For the fourth consecutive year, Lee University had a student athlete earn the prestigious Gulf South Conference Commissioner Trophy. The GSC honored all of its 2024-25 Top Ten award winners on Thursday evening in Pensacola Beach, Fla.
Ashleigh Simes is the fourth recipient in the last five years, and seventh all-time winner for Lee. Kate Dirkse won the award last year. Beck Burnette won in 2022 and 2021. Celine Ritter also won back-to-back times in 2021 and 2022. Summer Lanter, who was also a Lady Flames soccer player, won the award in 2018.
Tommy Murr from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, won the men's award.
Overall, the Flames have now won seven commissioner's trophies which trails Delta State, Valdosta State, and the University of North Alabama who each have 13 winners.
The Commissioner's Trophy is the most prestigious honor bestowed by the conference, which is presented annually to the student-athlete who best combines outstanding performance on the field or court and high academic achievement in the classroom with significant community service and extracurricular activities.
The league initiated the men's award during the 1974-75 academic year and added the women's award in the 1982-83 season.
Ashleigh Simes Profile
Women's Tennis
Business Administration
Academic Achievements
• 2025 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District
• Two-Time GSC Academic Honor Roll (2023, '24,)
• 2025 Paul Conn Student-Athlete of the Year (highest student-athlete given by Lee University)
• Chi Alpha Sigma National Honor Society
Athletic Achievements
• ITA Cup Division II National Singles Champion (Fall 2024)
• 2025 ITA DII Senior Player of the Year
• ITA Cup James O'Hara Sargent Sportsmanship Award (Fall 2024)
• Top-ranked DII singles in by ITA
• 2025 GSC Player of the Year
• 2025 First Team All-GSC
• Led Lee to first-ever NCAA postseason
• Overall singles record 23-3; 15-2 record in dual matches, played exclusively at No. 1-spot
Community Service/Extracurricular
• Chi Alpha Sigma National Honor Society
• Served at the 65 Roses Run for Cystic Fibrosis
• Hosted tennis clinics since 2022
• Volunteered at Canberra International Tennis Tournament
• Coached tennis at Quenbeyan Public School to kids aged 7-8 years old