TAMPA, Fla. – The USL Championship announced on Saturday the Charleston Battery’s Nick Markanich had been voted the USL Championship Player of the Year after a historic season that saw him set a Championship single-season record with 28 goals in the regular season as the Battery recorded the highest points total in a regular season in club history.

The 2024 USL Championship Awards were voted on by club management and a league-wide media panel that included representation from every USL market following the conclusion of the 2024 USL Championship regular season.

“Winning this award is very special to me and it means a lot,” said Markanich. “I’ve enjoyed every moment this season with my teammates and the staff, and they’ve helped me become a better player. I owe it all to my teammates for achieving this award.”

In his second season with the Battery, Markanich opened the campaign in blistering fashion. He recorded 12 goals in the opening 10 games of the campaign, including becoming the 13th player to record at least four goals in a game in the Championship’s regular season. He continued on a similar pace in the second half of the season, recording 16 goals in 15 games to surpass the previous single-season record of 25 goals in a regular season held by former Louisville City FC star Cameron Lancaster (2018) and former Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC star Hadji Barry (2021).

Markanich’s performances were more than simply his goals, however. Among forwards in the Championship regular season, he ranked first in possession won in the attacking third (35) and recoveries (147), second in duels won (188), third in tackles won (39) and tied for seventh in interceptions (21), an indicator of the work the 24-year-old provided in helping the Battery finish second in the Eastern Conference on 64 points.

“Nick has had the single greatest season in our league’s history,” said Battery Head Coach Ben Pirmann. “His ability and return of scoring goals speak for themselves, but his performances in the past 10 months showed that he did whatever it would take to help this team win. As a club, we are so proud of Nick and the season that he and his teammates had, all of the successes and honors they earned, and also the impact he has made on this community.”

The Illinois native will depart the Battery this offseason following his previously-announced transfer to LaLiga 2 club CD Castellon, the latest standout to make the jump to Europe from the USL Championship in recent years. Having recorded more than 40 goals in the Battery’s colors over the past two seasons, Markanich will take great memories of his time in the Lowcountry with him to Spain.

“This season was something really special, not only for me but my teammates were also incredibly special,” he said. “The experience and the type of bond and chemistry we all had together again was very unique. They all believed in me and helped me along the way to win this award.”

Markanich earned the award with 93 percent of the ballot. Louisville City FC’s Taylor Davila and San Antonio FC’s Jorge Hernández finished tied for second on four percent apiece after Davila shone in his first season in central midfield with seven goals and six assists for the Players’ Shield winner while Hernandez notched two goals, nine assists and 84 chances created as each player earned a second consecutive selection to the USL Championship’s All-League First Team.