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William Blumberg and Marissa Creatore win the Patterson Medal

Representatives for both men’s tennis and field hockey win UNC’s most prestigious athletic award.

By Evan Davis
2019 NCAA Division I Women’s Field Hockey Championship
Marissa Creatore #33 of the North Carolina Tar Heels and Margaret Lynch #23 of the Princeton Tigers battle for the ball during the Division I Women’s Field Hockey Championship held at Kentner Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Winston Salem, North Carolina.
Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images

Although a bit delayed this year, the North Carolina Tar Heels announced the recipients of the 2020 Patterson Medal. Men’s tennis player William Blumberg and field hockey forward Marissa Creatore win the university’s top athletic prize.

Creatore, a Chapel Hill native, was an integral part of the field hockey team’s amazing two-year run as back-to-back undefeated national champions.

2018 NCAA Division 1 Women’s Field Hockey Championships Photo by Jeff Reinking/NCAA Photos via Getty Images

Over the course of four years, Creatore appeared in 95 games, including starts in all games during her sophomore, junior, and senior seasons. She finished her collegiate career with 90 points, including 35 goals.

Last fall, Creatore served as team captain for the squad. During this ACC and national championship season, she was named a third-team All-American, All-ACC second team, All-South Region honors, and ACC Tournament MVP.

Blumberg has been a high-level competitor over the course of his career at Carolina.

2017 NCAA Division I Men’s Tennis Championship Photo by Steve Nowland/NCAA Photos via Getty Images

Blumberg is one of the most decorated players in the history of the tennis program. He has a laundry list of awards and honors, and UNC Athletics has done a nice job summarizing those honors:

  • UNC team captain for a second consecutive year in 2020
  • Four-time All-America in singles and doubles in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020
  • Won the 2020 ITA Senior Player of the Year award
  • Winner of the 2020 Mildred McCaskill Award given by UNC (success in athletics, academics & community outreach)
  • Three-time first-team All-ACC in 2017, 2018 and 2019
  • 2018 ACC Player of the Year
  • Ranked as high as No. 1 both singles and doubles during the 2018 season
  • Won the 2017 ITA Men’s All-American Singles Championship and finished as runner-up in doubles
  • 2017 NCAA Singles Runner-Up
  • 2017 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player
  • 2017 ITA National Rookie of the Year
  • 2017 ACC Freshman of the Year
  • 2017 All-NCAA Tournament at No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles
  • All-ACC Academic Team, 2017

More about the Patterson Medal, via UNC Athletics:

The Patterson Medal is based primarily on career athletic accomplishments. The recipients must have played at least three seasons for the Tar Heels. Sportsmanship and leadership are also considered. Dr. Joseph Patterson first presented the medal in 1924 to honor the memory of his brother, John Durand Patterson.

Congratulations to these two Tar Heels!

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