LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.’s Division of Intercollegiate Athletics honored its student-athletes Wednesday night at the annual Student-Athletes Awards Banquet with track stars
Josh Linker and
Vivien Wadeck taking home top honors.
Linker captured the Frank J. Candida Award as the top male athlete, while Wadeck picked up the Billie Jean King Award as the top female athlete in the banquet held in the Golden Eagle Ballroom.
For a second consecutive year, the Golden Eagles honored their student-athletes who will be participating in graduation ceremonies in June. President Dr. James M. Rosser was on hand to present ceremonial sashes to the graduates along with Associate Athletics Director Sheila Hudson. Director of Athletics Dan Bridges served as the Master of Ceremonies.
The Golden Eagles celebrated a successful 2008-09 campaign that featured a seventh-place national finish by women’s track, a second-place conference finish, fourth-place regional finish and 13th-place national finish by women’s cross country, a trip to the regional championship match and a third straight conference tournament appearance by men’s soccer, a fifth consecutive trip to the regional semi-finals by women’s volleyball and an appearance in the four-team conference championship tournament by baseball.
Cal State L.A. student-athletes combined for 14 All-America awards (Wadeck in cross country,
Gabriela Bulawczyk and
Ursula Vieira in volleyball,
Ruben Hansen in men’s soccer,
Moriah Jubrey and
Sierra Backus in indoor track and field, Linker in men’s track, Wadeck, Jubrey (2),
Shianne Smith, Backus,
Karla Alburez and the 4x100 relay team of Backus, Jubrey,
Tanyshia Ridley and Smith in women’s track).
The Golden Eagles also picked up one CCAA Athlete of the Year (Wadeck in cross country), three CCAA Newcomers of the Year (Wadeck in cross country and women’s track and field and Bulawczyk in volleyball), one CCAA Freshman of the Year (
Tuekeha Huntley in women’s track and field), one West Region Assistant Coach of the Year (
Kendra Reimer), 46 All-CCAA awards and 14 conference Player of the Week awards.
In addition to the top male and female Athlete of the Year awards, there were six other awards handed out by the division.
Chris Matzner of baseball won the Exceptional Student-Athlete of the Year award for men and
Ursula Vieira of volleyball won the Exceptional Student Athlete of the Year award for women.
Tobias Hummel of men’s soccer and
Amy McMahon of volleyball won the Academic Achievement awards and
Rufino Franco of men’s soccer and
Bojana Ducanovic of women’s tennis won the Dr. Hal Charnofsky Awards that are given by the CCAA.
2009 Cal State L.A. Athletics Video Slideshow
The complete list of award winners follows:
2009 CSULA Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Team Awards
Baseball
Men’s Basketball
Women’s Basketball
Men’s Track and Field
Women’s Track and Field
Women’s Cross Country
Women’s Soccer
Men’s Soccer
Women’s Tennis
Women’s Volleyball
2009 CSULA Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Division Awards
Frank J. Candida Award (Male Athlete of the Year)
Billie Jean King Award (Female Athlete of the Year)
Exceptional Student-Athlete of the Year (Male)
Exceptional Student-Athlete of the Year (Female)
Academic Achievement Award (Male)
Academic Achievement Award (Female)
Dr. Hal Charnofsky Memorial Award (CCAA Award)