Story courtesy Appalachian Athletic Conference: http://www.aacsports.com/article/3545.php
TMU's McCrary Named Willie Belcher SID of the Year
KINGSPORT, Tenn. – Walker McCrary of Truett McConnell is the 2016-17 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Willie Belcher Sports Information Director of the Year recipient, the league announced on Monday, May 22, at its spring meeting in Kingsport, Tenn.
"I am truly blessed to accept this award," said McCrary. "I would like to thank Dr. Stacy Hall and the entire athletic department for allowing me to be a part of what was a record-breaking year for TMU in so many ways."
This is the sixth year of the award, and it's named in honor of longtime Virginia Intermont sports information director Willie Belcher. Belcher always exhibited a strong passion for her job and for the students and student-athletes that she came in contact with on a daily basis. She was strong in her faith and a great influence to those around her. In 2010, she was diagnosed with liomyosarcoma and lost her battle to cancer in June of 2012.
During the 2016-17 academic year, Walker assisted in a number of AAC conference championship events including men's and women's basketball, softball, and baseball.
Walker is completing his firsst full year at Truett McConnell, joining the Bears'' staff in the summer of 2016. McCrary handles all media requests for Truett McConnell's 17 athletic programs.
Prior to Truett McConnell, McCrary previously served as the Athletic Communications Assistant at the University of North Georgia. In this role, he served as a producer and on-air talent on the athletic department's Nighthawk Sports Network. He also helped design gameday materials, schedule posters and served as statistician for many of the athletic events.
McCrary has also completed an internship with the American Junior Golf Association, working 13 junior golf tournaments across the West Coast. While working these events, McCrary served as the official photographer, official scorer and coordinated with local media to promote and cover these golf tournaments.
A native of Dahlonega, Ga., McCrary has served time as on-air talent on the North Georgia Sportslink Internet radio, covering Lumpkin County High School football and basketball games as the play-by-play announcer.
McCrary completed his undergraduate work in May 2016 at the University of Georgia. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Statistics as well as a Certification in Sports Media from the nationally-acclaimed Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communications.
The previous recipients of the award are: Jay Stancil, Union (2011-12); Matt Laws, Milligan (2012-13); John Gatto, Union (2013-14); Jason Hanes, Reinhardt (2014-15); and Daniel Magnet (2015-16).