By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- The 2018 Bearcat Awards Show was held at Hudson Concert Hall in the Rogers Music Center on Tuesday, May 1 to honor accomplishment during the 2017-18 athletic year. Awards were presented to the top athletes and underclassmen, as well as to those with outstanding moments, great individual performances, exceptional community service, and academic achievements.
The presentation of the J.H. Booth Award and the Jean Williams Award concluded the evening. Other top honors included the Julie Abendroth, Ed.D. Professor of the Year Award, Alumnus of the Year Award, and Sue J. Rauch Distinguished Service to Athletics Award.
Jean Williams Award
Presented annually to the senior female student-athlete who most excelled in all areas of her career at Willamette by exemplifying and demonstrating outstanding leadership, scholarship and athleticism.
Emmy Manset (Sr., F, Ventura, CA/Foothill Technology HS) from the women's soccer team was chosen as one of the winners of the Jean Williams Award. Manset led the Northwest Conference with 13 goals last fall. She was chosen First Team All-West Region, and was named First Team All-NWC for the second year in a row. She earned two assists and finished second in the conference with 28 total points.
Manset started all 20 games during the season and was a team captain. She scored two goals four times and earned at least one goal in six of Willamette's final seven games. She registered four game-winning goals. In addition, she ranked first in the NWC with 83 total shots and 51 shots on goal. She was chosen NWC Women's Soccer Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week four times. She scored the tying goal and the winning goal in a 2-1 overtime victory against University of Texas-Dallas on Sept. 10. She scored the first goal in WU's 2-1 triumph over University of Puget Sound on Nov. 4.
As a junior in 2016, she led Willamette's offense with seven goals and 14 total points. She took 39 shots and had 18 shots on goal. During her junior and senior seasons, she produced a combined total of 20 goals. In Manset's career with the Bearcats, she played in 79 games, including 62 starts. She scored 23 career goals and earned two assists for 48 total points. She took 183 total shots and placed 100 of her shots on goal. She registered nine game-winning goals.
As a student at Willamette, Manset has majored in Sociology and has qualified as an NWC Scholar-Athlete each of the past two years. She was a student intern at The Center for Hope and Safety, where she advocated and supported victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and human trafficking. She worked overnight hotline shifts to provide support and resources to survivors.
Hannah Swanson (Sr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) from the women's cross country and women's track and field teams also was chosen as a winner of the Jean Williams Award. Swanson competed at the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships three times (2014, 2015, 2017) and placed 95th out of 280 runners at the 2017 NCAA meet. She helped Willamette place 10th as a team in 2015 and 15th in the team standings in 2014.
At the NWC Cross Country Championships. Swanson placed third in 2016 and 2017 after placing 10th in 2015. She was First Team All-NWC twice and Second Team All-NWC once. She earned All-West Region honors all four seasons. The Bearcats won the NWC team title in 2015, and took first place in the West Region in 2014 and 2015.
Swanson competed at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships in 2016, as she placed 13th in the 1,500-meter run. She has been named All-NWC in the 1,500 three times, after placing second in 2015 and 2016 and taking third place in 2017. She earned All-West Region honors in the 1,500 in 2017.
This year, Swanson received All-NWC honors by placing second in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 10:44.86. She is ranked sixth on the Division III performance list this season in the steeplechase with her time at the NWC Championships and is likely to qualify for this year's NCAA Championships. She was fourth this season in the NWC in the 1,500-meter run. At Willamette, she ranks fifth all-time in the 1,500 and the steeplechase and is ninth in cross country at 5,000-meters.
Swanson is majoring in Biology. She has received All-Academic honors from the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) three times in cross country and two times in track and field. She is likely to be named All-Academic this spring in track and field. She has received a $2,500 grant from Willamette's Green Fund this year to develop conservation efforts and community awareness regarding the acorn woodpecker in Salem, Oregon.
Other Finalists: Cassie Tallman, swimming; Kylie Towry, basketball
J.H. Booth Award
The J.H. Booth Award is presented annually to the senior male student-athlete who most excelled in all areas of his career at Willamette by exemplifying and demonstrating outstanding leadership, scholarship and athleticism.
Eric Del Prado (Sr., 1B, El Segundo, CA/Loyola HS) from the baseball team was chosen to receive the J.H. Booth Award. This year, Del Prado earned Honorable Mention All-NWC recognition. He was chosen Second Team All-NWC in 2016.
This spring, he is batting .298 and has played in 44 games, all starts at first base. He has achieved 47 RBIs to rank 23rd in NCAA Division III, including a team-high seven sacrifice flies (2nd in Division III). He has pounded out 10 doubles, one triple and four home runs. He is second on the team with 168 at bats. On defense, he has registered a school record 376 putouts this season.
During his Willamette career, Del Prado has provided the Bearcats with a school record 1,072 putouts. He owns a .302 career batting average, while playing in 137 games with 122 starts. He has contributed 115 RBIs, 64 runs, 29 doubles and 13 home runs in his career. He ranks sixth all-time at WU in RBIs. He has been a team captain each of the last two seasons and was chosen for the NWC Sportsmanship team in 2016.
Del Prado helped the Bearcats reach the NWC Tournament championship game last season and contributed to Willamette winning the NWC Tournament title this year. The Bearcats have earned the NWC's automatic bid into the 2018 NCAA Division III Tournament, which will begin with regional action from May 17 through May 21.
As a Willamette student, Del Prado is majoring in Economics. He is he sports editor of the Willamette Collegian newspaper. He has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and at nearby Bush Elementary School. He also has volunteered at youth baseball camps in Atwater, California, and Willmar, Minnesota. He has been a teacher's assistant at a school for homeless children in San Diego, California.
Other Finalists: Alan Hernandez, soccer; Brendon McCullough, basketball; Nico Troplent, basketball
Women's Athlete of the Year
Awarded to a female student-athlete based on the her yearly stats and athletic accolades.
Kylie Towry (Sr., G, Medford, OR/South Medford HS) from the women's basketball team was named the winner. Towry finished her career as Willamette's all-time leading scorer with 1,433 points and was named First Team All-NWC this season. She was chosen Second Team All-NWC in 2015-16 and was Honorable Mention All-NWC in 2016-17
In addition to setting the scoring record, Towry also holds first place on the Bearcats' career lists with 1,179 field goal attempts, 293 three-point field goals made, and 750 three-point field goal attempts. She is second all-time with 474 field goals made and 79.3% career free throw shooting (101 of 125). She is listed third in career scoring average with 13.0 points per game and is tied for third with career 3-point accuracy of 39.1%.
This season, Towry set the Willamette single season scoring record with 479 points and led the NWC with 17.4 points per game. Towry reached double figures in 25 of 27 games, including 20 or more points 11 times. She recorded the second highest single game total in school history with 33 points against Pacific University on Feb. 9. Towry's 74 three-pointers in 2017-18 set a school record and ranked her first in the NWC. She shot 80.5% at the free throw line (99 of 12) to place fourth in the conference.
Other Finalists: Hope Deunas, track and field; Emmy Manset, soccer; Hannah Swanson, cross country/track and field
Men's Athlete of the Year
Awarded to a male student-athlete based on his yearly stats and athletic accolades.
Matt Steindorf (Jr., RHP, Granite Bay, CA/Granite Bay HS) from the baseball team was selected as the winner. He received First Team All-NWC honors for the second year in a row. He led the NWC and tied the Willamette record for wins at 10-3. As Willamette enters the 2018 NCAA Baseball Tournament, he is tied for second in the nation in victories and games started (13). He threw at least five innings in every start and went seven or more innings eight times. He earned six putouts and 18 assists on defense. In addition, he ranked first in the NWC with 94 2/3 innings pitched and was second with a 2.57 earned run average. He was fourth with 63 strikeouts. He held opponents to a .237 batting average.
Steindorf threw four complete games this year. One of the complete games was in the first round of the NWC Tournament for the second consecutive season, as he earned a 6-3 victory over Linfield College. After defeating Linfield, Steindorf pitched six innings two days later in the NWC championship game, helping Willamette win 5-3 against George Fox University. Against Pacific University on Feb. 24, he struck out a career-high 14 batters and pitched nine innings in a 2-1, 10-inning win.
During three seasons at Willamette, Steindorf has achieved a 24-7 record and a 3.34 earned run average over 258 1/3 innings. His 24 wins rank fourth all-time for the Bearcats. He has registered 160 career strikeouts for ninth on WU's all-time list.
Finalists: Connor Bailey, baseball; Keith Carlson, cross country/track and field; Sam Hinton, golf
Women's Individual Performance of the Year
Awarded to a female student-athlete for a single play or performance that made the most impact on the competition, regardless of the outcome.
Jaiden Mason (Fr., S/OPP, Charlotte, NC/Charlotte Christian School) from the volleyball team was selected as the winner. During Willamette's matches against conference foes Whitman College on Oct. 20 and Whitworth University on Oct. 21, Mason recorded back-to-back triple doubles. She finished the match against Whitman with 14 kills, 18 assists and 14 digs. She also hit .314 for the Bearcats. Against Whitworth, she provided 11 kills, 17 assists and 12 digs, while hitting .235. Her two-match totals were 25 kills, 35 assists and 26 digs with a .275 hitting percentage.
Other Finalists: Jocelyn Glasgo, softball, versus University of Puget Sound on April 21; Hannah Swanson, track and field, versus Corban on March 15; Kylie Towry, basketball, versus Lewis & Clark College/George Fox University on Dec. 1-2
Men's Individual Performance of the Year
Awarded to a male student-athlete for a single play or performance that made the most impact on the competition, regardless of the outcome.
Connor Bailey (Jr., LF, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) from the baseball team was chosen the winner. In a three-game series on the road at Lewis & Clark College on April 14-15, Bailey smacked five home runs and one double, while going 7 for 13 at the plate (.538) with a 1.769 slugging percentage and two walks. He scored seven runs and recorded 10 RBIs. He belted two homers in the first game, one in the second game, and two in the htird game. On defense, he contributed five putouts with no errors.
Other Finalists: Benjamin Jahn, football, versus Lewis & Clark on Sept. 30; Brendon McCullough, basketball, versus Trinity University (Texas) on Dec. 29; Matt Steindorf, baseball, versus Pacific University on Feb. 25.
Women's Team Service Award
Awarded to a female team that has embodied the Willamette University motto "Non nobis solum nati sumus -- Not unto ourselves are we born." This team has exhibited selflessness in its service to others on campus and in the community.
The women's swimming team received the award. Bearcat swimmers volunteered at stations throughout South Salem during the first ever Salem Rotary Triathlon. The team also helped at 1000 Soles during Willamette's Into the Streets day. Several athletes were coaches for Marion County Special Olympics.
Other Women's Finalist: Basketball
Men's Team Service Award
Awarded to a male team that has embodied the Willamette University motto "Non nobis solum nati sumus -- Not unto ourselves are we born." This team has exhibited selflessness in its service to others on campus and in the community.
The men's basketball team received the award. During the year, seniors on the team gave character development speeches entitled "Teams Of Men" to young men at the Pro Hoops Camp hosted by Willamette and to boys basketball programs at North Salem High School and McKay High School. All of the team members who will be returning for 2018-19 participated in Willamette's Into the Streets by working with 1000 Soles and Habitat for Humanity. Head Coach Kip Ioane and Assistant Coach Nathan Covill gave speeches and volunteered in the Salem-Keizer School District throughout the year.
Other Men's Finalists: Baseball, Football Swimming
Women's Bearcat Spirit
Awarded to a female student-athlete who has embodied the experience of being a Willamette Bearcat. She displays Bearcat pride and supports not only her own team, but also the other teams and the Athletics Department as a whole.
Jewell Sparks (Sr., San Francisco, CA/Lick Wilmerding HS) from the women's track and field team was named the winner. She is active in following and supporting all of Willamette's teams. She attends many athletic events, and always brings great enthusiasm. She also provides support by recognizing the successes of Bearcat athletes through social media.
Other Finalists: Kea Gier, softball; Kali Vickery, basketball; Morgan Webster, volleyball
Men's Bearcat Spirit
Awarded to a male student-athlete who has embodied the experience of being a Willamette Bearcat. He displays Bearcat pride and supports not only his own team, but aso the other teams and the Athletics Department as a whole.
Troy Conway (Sr., 2B, Moorpark, CA/Moorpark HS) from the baseball team was selected to receive the award. He leads his fellow team members in their efforts to visibly support other Willamette teams by attending a multitude of games and events. He provides positive encouragement to Willamette's athletes. He is a key reason baseball players are seen so often at home games, sometimes arriving only a short time after finishing practice.
Other Finalists: Sal Lopez, football; Quinn Nottage, soccer; Nathan Sherfey, basketball
Women's Moment of the Year
Awarded to the women's team or individual with the most memorable moment of the year. The moment centers around a point in a competition or a season that leaves an impact when you look back and reflect on the athletic year.
Ashley Evans (Sr., PG, Canby, OR/Canby HS) from the women's basketball team was named the winner. In Willamette's Northwest Conference Tournament semifinal game against 13th-ranked Whitman College on Feb. 16, Evans hit a 3-point field goal from the right side with 16.6 seconds remaining to break a tie score and give the Bearcats a 55-52 victory. "Brittany Kochenderfer was the one who got my girl to bite," Evans said after the game. "I knew the shot clock was running down, so I thought 'I just have to shoot this.'"
Other Finalists: Emma Liband, volleyball, versus Lewis & Clark on Nov. 3; Sylvia Marr, tennis, versus College of Idaho on March 17; Kylie Towry, basketball, versus Puget Sound on Feb. 2
Men's Moment of the Year
Awarded to the men's team or individual with the most memorable moment of the year. The moment centers around a point in a competition or a season that leaves an impact when you look back and reflect on the athletic year.
Sam Hinton from the men's golf team was selected as the winner. Hinton sank a 25-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole to take first place at the NWC Tournament on April 22. He carded 69-74--143 to tie for the lead at the end the regulation 36 holes. Hinton and George Fox golfer Alex Plusquellec tied on the first playoff hole at #17, before moving on to #18 for the second playoff hole. Hinton sank his birdie putt from just on the fringe of the green. His first place finish helped Hinton earn First Team All-NWC honors.
Other Finalists: Connor Bailey, baseball, versus Pacific Lutheran University on March 30; Derek Ludwig, swimming, at NWC Championships on Feb. 11; Max Berner-Hays, soccer, versus Pacific on Oct. 22
Women's Underclassman of the Year
Awarded to a female freshman or sophomore student-athlete who excelled and showed exceptional potential for her upcoming years as a Bearcat.
Hope Duenas (So., Covina, CA/Covina HS) from the women's track and field team was chosen as the winner. Duenas won the Northwest Conference title in the discus throw this year with a top mark of 136' 3". She won by over 10 feet. Earlier in the season at the Willamette Invitational, she recorded her career-best toss of 147' 2", which places her second on Willamette's all-time list. She is ranked 12th in the nation this season and has an excellent change to qualify for the 2018 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
Also this season, Duenas has achieved a personal record distance of 151' 0" in the hammer throw. She earned the mark at the Willamette Opener. She is fifth all-time at Willamette in the hammer. During her freshman year with the Bearcats, she placed third in the discus and was seventh in the hammer at the 2017 NWC Championships.
Other Finalists: Jocelyn Glasgo, softball; Shanna Keil, soccer; Jaiden Mason, volleyball
Men's Underclassman of the Year
Awarded to a male freshman or sophomore student-athlete who excelled and showed exceptional potential for his upcoming years as a Bearcat.
Keaton Beckmann (Fr., Salem, OR/Sprague HS) from the men's track and field team was chosen for the award. Beckmann was named NWC Freshman of the Year during the 2018 NWC Championships after earning third place in the long jump, third place in the 400-meter dash, and fifth place in the decathlon. His top distance in the long jump covered 22' 6.25". His time in the final of the 400-meter dash 49.75 seconds. In the NWC decathlon competition, Beckmann registered a score of 5,974 points.
Beckmann's top mark in the long jump this season was 22' 8.75" Chico State Invitational. He was timed in a personal record of 49.60 seconds in the prelims of the 400-meter dash at the NWC Championships. He earned a top score of 6,184 points in the decathlon during the Willamette vs. Corban Dual. He ranked 18th in NCAA Division III in the decathlon and is 47th in the long jump.
Other Finalists: Max Berner-Hays, soccer; Ben Hedman, swimming; Alex Stevenson, football
Academic Teams of the Year
Awarded to the men's and women's teams who collectively excelled in the classroom. The teams who attain the highest cumulative grade point average through the fall semester receive this award.
Women's Award -- The women's soccer team received the award with a cumulative team grade point average of 3.57 through the fall semester.
Other Women's Finalists: Cross Country, Softball, Track and Field
Men's Award -- The men's cross country team received the award with a cumulative team grade point average of 3.29 through the fall semester.
Other Men's Finalists: Baseball, Basketball, Golf
Senior Scholar-Athlete Awards
Awarded to a male and female student-athlete who excels through the rigors of Willamette Athletics. The male and female student-athletes who attain the highest grade point average through the fall semester receive this award.
Women's Award -- Bridgette Peirce (Sr., Reno, NV/Earl Wooster HS) from the women's track and field team was selected to receive the award.
Women's Award -- Kelsey Walker (Sr., Westerville, OH/Westerville North HS) from the women's soccer and women's basketball teams was selected to receive the award.
Men's Award -- Mason Fessler (Sr., DH/INF, Woodburn, OR/Blanchet Catholic School) from the baseball team was chosen for the award.
Men's Award -- Kevin Martz (Sr., WR, Salem, OR/South Salem HS/Claremont McKenna College) from the football team was chosen for the award.
SAAC Bearcat Cup
Competition for the Bearcat Cup is designed to increase school spirit by Willamette student-athletes and to encourage participation on campus and in Salem. Points are awarded to teams for attending home and away games, participating in community service, attending campus events, providing sibling teams with a gift package, etc. The team with the highest point total wins the Bearcat Cup
The baseball team received the award for its exceptional support of other teams and campus activities.
Julie Abendroth, Ed.D., Professor of the Year
In memory of Professor Julie Abendroth, whose dedication to Willamette student-athletes was not limited to the classroom. She was a mentor and a friend of our student-athletes.
Presented by the Willamette Student-Athlete Advisory Committee to a Willamette University professor demonstrating devotion to the pursuit of excellence by our student-athletes in both academics and athletics.
Dr. Richard Moy, visiting assistant professor of mathematics, was chosen for the award. Dr. Moy appreciates the successes achieved by Willamette's athletes and teams. He is thrilled that about 25 percent of his students are athletes. In addition to following the athletic endeavors of his students, he also works to arrange for make-up tests and make-up assignments when student-athletes are involved with athletic competitions on the road.
Alumnus of the Year
Presented by the Willamette University coaches in honor of an alumnus who demonstrates a lifelong connection and commitment to Bearcat Athletics, its coaches and its student-athletes.
Nelson Lomax was chosen as the award winner. Lomax was a player on the 1993-94 Willamette men's basketball team that reached the NAIA Division II national quarterfinals and ended the season with a 24-6 record. Later, he was an assistant coach with the Bearcats for 13 seasons. He coached from 2000-01 through 2010-11 and returned in 2014-15 and 2015-16. His work as an assistant coach at Willamette resulted in great contributions to the basketball program. He is employed by Landmark Professional Mortgage Company in Salem.
Sue J. Rauch Distinguished Service to Athletics Award
Presented by the Willamette University coaches in memory of Sue Rauch, a dedicated member of the Willamette community, whose continuous support and commitment served a vital role in the success of the Bearcat Athletics Department, its coaches and it's student-athletes.
Ron Williams, a bus driver with Experience Oregon, was selected as the award winner. Williams has been driving Willamette basketball teams to away games for years and this season he drove the basketball teams to every away game. The basketball athletes and coaches felt that Ron was a part of the Bearcat teams. He was very supportive of Willamette Athletics and always had positive things to say when the players got back on the bus, no matter the outcome. Even on the longer trips, Ron made sure the ride went smoothly.
