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Hanna, McNeill Earn Lifetime Achievement Award
Beth Hanna, the most decorated player in Pacific Lutheran University volleyball history, and two-sport athlete Conor McNeill were honored with the Lute Career Achievement Award at the school's All-Sports Awards Dessert held Sunday night in Olson Auditorium. Softball received the Team of the Year Award, and men's cross country won the Team GPA Award.
Other award winners included the following: Richard Isett (football) and Brady Tsukamaki (track & field) - George Fisher Scholar Athlete; Greg Ford (football) and Stacey Hagensen (softball) - Athlete of the Year; Candace Attwood (cross country, track & field) and Victor Bull (men's basketball) - Frosty Westering Lute Inspirational; Kirk Isakson (Director, PLU Multimedia Services) - Lute Service Award; Luke Terwilliger (football) - SAAC Leadership.
Lute Career Achievement Award: Beth Hanna,
Volleyball
Entering the 2007 volleyball season, few could have
imagined the impact that a quiet outside hitter from Clackamas,
Ore., would have on the PLU program. Beth Hanna was the
quintessential teammate and, more importantly,
scholar-athlete. In 2007, in her first collegiate year, Beth
was named an AVCA First Team All-American and AVCA Freshman of the
Year, becoming the first PLU player to receive such honors.
In 2008 and 2009, Beth was on the AVCA Third Team All-America,
placing herself as the most decorated PLU volleyball player to step
foot on the court. Beth was named to the Northwest Conference
First Team all four years of her career, even after sustaining a
knee injury at the end of her junior season, and twice earned NWC
Player of the Year recognition. During her first season,
Beth broke the single-season school record in for kills per
game (5.34) and tied the school record for total kills (486).
She leaves PLU with a career conference record of 57-5 with three
conference championships and three trips to the NCAA Division III
national tournament. Though her athletic accomplishments were
astounding, what made Beth truly incredible in her time at PLU was
her community service and scholarly achievements. As the
campus leader for Fellowship of Christian Athletes and an avid
member of For the King Campus Ministry, Beth epitomized a
well-rounded athlete that all coaches would like to have. In
addition, she maintains a 3.63 GPA in education while balancing all
of her volleyball and extracurricular activities.
Lute Career Achievement Award: Conor McNeill, Track
& Field/Football
As a two-sport competitor at PLU, Conor McNeill has felt
the pressure that weighs down on student-athletes. Yet, his
strong shoulders were able to carry that load throughout his four
years at PLU, making him a dominating force in the Northwest
Conference on the field and in the classroom. Conor’s
most significant athletic achievements came in the hammer ring
during the track & field season. As a four-year letter
recipient in track & field, McNeill qualified for the NCAA
Division III national meet three years in a row (2009-11) with
provisional marks. This season saw Conor throw a career-best
in the hammer, 181-0, on his way to claiming the NWC title in the
event. Conor was also an essential member of Lutes football,
making the center position his own in the 2009 and 2010 seasons. He
earned NWC honorable mention status as a junior, and then followed
that up by being named a 2010 football captain and earning All-NWC
second team honors. He was also chosen as the Most Inspirational
Award winner for the PLU football team. Off the field, Conor
excelled in his academics and his service to the PLU
community. Holding a 3.50 GPA as a business administration
major with a sports psychology minor, Conor was a 2010 Academic
All-American in track & field and had made the Dean’s
List at PLU four times. Conor has been a member of the
Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) for three years, and also
served as a volunteer at Lister-McIlvaigh Elementary/Middle School
and as a high school throwing official.
George Fisher Scholar Athlete Award: Richard Isett,
Football
Richard Isett may have provided the single-most thrilling
moment during the 2010-11 Pacific Lutheran sports year when he
kicked a 49-yard field goal on the last play of the game to give
the Lutes a 31-28 victory over rival University of Puget Sound.
While that is certainly a lasting impression, Richard also excelled
as an outside linebacker, leading the Lutes with 64 tackles and
14.5 tackles for loss to earn first team All-Northwest Conference
recognition. Named PLU’s Defensive MVP, Richard was selected
to the All-West Region third team while helping PLU compiled an 8-1
overall record and a second-place finish in the conference
standings. A political science major, Richard has a 3.89 grade
point average, was co-founder and vice president of the PLU Pre-Law
Club, and has been a regular member of the Dean’s List, and
graduated Magna Cum Laude. A native of Juneau, Alaska, Richard has
also participated on the football team’s mentorship program
with Lister/First Creek schools.
George Fisher Scholar Athlete Award: Brady Tsukamaki,
Track & Field
Brady Tsukamaki, a long jumper and triple jumper, is a
three-time letter winner for the Pacific Lutheran women’s
track & field team. She competed in three conference
championship meets for the Lutes, finishing as high as sixth place
in the triple jump at the 2010 meet. The qualified for the
conference meet this year and finished 12th in the
triple jump competition. Brady, a native of Highlands Ranch, Colo.,
has a 3.75 grade point average and is majoring in pre-physical
therapy. She has been on the Dean’s List each semester at
PLU.
Team GPA Award
Men’s Cross Country wins the 2011 Team GPA Award
with a 3.45 grade point average compiled through the fall semester.
The team is coached by Heather Kreier.
Lute Service Award: Kirk Isakson,
Director of Multimedia Services
Since he first came to Pacific Lutheran University in
1977, Kirk Isakson has been the definition of the man behind the
scenes that you can’t do without. He has served the PLU
athletic department in many ways. In the old days, you would have
seen him on the football, basketball or soccer sidelines, camera on
his shoulder, taping (and later editing) countless hours of Lutes
sports video. The cameras are smaller now, but Kirk is still there,
documenting the PLU athletic teams. Among other roles, Kirk runs
the audio and video at events such as this All-Sports Awards
Dessert, and the PLU Athletic Hall of Fame inductions. Since the
inception of the PLU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990, Kirk has done
the sketches presented to the inductees. He has been a tremendous
helper, and a great friend, to the PLU Athletic Department for more
than three decades.
Frosty Westering Lute Inspirational Award:
Candace Attwood, Women’s Cross Country/Track &
Field
A four-year letter winner in track & field and a
one-time letter winner in cross country, Candace Attwood has been
an inspiration to countless teammates, fellow students and faculty
and staff. She was diagnosed at a young age with Asperger Syndrome,
an autism spectrum disorder, but “has never used this as an
excuse to not
achieve,” said her coach, Heather Kreier. That is why Candace
has raced in four conference championship 10,000 meter races, and
why three times she was named the cross country team’s most
improved athlete. Her desire was best exemplified this year when
competing in a 10,000-meter race at Western Washington University.
Thinking she had finished the race, Candace stopped, then checked
with the lap counter. When told she had one more lap, she got back
on the trap and met the conference meet qualifying standard.
Candace has a 3.10 grade point average majoring in psychology, and
has been a member of the University Concert Band and the Student
Athlete Advisory Committee from 2008-11.
Frosty Westering Lute Inspirational
Award: Victor Bull, Men’s Basketball|
A four-year letter winner and starting center for the PLU
men’s basketball team, Victor has been an outstanding team
leader and a student voice for Lutes athletics throughout the
community. He has played key roles in the student athlete advisory
committee, local youth basketball clinics, and in working with the
PLU development office to raise funds for the athletic program.
Victor “has been the driving force behind the resurrection of
the men’s basketball program,” said his coach, Steve
Dickerson. “Through his dedication, determination and
leadership he led his teammates through a four-year journey that
culminated in PLU’s first playoff appearance in 13
years.” Victor played his entire junior season with two
broken big toes, but that didn’t stop him from playing in all
23 of the team’s games. This year, he earned all-conference
honors and finished among the league leaders in blocked shots,
rebounds, steals and field goal percentage. “In 38 years of
education and coaching I have never seen a single individual have
such a profound effect on a program,” Dickerson added.
Athlete of the Year: Greg Ford, Football
Culminating four years of incredible play on the field,
Greg Ford had another outstanding year for Lutes football in
2011. Ford had 51 receptions for 843 yards and nine
touchdowns this season, averaging the third most receiving yards a
game in the Northwest Conference (93.7). These marvelous
offensive marks earned Ford All-Northwest Conference first team
recognition for the third straight year. As he leaves PLU,
Ford is the school record holder in receiving touchdowns in a game
(5), receiving yards in a game (292), and points in a game
(32). He also ties for first all-time in receiving touchdowns
in a career (35) and is second with 3,436 career receiving yards.
He caught at least one ball in all 36 of his career games. A Health
and Fitness major at PLU, Greg truly exemplifies the reputation PLU
football has maintained throughout its storied program’s
history.
Athlete of the Year: Stacey Hagensen, Softball
In a season that saw the Lutes narrowly miss the NCAA
Division III national tournament, junior Stacey Hagensen
demonstrated brilliance that helped lead the Lutes to a 31-13
record and a second-place finish in the Northwest Conference.
Hagensen led the Lutes in pitching, going 21-6 with a team low 2.30
ERA, and she finished the season with 18 complete games. The
earned run mark was good for fourth in the conference, and the 21
wins was the highest in the conference. On offense, she
compiled a .367 batting average with eight home runs, 39 runs
batted in, and team highs of 43 runs and 16 stolen bases (in 17
attempts). Hagensen earned Northwest Conference Pitcher of the Year
and All-NWC first team honors, and most recently was selected to
the All-West Region first team as a utility player. Hagensen
was selected to the Capital One Academic All-District VIII College
Division First Team honors with a 3.88 grade point average while
majoring in math.
SAAC Leadership Award: Luke
Terwilliger, Football
Throughout his four years at Pacific Lutheran University,
Luke Terwilliger has been an outstanding student-leader. He earned
three letters while playing for the Pacific Lutheran football team
as a linebacker and special teams standout. He has participated in
Relay for Life all four years he has been on campus, twice serving
as a team captain and for one year as the team development
committee co-chairman. For four years, Luke has also been a Red
Carpet Club host, leading tours and college fairs, hosting
luncheons, meeting with prospective students and their families,
and assisting in RCC’s development as a leadership board
member. A PLU President Scholar, Luke has been a member of the
School of Arts and Communication student advisory board, working to
develop SOAC’s involvement and outreach to Pacific Lutheran
University students. He was also nominated as a member of Lambda Pi
Eta, a nationally recognized communication association that
recognizes exceptional communication students. And during his spare
time, he has been a member of six intramural sports championship
teams.
Team of the Year Award: Softball
Proving wrong the Northwest Conference coaches who picked
Pacific Lutheran to finish fourth in the standings, the 2011 Lutes
softball team exceeded everyone’s expectations but their own
by finishing 31-13 overall and in second place in the NWC
standings. Only No. 1-ranked Linfield had a better conference
record than PLU, which compiled its first 30-win season since 2003.
A total of five Lutes players earned first team all-conference
honors – Amanda Goings, Stacey Hagensen, Kaaren Hatlen,
Lindsey Matsunaga, and Glenelle Nitta. That same group also
received all-region recognition, including Hagensen, who was named
to the first team.
Other nominees:
Lute Career Achievement Award - Scott Wall, Baseball
Athlete of the Year Award: Ryan Aratani, Baseball; Chad Kearns,
Men's Soccer; Jordan Rasmussen, Football; Kaaren Hatlen, Softball;
Lindsey Matsunaga, Softball; Kelsie Moore, Volleyball.
Blanket Award (Four-Year Letter Winners)
Baseball: Ryan Aratani, Ryan Boyles, Jordan Chargualaf, Nic Delikat, Bret Handy, Scott Wall
Men’s Basketball: Victor Bull, Kyle MacTaggart, Curtis Trondsen
Football: Colby Davies, Greg Ford, Drew Griffin, Brad Johnson, Kyle Whitford
Women’s Golf: Kindra Stamps
Men’s Rowing: Sam Whedon
Women’s Rowing: Erin Siebert
Men’s Soccer: Kit Deming, Brian Kostol, Daniele Zaccagnini
Women’s Soccer: Brittney Bronson, Megan O’Rourke, Courtney Walker
Men’s Swimming: Matthew Kim, Alex Limoges
Women’s Swimming: Kasey Dorcas, Jessie Klauder, Gina Wittman
Men’s Tennis: Scott Sheldon
Men’s Track & Field: Conor McNeill
Women’s Track & Field: Candace Attwood, Kelly Fenton
Volleyball: Sarah Beaver, Beth Hanna
Third Year Awards (Three-Year Senior Letter Winners)
Men’s Basketball: Tony Polis
Women’s Basketball: Jordan Westering
Men’s Cross Country: John Phillips
Football: Nick Edwards, Trevor Fox, Blake Gorle, Richard Isett, Sten Koos, Vance Louie, Cameron McMillan, Isaac Moog, Luke Terwilliger
Men’s Swimming: Kyle Maxwell
Women’s Swimming: Casey Jackson
Women’s Tennis: Caitlyn Hoerr
Men’s Track & Field: Nate Jackson, Isaac Moog, John Phillips
Women’s Track & Field: Kelsey Smith, Brady Tsukamaki
- PLU -
