WILMINGTON, Ohio – Bud Lewis has had a lot of success as Wilmington College's head men's soccer coach. His tenure spans 43 years with over 500 victories. Upon coaching his final season in 2017, Lewis wanted to acknowledge appropriately, the outstanding contributions that Randy Sarvis has made to the program over the last 23 years. At the program's annual end-of-season banquet, Lewis named Sarvis the inaugural recipient of the Wilmington College Men's Soccer Honor Award.

"Our program has acknowledged Randy's support over the years, but the significance of the Honor Award given out by the United Soccer Coaches Association [formerly NSCAA] makes Randy the perfect choice for the first winner of our Honor Award," said Lewis. "His work has significantly improved the player experience, especially with regards to the video, photography and visual communications of the program's activities, successes and achievements."

The Honor Award is the United Soccer Coaches Association's highest honor recognizing the career of an individual whose work through the association has enhanced the soccer coaching profession and contributed to the game as a whole. The Wilmington Men's Soccer Honor Award, contrary to the United Soccer Coaches Association's Honor Award, will not be given annually.

"The Wilmington Men's Soccer Honor Award is the most prestigious honor our program gives out," Lewis said. "I can only think of a couple individuals I'd consider giving the award, and Randy was hands down the first choice."

Sarvis came to Wilmington College in 1995 as director of public relations, a position he still holds. The Bowling Green State University alumnus can be found at nearly every home men's soccer contest taking photographs or seated with men's soccer players at "The Top" during lunch hour.

"Randy has given so much of his free time to our program," said Lewis. "His mentorship of many soccer student-athletes has not gone unnoticed."

In addition to his photography, Sarvis has also written three books on the men's soccer program. He penned "Dance With Destiny", "Great Expectations" and "Eclipsed" documenting the 2000, 2002 and 2005 Wilmington men's soccer seasons respectively.

"Whenever I bring a recruit to campus or tell a recruit about our program, they are seeing Randy's handiwork," Lewis said. "Everything Randy does is professional, and much of the work he has done for our program is on his own time, outside of his duties as director of public relations."

For Sarvis, his love for soccer is peculiar given his upbringing.

"I enjoy all sports at Wilmington College, but it's interesting that I have become enamored with soccer as I grew up playing the traditional America sports of football, baseball and basketball," Sarvis said. "I've thoroughly enjoyed learning about the world's sport of soccer through my affiliation to the College and its men's soccer program."

Sarvis's coverage of Wilmington men's soccer has spanned over 23 years, but it's all been a labor of love.

"Many of my close friends are current and former individuals associated with the men's soccer program," said Sarvis. "It's truly been a pleasure to cover a program Bud, one of my dear friends, has built from the ground up."