Track and Field Program Hands Out Annual Awards
5/28/2007 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
May 28, 2007
This is the second straight season that Walsh has been honored with the MVP award, while Korte earned the team's Outstanding Competitor award as a sophomore and junior. In addition to her team MVP award, Korte earned the High Point Award (49 points) for the women's team and the Gail Conway Performance Award, which honors the female athlete with the single best performance of the season.
One year after being named the Most Improved Athlete, Hawkins claimed the Outstanding Competitor Award with conference titles at the indoor and outdoor championships. Neubauer, who was a co-recipient of the Newcomer of the Year award, was named the Outstanding Competitor for the women's team after claiming several all-conference accolades and Academy records.
Sharing the Newcomer of the Year award with Neubauer was Melissa Beerse, who set Academy records in both the indoor and outdoor pole vault. The top newcomer honor on the men's side was also shared, as Nick Frawley and Dan Paladino earned the honor. Frawley won the pole vault at the MWC outdoor meet with a career-best height by over a foot, while Paladino crushed the Freshman Class Record in the weight throw and hammer throw.
Sophomore Sean Houseworth and senior Casey Bayne were earned their respective team's Most Improved Athlete awards. Houseworth set a Sophomore Class record in the 5000-meter run, while winning the 10,000-meter run at the MWC Championships. Bayne improved her personal-best in the javelin throw by nearly 20 feet, earned all-conference honors and qualified for the NCAA Regionals.
Backed by a 2007 conference championship and five all-conference accolades, junior Travis Picou was the recipient of the men's
Senior Matt Schwandt was named the winner of the Alonzo Babers Performance Award after taking first in the javelin at the Mountain West Conference Championships. The award, which was named after a former Falcon that went on to win two Gold medals at the 1984 Olympic Games, is given annually to a male athlete with the single best performance of the season.
Two awards were given out to individuals that display a strong drive and determination. Senior Jason Beck was honored with the Bret Hyde Award, while freshman Ally Romanko was given the Callie Calhoun Award. The Bret Hyde Award is dedicated to the record-holder of the 3000-meter steeplechase that went on to place in the 1984 Olympic Trials and the Callie Calhoun Award is named after a six-time NCAA champion in indoor track, outdoor track and cross country.
Sophomores Kellen Curry and Kirk Devine were selected as the Laura Piper Ironman Award winners. The award, which is given to individuals who compete in, excels in and scores in multiple events at scoring meets. The award is named after Laura Piper, who was killed in Operation Desert Shield. Curry, who was an all-conference recipient in the hurdles during both the indoor and outdoor seasons, also ran a leg of the all-MWC relay team and Academy record-setting sprint medley relay team. Devine set Sophomore Class records in the weight, discus and hammer throws, while moving up the top-10 lists in all three.
Senior captain Richard Elmore was honored with the General Tad Oelstrom Award for Character and Leadership. This honor, which is named after a former Academy superintendent and record-holder, goes to the one senior on the roster that excels academically, militarily and athletically. Fellow senior Nick Luina was named the recipient of the Arnie Arneson Coaches' Award for Dedication. Luina, an all-conference relay team member, was chosen by the coaching staff as an individual who best exemplifies the quality of dedication to excellence.
Senior Leah Sullivan earned the Ernie Cunliffe Manager Award for the second time in three seasons. Sullivan becomes just the second manager to earn the honor more than once in a career.
Players Mentioned
