The Charleston Battery are pleased to officially announce the winners of the 2024 Club Awards.
The slate of awards includes the Lou Salvatore, Sr. Players Award (voted on solely by the players), the Betsy McAdams Award (voted on by club management, candidates include members across the whole organization) and the Tim Hankinson Most Outstanding Player Award (voted on by the fans).
Lou Salvatore, Sr. Players Award: Adam Grinwis
Grinwis was selected by his teammates as the player who best exemplified the attitude, reliability, consistency, and character that were vital to the team’s togetherness, on and off the field.
The goalkeeper and his leadership played a vital role in the Battery ascending to a second-place finish in the overall league standings at the end of the regular season. He also overcame the adversity of an early-season injury that sidelined him, but didn’t take away his positive attitude around the locker room while recovering. Grinwis tallied nine clean sheets and was pivotal in anchoring the defense, which was one of the USL Championship’s best in 2024.
The honor is named after Lou Salvatore, Sr., a down-to-earth, loyal, family man whose motto was “work hard and be good.” As an avid sports fan, he always gravitated to players who demonstrated the qualities of the award.
Betsy McAdams Award: Daniel Kuzemka
Kuzemka was named the winner by club management as the organization member who best displayed exemplary qualities of the game of soccer, community involvement, sportsmanship and contributions to the club.
Kuzemka has been active on and off the field for the Battery since he joined the club in 2022. On the pitch, Kuzemka filled in for Grinwis admirably, which was highlighted by the clean sheet kept against Atlanta United in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Off the pitch, Kuzemka has been actively involved in the Battery’s community initiatives, such as Goals for Gardens and Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and in the local youth soccer scene as a coach for aspiring goalkeepers.
The award is named after Betsy McAdams, a co-founder of the club and former Battery COO, who passed away in 2009 after a courageous battle against cancer. McAdams was inducted into the USL Hall of Fame (Class of 2010) as a Builder. In addition to players, both club staff and supporters are candidates for this honor.
Tim Hankinson Most Outstanding Player Award: Nick Markanich
Markanich won 68% of the fan vote to claim the award.
During his second season with the Battery, Markanich took the USL Championship by storm en route to winning the league’s Golden Boot with 28 goals, which also led all domestic American leagues. While Markanich dominated in the final third, his contributions in all phases of the game set him apart as a favorite to win league MVP. Markanich was among the top forwards in the league in defensive actions, leading in duels won and recoveries, and near the top in tackles won and interceptions, for the position group.
The award is named in honor of club co-founder and the first Battery head coach, Tim Hankinson. Coach Hank was a pioneer in American soccer whose career spanned over 40 years and touched numerous clubs at various levels in addition to his time in the Lowcountry.
Congratulations to Adam, Daniel and Nick on their awards!
