Congratulations to Caroline Price and Joey Sankey, star UNC athletes who have just earned this year’s Patterson Medals, the most prestigious athletic honor awarded by the university.

Price is the first women’s tennis player to win the Patterson Medal. She led the Tar Heel women’s tennis team to its winningest four-year stretch ever, with two ITA Indoor National Championships in 2013 and 2015 and a runner-up finish in the 2014 NCAA championship. As an individual, Price was an All-American in singles as a sophomore, an All-American in doubles as a junior, and a first-team All-ACC selection in 2015. She ranks second all-time in singles victories at UNC with 128.

Joey Sankey is only the second men’s lacrosse player to win the honor and the first since 2005. With 229 points, he’s Carolina’s all-time leading scorer. He was a third-team All-America as a sophomore and junior and second-team All-America this year; he’s also a three-time All-ACC pick, plus earning Academic All-ACC honors and USILA Scholar All-America honors for his work in the classroom.

The Patterson medal has been awarded since 1924. It’s based primarily on athletic accomplishment, but sportsmanship and leadership are also considered.

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