BIRMINGHAM, Ala. | The Gulf South Conference announced its men's track & field 2023 indoor season awards, and The University of Alabama in Huntsville was represented by Michael Gizzi as GSC Track Athlete of the Year and Tommy Rodriguez as GSC Freshman of the Year.
 
Gizzi garners the program's first-ever GSC Track Athlete of the Year award, while Rodriguez is the second Charger to ever win GSC Freshman of the Year as Gizzi earned the honor in 2022.
 
A native of Covington, Georgia, Gizzi earned the 2023 GSC Indoor Championships Most Outstanding Track Performer award with First Team All-GSC performances in both the 60-meter dash at a time of 6.71 and the 200-meter sprint at 21.14.
 
He has qualified to compete at the 2023 NCAA Division II Track & Field Championships in both 60 meters and 200 meters as he ranks in the top 10 nationally in both events. His season-best time of 6.69 in 60 meters is tied for sixth nationally, while his 200 meters time of 21.14 rates eighth in Division II.
 
A native of Oneonta, Alabama, Rodriguez garnered GSC Indoor Championships Most Outstanding Freshman last month as he finished third in 200 meters at the conference meet with a time of 21.73. He also finished among the top eight in 60-meter hurdles at the GSC Indoor Championships.
 
Rodriguez additionally had a season-best time of 21.68 in the 200-meter dash, which ranked 61st nationally.
 
Gizzi, along with teammates Jeremiah McCain and Wilson McClain, looks ahead to the 2023 NCAA Division II Indoor Championships next weekend in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The Chargers start the 2023 outdoor campaign on March 17-18 at the Montevallo Falcon Classic.