The Seattle University athletic department gathered at the Campion Tower Ballroom on Wednesday, May 28, for the annual end-of-year awards show, which showcases the major award winners as well as the non-athletic talents of several student-athletes.
The most prestigious award given out is the Student-Athlete of the Year Award, annually given to a male and a female who show excellence both in competition and in the classroom. This year Ashley Porter (Redmond, Wash.), a member of the women’s soccer team, and swimmer Chris Coley (Austin, Texas) earned the honor. Porter is the all-time assists leader in both SU and GNAC history and was Seattle University’s first-ever two-time Academic All-American. Coley, the 2006 NCAA Division II national champion in the 100 butterfly, leaves Seattle University as a nine-time All-American as well as a two-time Academic All-District honoree.
Soccer players Leah Wymer (Bothell, Wash.) and John Fishbaugher (Redmond, Wash.) received the Bill Fenton 101 Club Awards as the female and male athletes of the year. Wymer led the women’s soccer team with 17 goals and 38 total points, was a unanimous First Team All-GNAC selection for the third consecutive year, and earned NSCAA Second Team All-American recognition. An NSCAA First Team All-American selection, Fishbaugher was one of the leaders of the men’s soccer team, helping the squad earn another GNAC title as he notched four goals and four assists during the season.
The Mission Awards, awarded to student-athletes who embody the mission of Seattle University, went to basketball players Jackie Thomas (Tacoma, Wash.) and Michael Knight (Seattle, Wash.). Thomas, a Mission Award winner for the second consecutive year, is involved in numerous volunteer activities while also serving as team captain on the women’s basketball team, helping the squad to three consecutive winning seasons. Knight was honored for the character and grace he showed under difficult and confusing circumstances during the 2007-08 season. Also for the second consecutive year, the men’s basketball squad earned the Team Mission Award for its numerous community service projects, such as visits to local elementary schools and hospitals.
Kelly Lynch, the senior administrative assistant in the athletic department, received the Mark Escandon University Sports Service Award for going above and beyond her list of duties to make sure several events sponsored by the athletic department go off without a hitch. Lynch organized the series of Chalk Talks held during the basketball season as well as the recent Hall of Fame Dinner and Awards Ceremony, which involved a crowd of over 200 people as well as 15 individual and two team inductees.
During the evening, swimmer Jakub Jiracek (Nymburk, Czech Republic) received a ring signifying his championship in the 200 breaststroke during the 2008 NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving Championships. To the surprise of both men, head coach Craig Mallery and athletic director Bill Hogan also received rings for their work in bringing Jiracek to Seattle University.
The show was co-hosted by seniors Loyal Allen, Jr. (Seattle, Wash.), and Josie Christiansen (Coquille, Ore.), who made several wardrobe changes and put together a couple of skits that were well received by the crowd on hand. The show began with a performance by members of the softball team, fronted by Katie Antich (Spokane, Wash.) and Katie Petersen (Mission Viejo, Calif.), better known as “Tich and Petey”. The night also featured video spoofs of commercials such as “Can You Hear Me Now?” and “Hey Coach”.
The Seattle University athletic department has filed the necessary paperwork to continue the process of reclassification to NCAA Division I.