SAN FRANCISCO – SF State's Department of Athletics conducted its annual awards banquet Tuesday on campus at Jack Adams Hall in the Cesar Chavez Student Center. The Gators presented seven awards during the festivities, which also included a slideshow presentation and video highlights from the 2012-13 season.
In attendance were SF State's President Dr. Leslie E. Wong and his wife Phyllis, along with vice president of advancement Robert J. Nava. Stan Bunger'77, KCBS news anchor,
hosted this year's banquet.
Among the honors handed out was the Arete Award, given to student-athletes who have earned a 3.0 or higher grade point average at SF State, completed an average of 12 units per semester, performed community service and also had an outstanding career in his/her respective sport.
This year's Arete Award went to SF State softball player
Cara Spence (pictured to the right). The senior first baseman is a four-year letter-winner who was named three times
to the Academic All-California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Team. Spence also was named to the Department of Athletics' Dean's List every semester she has been enrolled at SF State.
The Male Athlete of the Year award was presented to wrestler
Naveed Bagheri, while volleyball player
Iris Tolenada was named the Female Athlete of the Year.
Bagheri (pictured to the left) was a National Champion at the 141 at the 2013 NCAA Division II National Wrestling Championships in Birmingham, Ala. The four-time letter-winner was a three-time All-American during his career at SF State. Bagheri also was four-time All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference selection.
Tolenada (pictured to the right) was a four-year letter winner as well as a four-time All-CCAA performer. This past season, she was named the CCAA Most Valuable Player (first time ever a Gator volleyball player has earned this award). She also was selected to the All-West Region Team as well as the Al
l-West Regional Tournament Team. Tolenada played a major role in the Gators' second appearance in the last four-years to the NCAA Division II West Regional.
The Freshman Athlete of the Year Awards was presented to pitcher
Nolan Sheridan and volleyball player
Meagan Wright.
Sheridan (pictured below) finished his freshman season with a 6-1 record. He also posted a 2.37 earned run average while recording one save. The Alta Loma native was named the CCAA/Rawlings Pitcher of the Week for his one-hit complete game shutout in the Gators' 3-0 win at Cal State East Bay. He was also named the Nationa
l Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association (NCBWA) West Region Pitcher of the Week.
Wright(pictured below and to the right) finished her freshman season leading the Gators in kills and hitting percentage. She also finished in the top ten in the conference in kills, hitting percentage and service aces. Wright recorded 20 or more kills five times this past season while playing a key role in the Gators second appearance in the last four years in the NCAA Tournament. The Bonita, Calif., native was named to the First Team All-CCAA and also was th
e second ever Gator volleyball player to be named the CCAA Freshman of the Year
The CCAA Dr. Hal Charnofsky Awards are presented to student-athletes who participate in a CCAA-sponsored sport and have distinguished themselves in the classroom and in the field of competition. This year's SF State recipients were cross country runner
Brian Trejo and women's basketball player
Angela Van Sickel.
Trejo (pictured to the right) is a four-year letter winner who also was named three-times to the Academic All-CCAA Team. The senior runner has been named to the Unite
d States Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic Team four-times during his collegiate career. This past season, Trejo played a key role in the Gators' first ever appearance as a team at the NCAA Division II National Cross Country Championships. He finished as the Gators' second top finisher at the Regionals, which SF State finished in fourth place as a team.
Van Sickel (pictured below) is a three-year letter-winner who was named to the All-CCAA Second Team this past season. She is a two-time recipient of the Academic All-CCAA Team. This past season, Van Sickel was named to the Academic All-District VIII Team. Van Sickel led the Gators with her three-point
field goal percentage and three-point field goals made as well as finishing second on the team in scoring.
TEAM AWARDS
Men's Basketball
Co-Most Valuable Players
Calvin Otiono and
Decensae White
Most Improved
Andre Jones
Coaches Award
Winston Demmin
Co-Captain
Calvin Otiono and
Brandon Tatum
Men's Soccer
Most Valuable Player
Edgar Villagrana
Freshman of the Year
Jared Magaoay
Most Improved
Kevin Johnson
Team Player
Jason Borges
Women's Soccer
Defensive MVP
Annicia Jones
Offensive MVP
Nicole Vanni
Freshman of the Year
Lauren Hayano
Most Improved
Bria Adams
Volleyball
Offensive MVP
Megan Johnson
Defensive MVP
Iris Tolenada
Newcomer of the Year
Jessica Nicerio and
Meagan Wright
Spring Standout
Kaileen Mejia
Ultimate Gator
Kelsie Brennan
Women's Basketball
Most Valuable Player
Farrah Shokoor
Best Defender
Michaela Booker
Scholar-Athlete
Angela Van Sickel
Most Inspirational
Desiree Collins
Wrestling
Most Valuable Wrestler
Naveed Bagheri
Most Inspirational
Isaiah Jimenez
Most Improved
Vicente Aboytes
Baby Gator (Best Freshman)
Dylan Furtado
Coaches Endeavor
Isaiah Hurtado
Baseball, Softball, Men and Women's Cross Country and Women's Track/Field will present their awards later this month.
Greg Crothers, Vice President of Mass Mutual, presented
Brian Trejo and
Cara Spence as recipients of the Mass Mutual Scholarship Award.
