May 26, 2009

Eastern Washington athletics honored and entertained on historic evening

The Eastern Washington University athletics department held its inaugural EeeWoos event on Tuesday evening (May 26), as several student-athletes, coaches and other notables were honored on this historic evening.

Davin Perry, the department's electronic media coordinator, was the brainchild of the event and compiled the numerous entertaining video clips that were presented. Marc Hughes, Eastern's head golf coach and special events coordinator, served as the master of ceremonies.

The impressively-dressed evening's attendants, numbering 500, visited and had Hors d'oeuvres prior to entering the spacious Showalter Auditorium for the festivities.

Among the highlights of the evening included an entertaining video introduction of Eastern's mascot, Swoop, a live dance performance by the football linemen and a live musical tribute that included former men's basketball coach Ray Giacoletti performing.

The volleyball squad was named the Best Team tonight, while football player Greg Peach was honored as Best Male Athlete, and volleyball player Hayley Hills was named the Best Female Athlete. Volleyball head coach Miles Kydd was named the Coach of the Year.

The Best Game/Competition went to the football team for its 33-26 road win over Big Sky Conference champion Weber State in the final game of its season. The Best Play also went to the football team, as Brynsen Brown was honored for his 43-yard touchdown reception at Colorado.

Cross country runner Paul Limpf earned Best Record-Breaking Performance for his 23:33 run to win the Sundodger Invitational and set a course record. The Best Moment award went to the volleyball team winning at Sacramento State, 25-19, 23-25, 25-20, 36-34, to clinch the league's regular-season title.

The Male Newcomer of the Year was men's basketball player Benny Valentine, and the Female Newcomer of the Year award went to track and field athlete Michelle Coombs.

The Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year was football player Marcus Walker, and the Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year accolades were earned by track and field performer Bonnie Berscheid.

The SAAC Triple-Threat Citizen was football player Chris Thomas.

Ryan Kelley received a video tribute after having overcome bacterial meningitis a year ago to finish out his football career with an impressive senior season while staying on course to graduate.

An emotional standing ovation accompanied an honoring of Eastern Washington's "No. 1 fan," Terry Stratton. At that time, he was given a new jersey to wear during home games by Kydd and head women's basketball coach Wendy Schuller.

The athletics department's administrative secretary, Judy Crabb, was also honored and received a heartfelt ovation.

The EeeWoos are modeled after ESPN's ESPY Awards.

Here is a list of the winners and nominees in each of the categories. The winner is denoted in bold and is listed first. The rest of the nominees follow the winner and are listed in alphabetical order.

Best Team

• Women's Volleyball
• Men's Cross Country
• Men's Tennis
• Men's Track and Field

Best Male Athlete

• Greg Peach, football
• David Howard, track and field
• Paul Limpf, cross country
• Aaron Mettler, track and field
• Nico Riego de Dios, tennis

Best Female Athlete

• Hayley Hills, volleyball
• Michlle Coombs, track and field
• Krystal Deyo, track and field
• Lauryn Koelzer, soccer
• Nicole Luckenbach, track and field

Coach of the Year

• Miles Kydd, women's volleyball
• Darren Haworth, men's tennis
• Stan Kerr, men's track and Field
• Chris Zeller, men's cross country

Best Game/Competition

• Football at Weber State, Nov. 22
• Women's Soccer vs. Montana, Oct. 31
• Men's Tennis Doubles Match vs. Sacramento State, Feb. 20
• Men's Track and Field at Big Sky Indoor Championships, Feb. 27-28
• Women's Volleyball at Portland State, Nov. 15

Best Play

• Brynsen Brown, football, Sept. 6 at Colorado, drug defender final 20 yards of 43-yard touchdown reception
• Whitney Brannan, women's soccer, Oct. 31 vs. Montana, scored winning goal of 3-2 overtime win 16 seconds after substituting into the game
• Alysha Cook, women's volleyball, Oct. 18 vs. Sacramento State, served four consecutive aces
• Ashley Renz, women's soccer, Oct. 24 vs. Northern Arizona, saved a penalty kick

Best Record-Breaking Performance

• Paul Limpf, men's cross country, Sept. 20 at Sundodger Invitational, set course record with a 23:33 run on the 8,000-meter course, winning the event
• Michelle Coombs, women's track and field, set meet record at Big Sky Outdoor Championship en route to claiming the javelin competition with a toss of 163-1
• Mandy Daniels, women's volleyball, set school record for digs per set in a single season (4.89) and in a career (4.49), had 34 digs at Sacramento State, most ever by an Eagle in a match fewer than five sets long
• Art Karas, men's tennis, set school record with 60 career singles victories, final one came in straight sets and helped EWU to a 4-0 defeat of Montana State in Big Sky semifinals
• Lauryn Koelzer, women's soccer, school-record seven goals in 2008, 10 in two years as an Eagle, the third-highest total in Eastern annals
• Greg Peach, football, set school record for sacks in a career (35 1/2) and in a single season (18), placing second in Big Sky history in both categories

Best Moment

• Women's Volleyball, Nov. 21 at Sacramento State, team outlasts six-time defending Big Sky champion in the regular-season finale, 25-19, 23-25, 25-20, 36-34, to clinch the league's regular-season title; fourth set had 26 ties
• Paul Limpf, men's cross country, Nov. 15 at NCAA Championships, becomes just second men's runner in Eastern Washington history to compete in the event, finishes 73rd of 252 in the elite field, qualified for the event by placing 11th at the Regionals
• Greg Peach, football, Dec. 18 in Chattanooga, Tenn., Peach is awarded the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the top defensive player in the NCAA Championship Subdivision ranks
• Women's Soccer, Oct. 31 vs. Montana, team wins second straight game, 3-2 in overtime; Whitney Brannan scores game winner 16 seconds after entering the game, Lauryn Koelzer sets single-season goal-scoring record to give EWU a 2-1 lead with her seventh score of the year
• Track and Field, Feb. 13-14 at Husky Classic, team is involved in a road accident, then sees two qualify for Big Sky Indoor Championships and three record personal best marks

Male Newcomer of the Year

• Benny Valentine, basketball
• David Howard, track and field
• Matt and Zach Johnson, football
• Kurt Williams, track and field

Female Newcomer of the Year

• Michelle Coombs, track and field
• Sara Byrne, soccer
• Chene Cooper, basketball
• Brianna Okoro, track and field

Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year

• Marcus Walker, football
• Andy Genao, basketball
• Art Karas, tennis
• Cameron Moore, track and field

Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year

• Bonnie Berscheid, track and field
• Rachel Berger, tennis
• Amy Bratvold, basketball
• Lillian Bourret, soccer
• Abby Jensen, soccer
• Marli Mikulecky, golf

SAAC Triple Threat Citizen (based on athletics, academics and volunteer work)

• Chris Thomas, football
• Bonnie Berscheid, women's track and field
• Christy Borders, women's track and field
• Lillian Bourret, women's soccer
• Julie Piper, women's basketball