OLYMPIA, Wash. – Under sunny skies, the Evergreen Geoducks broke out the barbeques on Friday afternoon and celebrated all that was achieved in 2010-11. A number of awards were recognized and given out, including the inaugural Geoduck Achievement and Most Outstanding Athlete awards, as student-athletes and staff from around the college recognized the year that was for the green and white.
The celebration began with men’s basketball assistant and college academic specialist Corey Lenecker saying a few words in recognition of our graduating seniors. Assistant Director for Operations Andrew Beattie handed out awards to the student and event employees who help make the CRC run as effectively as possible.
Head women’s basketball coach and assistant athletic director Monica Heuer handed out gifts to the members of SAAC who were in attendance before sports information director Chris Thompson helped recognize all the student-athletes who earned Cascade Conference or NAIA honors over the course of the season.
The Geoducks also announced the winners of the 2010-11 Most Outstanding Athlete awards as men’s basketball senior Josh Troyer (Vancouver, Wash./Evergreen HS/Lower Columbia College) and women’s cross country and track and field junior Karissa Carlson (Pateros, Wash./Pateros HS) earned the first ever awards.
Troyer was named Most Outstanding Male Athlete after ranking third in the Cascade Conference in rebounding with 7.2 per game, including a conference-best 6.08 defensive rebounds per game. He also led the conference in minutes played at 33.14 per contest.
Carlson was named Most Outstanding Female Athlete after earning two trips to the national championships. Carlson took 11th in the 800m run at the 2011 NAIA Indoor Track and Field Championships and most recently placed 10th in the 800m run at the 2011 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
Five student-athletes were also honored for lettering all four years for the Geoducks. Men’s cross country and track runners Tyler Luce (Seattle, Wash./Roosevelt HS) and Chris Johnson (Bonney Lake, Wash./Spanaway Lake HS) were recognized, as were women’s soccer players Sonya Daisely-Harrison (Tahoma, Wash./Tahoma HS) and Nina Hinton (Mt. Vernon, Wash./La Conner HS) and men’s soccer player Caleb Maltsberger (Tukwila, Wash./Foster HS).
The program concluded with interim director of athletics and recreation Wendy Endress taking a few minutes to acknowledge the students and staff who have served on the many hiring committees this year. Endress also handed out gifts to a pair of staff members who are leaving the department: Women’s volleyball coach and director of recreation Mike Bryant and cross country and track and field coach Jason McConnell.