pars in Augusta.
 
Carvajal did not lose a match in the month of April (5-0 singles, 6-0 doubles) to help ETSU win both the SoCon Regular Season and Tournament Championships. Carvajal began the month by winning a pair of matches vs. No. 46 Charlotte and closed it by going undefeated at the SoCon Tournament (2-0 single, 3-0 doubles). For her efforts at the Tournament, Carvajal was named the Most Outstanding Player. Furthermore, she also took home the Pinnacle Award, which is given to the student-athlete with the highest GPA on the championship-winning team. 
 
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