Academy Athletics Announces Top Award Winners
5/27/2003 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
May 27, 2003
Senior wrestler Kevin Hoy and senior women's gymnast Allison Todd were named top male and female athletes, respectively, for the 2002-03 sports season by the Air Force Academy athletic department during its annual awards ceremony recently.
Also winning major awards were senior men's gymnast Aaron Jackson for athletic excellence, senior Elissa Ballas (track) for athletic leadership, senior Seth Kelsey (fencing) for outstanding athletic achievement and senior John Dayton (swimming) took home the top scholar-athlete award.
Hoy finished the 2002-03 season with a 42-2 overall record and placed second in the nation in the heavyweight division at the NCAA championships, the highest Falcon finish since 1971. A two-time All-American, Hoy posted six victories over top 10-ranked wrestlers this season. He also became the first four-time champion in the Colorado Collegiate championships in the 18-year history of the event.
Todd wrapped up a successful career by winning the balance beam championship at the 2003 USA Gymnastics Collegiate National Championships. She also finished eighth on the uneven bars and second in floor exercise. Todd was also an academic all-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation scholar-athlete.
Jackson, the men's gymnastics' team captain, finished his career as a Falcon by winning the vault title at the 2003 USA Gymnastics Collegiate National Championship in April. Jackson won the event with a 9.225 and finished third on floor exercise. He also placed fourth on rings and parallel bars during the individual competition.
Ballas' leadership has been instrumental in the academic, athletic and leadership accomplishments of the women's cross country team. She was squadron commander for cadet squadron 23 in the fall of 2002, and was the team captain. She was also selected as team captain for track and field this season. Ballas earned 12 varsity letters, four each in cross country (including 1 at Ohio State), indoor track (including 1 at Ohio State) and outdoor track.
Kelsey, won the 2003 men's ?p?e national title and led the Falcons to a ninth place finish at the NCAA Fencing Championships. Kelsey became just the fifth NCAA Division I individual national champion at Air Force and the first since 1974. He finished the 2002-2003 season with 31-1 record during the regular season.
Dayton ranks seventh in his class of 1,000 and will graduate with a major in astronautical engineering and a minor in Russian. He is a four-time member of the MWC all-academic team and is a four-time NCAA Academic All-American honorable mention selection. Dayton was one of four MWC student-athletes to earn an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship this past winter.
The athletic department also recognized its most valuable athletes for each sport during the ceremony. A complete list of the winners follows below.
2002-2003 Top 6 award winners and Team MVPs
Most Valuable Athlete Award-Men Award. C1C Kevin Hoy finished the 2002-03 wrestling season with a 42-4 overall record. He placed second in the nation at the NCAA Championships - the highest Falcon finish since 1971 -- to become a two-time All-American. At one point during the season, he was on a 24-match win streak, including six victories against top 10 opponents. He became only the second four-time All Academy Champion and was named Outstanding Wrestler at the 2003 tournament. He also became the first Air Force four-time Colorado Collegiate Champion and only the fourth wrestler in the 18-year history of the tournament to win all four years. He currently holds the Academy all-time record for career victories with 160. Hoy also earned the team's MVP award.
Most Valuable Athlete Award-Women Award. C1C Allison Todd, women's gymnastics' team captain, had an outstanding finish to her career at Air Force when she was crowned the balance beam champion at the 2003 USA Gymnastics Collegiate National Championship. Todd also finished eighth on uneven bars and second on floor exercise during the individual competition. Todd was the only Falcon to qualify to the 2003 NCAA North Central Regional Championship in April. She qualified as an individual all-around competitor and was an individual event alternate on balance beam. Todd managed to tie for seventh on floor exercise with a 9.850 and took 12th in the individual all-around with a 38.475. At this year's Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championship, she tied for second on balance beam (9.825) and took second on floor with a 9.950 for the Falcons. Todd was named academic All-MPSF scholar-athlete.
Athletic Excellence Award. C1C Aaron Jackson, men's gymnastics' team captain, finished his career as a Falcon by winning the vault title at the 2003 USA Gymnastics Collegiate National Championship in April. Jackson won the event with a 9.225 and finished third on floor exercise, and fourth on rings and parallel bars during the individual competition. Jackson also secured a third-place finish in the all-around at the team and all-around competition to help the Falcons to a third-place team finish. Jackson was one of eight Falcons to qualify to the NCAA Qualifiers in Philadelphia. For his accomplishments at Air Force, Jackson was also named as one of eight finalists for the Nissen-Emery Award, which is given every year to the outstanding NCAA senior gymnast. Jackson was also a 2003 academic All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation scholar-athlete.
Athletic Leadership Award. C1C Elissa Ballas' leadership has been instrumental in the academic, athletic and leadership accomplishments of the women's cross country team. She was squadron commander, cadet squadron 23, fall 2002, and was the team captain; she was also selected as team captain for track and field, spring 2003. Ballas earned 12 varsity letters, four each in cross country (including 1 at Ohio State), indoor track (including 1 at Ohio State) and outdoors track. She placed in the top five in the Mountain West Conference championships three times. She's a 2003 NCAA Regional qualifier in outdoor track and field. She was an academic all-conference in cross country and track and field every season that she was eligible for the award.
Outstanding Athletic Achievement Award. C1C Weston S. Kelsey, won the 2003 men's ?p?e national title and led the Falcons to a ninth place finish at the NCAA Fencing Championships. Kelsey became just the fifth NCAA Division I individual national champion at Air Force and the first since 1974. He finished the 2002-2003 season with 31-1 record during the regular season. He is the first cadet-athlete to ever represent the United States at the senior World Championships in an Olympic sport. He was the highest finishing American at the 2002 World Championships and the youngest member of the 1998 and 2002 senior world teams. A three-time all-American, Kelsey is also the men's fencing team's MVP.
Scholar-Athlete Award. C1C John G. Dayton ranks seventh in his class of 1,000 and will graduate with a minor in Russian. He is a four-time member of the MWC all-academic team and is a four-time NCAA Academic All-American honorable mention selection. Dayton was one of four MWC student-athletes to earn an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship this past winter. As the team captain of the men's swimming team, he helped lead the team to a 12-2 record and a second-place finish in the conference (both regular season and tournament), the highest in school history. He has won two conference championships as a member of the 200-medley relay team in 2001 and the 400-medley relay in 2002. A two-time all-conference selection, he finished among the league's top five in six individual events and holds three Air Force Academy records.
Team Most Valuable Players
Most Valuable Baseball Player: C1C Josh Phifer is one of the most explosive players in the Mountain West Conference. He could become the first player in the history of the conference to lead in batting average (.414), slugging percentage (.781) and on-base percentage (.492). A second-team all-conference choice in 2002, he was named the Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week early in the season and will finish his career ranked in the top five of every offensive category.
Most Valuable Basketball Player - Men: Tim Keller led the men's basketball team in scoring this season, averaging 14.8 points per game, and was an all-Mountain West third-team selection by league coaches and media. He led the conference in three-point shooting at 45.1 percent, which was the sixth-best percentage in the country. The sophomore's name is also in the school's record book, as he is No. 3 on the career list for free-throw percentage (82.8%) and seventh all-time with 110 three-pointers.
Most Valuable Basketball Player - Women: C2C Shawna Neff was the only player to have started in all 27 games this season for the women's basketball team. She averaged 13.0 points per game, best on the team. She finished the year out strong, scoring in double digits in seven of the last eight games. She ranked in the top 10 in the conference in nearly every statistical category. Neff was ninth in the league in scoring average, third in three-point shooting percentage, fourth in free throw percentage and eighth in steals. She is currently ranked fourth on Academy's career list for three-pointers made (99).
Boxing Excellence: C1C Ulysses Linares is a two- time Wing Open champion (2001, 2002), and a two-time West Region champion at 147 lbs. In 2001 and 2002, he earned all-American honors and is a two time gold medal winner and national champion. Linares was a member of three national championship teams (2001, 2002, 2003). He was the 2003 team captain, and won the Mr. Nasty Award by the boxing coaches in 2001 and 2002. Linares did not just defeat opponents he punished them. Due to an untimely injury, he did not compete during his senior year, staying on as an assistant coach and working with the team through spring break, regionals and nationals. His leadership and selfless attitude was instrumental in leading the team to its first ever fifth consecutive national team title.
Most Valuable Cross Country Runner - Men: C2C Ben Payne is a three-time all-conference runner and twice earned all-Mountain Region honors. Payne, from Arvada, Colo., led the Falcons in five races during the 2002 cross country season. His eighth-place finish in the Mountain West Conference championship race helped Air Force to its fourth-place team finish. He led the team in Mountain Region Championships, finishing 11th and a 10th-place team finish. Payne was named to the academic all-MWC team; he earned MWC cross country runner of the week (September 14).
Most Valuable Cross Country Runner - Women: C2C Brandess Pardue, from Aurora, Colo., earned team MVP honors twice (2001 and 2002). In 2002, she earned all-Mountain Region honors for the second consecutive season. She finished 15th at the Mountain West Conference championship meet, leading her team to its fourth consecutive MWC top three finish. She was voted MWC cross country runner of the week during the fall 2002, and earned a place on the NCAA all-Academic team in both 2001 and 2002.
Most Valuable Fencer - Men: C1C Weston S. Kelsey, won the 2003 men's ?p?e national title and lead the Falcons to a ninth-place finish at the NCAA Fencing Championships. Kelsey became just the fifth NCAA Division I individual national champion at Air Force and the first since 1974. A three-time all-American, Kelsey is also the men's fencing team's MVP.
Most Valuable Fencer - Women: C1C Elia Burrill, team captain of the 2002-03 women's fencing team, was chosen as one of 29 women who participated in winter sports to earn an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. Burrill is AFA's first female fencer to ever earn an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, and only the first fencer to earn the honor since 1994. She is a three-time MVP and was a member of the USA team at two World Cups in Cuba and Australia. She led her team to first-place finishes at the Western Region Championships in 2002 and 2003. Most Valuable Football Back: C1C Leotis Palmer was one of the most versatile players in the MWC, as he rushed for four touchdowns and threw two TDs. He also caught five passes on the season and returned punts. He finished second on the team in rushing with 559 yards and was sixth in receiving. He was also among the Mountain West Conference leaders in punt returns with a 9.8 average. Palmer, from Darien, Ga., also earned the Jack Braley Mr. Intensity Award for his work in the weight room. Most Valuable Football Lineman: C2C Brett Huyser started all 12 games at left guard and finished third on the team in knockdown blocks with a 13.1 average. He earned fourth team All-American honors from The Sporting News. Originally from Rock Valley, Iowa, Huyser recorded a career-high with 19 knockdowns against Colorado State and also had 18 in the win over Northwestern.
Most Valuable Football Player: C2C Chance Harridge set an NCAA record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 22 in 2002. The Bonaire, Ga., native also became the fifth player in Air Force history to rush and pass for over 1,000 yards each in a season. Harridge rushed for 1,229 yards and passed for 1,062 yards and 10 touchdowns, which is the third most ever by a quarterback in the option era. He led the conference and ranked seventh in the nation, averaging 10.2 points per game.
Most Valuable Football Special Teams Player: C2C Joey Ashcroft, from Springfield, Mo., was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award as the nation's top kicker after hitting 16 of 18 field goals. His 88.9 career field goal percentage is an Academy record. Ashcroft tied the school record by making four field goals in Air Force's win over Army. He ranked second in the MWC for points per game by a kicker with 7.3. In the San Francisco Bowl, he hit a career-long 45-yard field goal vs. Virginia Tech.
Most Valuable Golfer: C3C Adam Wasinger earned his first-ever golf team most valuable player award. Wasinger has been a stabilizing force for the Falcons in his first two years, missing just one varsity tournament in two seasons. He won his first tournament trophy in October, capturing first place at the 2002 Service Academies Classic to lead the Falcons to their eighth consecutive title at the Classic. He led the team in four consecutive tournaments in the fall and two more events in the spring. He notched the team's lowest overall scoring average.
Most Valuable Gymnast - Men: C1C Aaron Jackson, men's gymnastics' team captain, finished his career as a Falcon by winning the vault title at the 2003 USA Gymnastics Collegiate National Championship in April. Jackson won the event with a 9.225 and finished third on floor exercise, and fourth on rings and parallel bars during the individual competition. Jackson also secured a third-place finish in the all-around at the team and all-around competition to help the Falcons to a third-place team finish. Jackson was one of eight Falcons to qualify to the NCAA Qualifiers in Philadelphia. For his accomplishments at Air Force, Jackson was also named as one of eight finalists for the Nissen-Emery Award, which is given every year to the outstanding NCAA senior gymnast. Jackson was also a 2003 academic All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation scholar-athlete.
Most Valuable Gymnast -- Women: C1C Allison Todd, women's gymnastics' team captain, had an outstanding finish to her career at Air Force when she was crowned the balance beam champion at the 2003 USA Gymnastics Collegiate National Championship. Todd also finished eighth on uneven bars and second on floor exercise during the individual competition. Todd was the only Falcon to qualify to the 2003 NCAA North Central Regional Championship in April. She qualified as an individual all-around competitor and was an individual event alternate on balance beam. Todd managed to tie for seventh on floor exercise with a 9.850 and took 12th in the individual all-around with a 38.475. At this year's Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championship, she tied for second on balance beam (9.825) and took second on floor with a 9.950 for the Falcons. Todd was named academic All-MPSF scholar-athlete.
Most Valuable Ice Hockey Player: C1C Andrew Berg earned all-College Hockey America second-team honors as he led the team and was second in the CHA with 22 goals. His 22 goals this season are the most by a Falcon since joining a Division I conference in 1999-00. A native of Stillwater, Minn., he also led the team and was fourth in the league with 40 points. His 15 power-play goals were third in the nation and tied the school record. Berg closed out his career tied for 12th in career scoring at the Academy with 142 points.
Most Valuable Lacrosse Player: C1C John Anacker was a tri-captain for the lacrosse team for the 2003 season. For the second consecutive season, Anacker was named to the Great Western Lacrosse League all-conference first team. He led the team in ground balls, earning the team's Hoover Award for the second straight season. Last season, Anacker won the Pace Weber Memorial Award. He has been on the dean's list three times, the athletics' list once and commandant's list once.
Most Valuable Marksmanship -- Rifle: C1C Nicholas Breffitt was named the Air Force rifle team captain for the 2002-03 season. Breffitt won the air rifle event for the Falcons at the 2003 NCAA qualifiers at the University of Texas- El Paso. He shot a 391/400 to win the air rifle event and finished second in small bore .22 with an 1155/1200. Breffitt, of Aurora, Colorado, is an engineering mechanics major and led the Falcons throughout most of the season in the air rifle and small bore .22 events to help the Falcons to a seventh-place finish at the 2003 NCAA Championships.
Most Valuable Soccer Player -- Men: C1C Marcus Sagastume led the men's soccer team in scoring for the second consecutive year. He totaled 19 points on six goals and seven assists and was named first-team all-MPSF. He also received second-team all-Midwest Region honors. Sagastume, a sophomore from Colorado Springs, Colo., was named Most Outstanding Offensive Player for the season-opening Falcon Invitational, which the Falcons won with victories over Birmingham-Southern and Valparaiso.
Most Valuable Soccer Player -- Women: C1C Wendy Emminger, women's soccer co-captain, was a four-year starter for the Falcons. Her solid play in the midfield helped the team finish the regular season with key conference victories over Wyoming and New Mexico. She scored the game-winning goal against Wyoming and also scored in the victory over North Carolina-Greensboro. She finished the season with two goals and four points.
Most Valuable Swimmer -- Men: C2C Paul Brehm earned team MVP honors for the 2002 and 2003 seasons. Brehm finished the 2003 season being named to the Mountain West Conference Swimming & Diving All-Conference first team in the 100 backstroke and the 200 backstroke. Brehm helped the Falcons to a second-place finish at the 2002 MWC Championships when he finished second in the 100 backstroke and a first-place finish in the 200 backstroke. Brehm also finished seventh in the 200 butterfly. Brehm, of Madison, Wisconsin, is the school record holder in the 100 backstroke, the 200 backstroke and the 400 medley relay.
Most Valuable Swimmer -- Women: C3C Jessica Williams was named to the all-Mountain West Conference team for diving this season. The sophomore from Springfield, Va., set a new MWC record with 418.05 points en route to winning the platform diving event at the 2003 MWC championship meet. She also finished 11th in the 3-meter and 15th in the 1-meter events.
Most Valuable Tennis Player -- Men: Shannon Buck, a freshman from San Antonio, Texas, produced an overall singles record of 31-3, including a 26-1 mark at No. 1 singles in dual matches. He was a perfect 8-0 against Mountain West Conference opponents and was named the MWC's Co-Player of the Year. Buck became just the first freshman in school history to earn a spot in the NCAA Division I Singles Championships. He tied the school record for most wins at No. 1 singles in one season and posted the second-best winning percentage (.963) for one season by any position player in school history. He is currently ranked No. 71 in the country and earned the Rookie of the Year and Player to Watch honors for the Mountain Region by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.
Most Valuable Tennis Player -- Women: Laura Nigro played No. 1 singles and doubles for the Falcons this season. She defeated three nationally ranked players and received Mountain West Conference Player of the Week honors. With an overall record of 16-19, the junior from Lincoln, Neb., received her first all-MWC selection for singles. In doubles, Nigro and her partner also received all-conference honors, defeated the No. 1 doubles team from four nationally ranked teams and finished the season with a 23-16 record. In addition, she earned the first-ever MWC Sportsmanship Award and was the Central Region's recipient of the Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award.
Most Valuable Track Athlete-Men: C1C Thomas Clark won the Mountain West Conference title in 110-meter hurdles and was the conference runner-up in the 400-meter hurdles. He set the school record in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 50.83. He is a team-co captain and also served as the chairperson for the Academy's Student Advisory Committee. He is scheduled to compete in the NCAA Outdoor Championships at the University of Nebraska this weekend (May 30-32).
Most Valuable Track Athlete-Women: C1C Jocelyn Dooley, a team co-captain, set the school record in the javelin eight times during her career. The current record stands at 156-feet. She finished second at the Mountain West Conference championships in the javelin. She qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships and will compete this weekend at the University of Nebraska. The U.S. Track Coaches Association based on her 3.47 grade point average in physics named her academic All-American.
Outstanding Track Competitor-Men: C1C Timothy Fritz successfully defended his Mountain West Conference javelin title in 2003 by setting both a MWC meet record and a conference all-time record with a throw of 217-feet, 11 ? inches. Fritz, a team co-captain, ranks second on the school's all-time list. He qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships and will compete this weekend at the University of Nebraska.
Outstanding Track Competitor-Women: C1C Elissa Ballas finished third in the conference in the 5,000-meter fun and fifth in the league in the 1,500-meters. Her career best time of 4:30.59 in the 1,500-meters is the second fastest in school history. Her 3.77 grade point average in biochemistry earned her academic All-America honors by the U.S. Track Coaches Assn. Elissa, a team co-captain, qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships and will compete this weekend at the University of Nebraska.
Most Valuable Volleyball Player: C2C Delavane Diaz is a two-time recipient of the volleyball most valuable player award. She also won the award last season. She has led the team in kills for each of her first three seasons. Diaz finished this season ranked sixth in the Mountain West Conference in kills per game and she is second on the Academy's Division I career list for kills. She will serve as wing commander this summer.
Most Valuable Water Polo Player: C2C Brandon Shroyer finished the season with 242 saves in goal, 15 assists and 42 steals to help the Falcons to a 16-12 overall record and a third-place finish at the Western Water Polo Association Championships. Shroyer also received honorable mention for the 2002 WWPA all-Conference team and made the 2002 NCAA all-Academic Water Polo team with a 3.200 GPA.
Most Valuable Wrestler: C1C Kevin Hoy finished the 2002-03 wrestling season with a 42-4 overall record. He placed second in the nation at the NCAA Championships - the highest Falcon finish since 1971 -- to become a two-time All-American. At one point during the season, he was on a 24-match win streak, including six victories against top 10 opponents and one against a top 20 foes. He became only the second four-time All Academy Champion and was named Outstanding Wrestler at the 2003 tournament. He also became the first Air Force four-time Colorado Collegiate Champion and only the fourth wrestler in the 18-year history of the tournament to win all four years. He currently holds the Academy all-time record for career victories with 160.
Outstanding Cadet in Physical Education Award: C1C Ryan Brewer, cadet squadron 17. This award is presented to the first class cadet with the best overall academic average in physical education classes.
Physical Education Average (PEA) Award: C1C Antonia Renee Giraud, cadet squadron 25. This award recognizes the first class cadet attaining the highest physical education average.
Intercollegiate Athletics Squadron Award (Gillen-Slezak Memorial Trophy): Cadet Squadron 2
Athletic Excellence Squadron Award: (Superintendent's Athletic Excellence Trophy): Cadet Squadron 11
Intramural Athletics Squadron Award (Malanaphy Trophy): Cadet Squadron 9
