UNC men’s tennis star William Blumberg and field hockey standout Marissa Creatore were selected by the university as recipients of the Patterson Medals for the 2019-20 school year.

The Patterson Medal is primarily based on career athletic accomplishments, and is the most prestigious athletic award the university hands out each year.

Blumberg is an eight-time NCAA All-American and was named the 2020 Intercollegiate Tennis Association Men’s Senior Player of the Year. He is one of just three players in history to earn eight All-American honors, earning the recognition in both singles and doubles competition over each of his four years in college.

“He has been the epitome of a student-athlete,” UNC head men’s tennis coach Sam Paul said. “When you look back on his career accomplishments, he’s probably the greatest player in our men’s tennis program’s history. And top of that, the quality of his character and his academic work are both top-notch. I couldn’t be happier for William and his family.”
Creatore, meanwhile, helped guide the Tar Heel field hockey program to its second consecutive undefeated season and NCAA championship. She was a Third Team All-American as a senior and was named the MVP of the ACC Tournament.

Over the course of her career, Creatore tallied 35 goals and 20 assists for head coach Karen Shelton’s program.

“As a two-year team captain, she played a major role in back-to-back undefeated seasons,” Shelton said. “And throughout that time, she worked on her own a lot, coming out early and getting in extra practice. It’s great to have the reward of winning two national championships and then also be recognized individually. I’m so very proud of Marissa and of her Tar Heel career.”

Blumberg is the fifth men’s tennis player to win a Patterson Medal, while Creatore becomes just the sixth field hockey player to do so.

 

 

 

Photo via UNC Athletics

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.

Related Stories
‹
Multiple UNC Teams Post Perfect Academic Progress Rates, New Report Says
Several UNC sports programs posted perfect single-year and multi-year academic progress rates for the 2024-25 academic year, according to the NCAA’s latest report. Academic progress rate (APR) is used to track performance of scholarship students who compete on varsity teams, and the score measures eligibility and retention each semester. A perfect score is 1000, and […]
Luke Maye, Ashley Hoffman Named Winners of 2019 Patterson Medals
UNC announced Tuesday that men’s basketball standout Luke Maye and field hockey star Ashley Hoffman are the winners of this year’s Patterson Medals, which is the most prestigious athletic achievement awarded by the school. The Patterson Medal focuses on career athletic achievements, and winners must have spent at least three years playing for the Tar […]
Fall Sports Calendar Heats Up At UNC
UNC soccer, field hockey and volleyball are all in action this weekend, with football on deck for next Saturday.
Tar Heels Starring At Pan American Games
At the Pan American Games, a former UNC swimmer wins gold - and Carolina stacks field hockey.
UNC Men's Tennis, Women's Lax Advance In NCAAs
Two UNC teams advanced in their respective NCAA tournaments this weekend.
Olympic Sports Spotlight
This weekend, the top ranked women’s field hockey team and the surging, No. 14 volleyball squad will have plenty to offer.
Olympic Sports Spotlight
This weekend, the top ranked women’s field hockey team and the surging, no. 15 volleyball squad will be busy.
UNC Field Hockey Team Earns 2012 National Academic Team Award
CHAPEL HILL- The Tar Heel field hockey team proved the university’s foremost devotion to academics as they were honored with a 2012 National Academic Team Award Monday, given by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association. Head Coach Karen Shelton reiterates the importance of education for her student-athletes. “Our kids are here to get a great education,” says Shelton. “Of […]
Check out the Full Schedule for UNC's ACC Network Takeover
The ACC Network will air a full day of UNC games from the 2025-26 academic year Wednesday, July 1. It’s part of a series of ACC Network Takeovers, which started June 24 and include all 18 member schools. UNC’s takeover includes wall-to-wall coverage from 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. The broadcast day gets underway with […]
Bubba Cunningham Exclusive Part 2: Working on Campus Projects While Facing New Era of College Sports
Part two of the interview covers Bubba Cunningham's concerns with the current state of college sports, UNC's position within that landscape, and his top priorities in the new role of Senior Advisor to the Chancellor and Athletic Director.
›