May 31, 2006
BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Two members of the Western Washington University track and field team, discus thrower Jessica Telleria and pole vaulter Scott Romney, are the school's respective Female and Male Scholar-Athletes of the Year for 2005-06.
The awards recognize Viking student-athletes who best demonstrate excellence both on the playing field and in the classroom.
Telleria, a senior from Boise, Idaho (Capital High School), is a biochemistry major with a 3.78 grade point average (4.0 scale). Romney, a senior from Gig Harbor, is a computer science major with a 3.42 GPA (4.0 scale).
Telleria placed 10th in the discus at this year's NCAA Division II National Championships after finishing 14th in 2005. She ranked as high as third nationally during the regular season with a school-record mark of 156-2, set at the WWU/Ralph Vernacchia Team Meet on Apr. 1.
On May 6, Telleria won the discus at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference meet for the fourth straight year, becoming the first athlete in any event to accomplish that feat. She also placed second in the high-performance session of the University of Oregon Invitational on Apr. 22 with a mark of 153-9.
Telleria, a three-time GNAC academic all-star, will attend Stanford Medical School this fall.
Romney was a four-time GNAC academic all-star.
A four-year letter winner, Romney set a school outdoor record in the pole vault this spring, clearing a conference-best 15-11. He won the GNAC outdoor title and took league indoor crowns in 2006 with a meet-record 16-1/2 and in 2004.
WWU 2005-06 SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
MALE
Cross Country
Keith Lemay, No.3, Sophomore, Lynden, WA/Lynden Christian, 3.68, Physical Education
U.S. Cross Country Coaches Association National Scholar-Athlete and GNAC academic all-star. Placed 29th at West Regional and 21st at GNAC Championships. Two-year letter winner.
Soccer
Ben Dragavon, Goalkeeper, Senior, Monroe, WA, 3.09, Physical Education/Pre-Physical Therapy
Honorable mention GNAC all-star after earning second-team honors as junior and first-team accolades as freshman and sophomore. Posted a career school-record 18 shutouts. Four-year letter winner.
Football
Duncan Sherrard, Running Back, Senior, Seattle, WA/Roosevelt, 3.33, Business Administration
Three-time GNAC Academic all-star ... Ran for 503 yards and three touchdowns, finishing fourth among Western career rushing leaders with 2,761 yards. ... Four-year letter winner.
Basketball
Grant Dykstra, Guard/Forward, Senior, Everson, WA/Lynden Christian, 3.07, Business Administration/Finance
V Foundation Comeback Award winner. Consensus All-American, being first-team NABC and Daktronics, second-team Basketball Times and third-team Division II Bulletin. Daktronics West Region Player of the Year. Repeator on all-West Region team and all-GNAC first-team. Averaged 20.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists and team-high 2.0 steals, and was squad's top 3-point shooter, hitting 43.7 percent while making school-record 101 treys in 231 attempts. Scored a career-high 40 points against Humboldt State, tied for fourth-best in school history. Completed career as school's all-time scoring leader with 1,844 points, and ranks fourth in assists (404), sixth in rebounds (576) and seventh in steals (210). Started every game for four years, setting school record with 113 consecutive starts, and also holds career records for field goals made (646) and attempted (1340), 3-pointers made (279), minutes played (3,734) and fouls (334). Four-year letter winner. USBWA Most Courageous Award winner in 2005.
Golf
Sean Packer, No.2, Sophomore, Sumner, WA (Auburn-Riverside), 3.50, Business Administration
Honorable mention Golf Coaches of America/NCAA Division II All-American. Placed sixth at West Regional and won playoff at NCAA II West/Northwest Super Regional to attend NCAA II National Championships where he tied for 35th. Had 73.4 scoring average. Two-year letter winner and two-time national tournament participant.
Track
Scott Romney, Pole Vault, Senior, Gig Harbor, WA, 3.42, Computer Science
Four-time GNAC academic all-star. Set school outdoor record in pole vault, clearing conference-best 15-11. Won GNAC outdoor title and took league indoor titles in 2006 with meet record 16-1/2 and 2004. Four-year letter winner.
FEMALE
Cross Country
Laura Trevellyan, No.1, Senior, Vashon, WA/Vashon Island, 3.58, Interdisciplinary Concepts
2005 U.S. Cross Country Coaches Association National Scholar-Athlete and GNAC academic all-star for third straight year. Earned West Region all-star honors for third straight season by placing ninth. Finished fourth at GNAC Championships to earn all-star recognition for third consecutive year. Top Western finisher in every race. Also, GNAC Academic all-star for third time and 2005 U.S. Cross Country Coaches Association National Scholar-Athlete. Finished 22nd at 2004 NCAA II Championships to earn All-America honors for second straight year. Placed 21st in 2003 to become first Western All-American since 1993 with best finish at nationals by a Viking since 1987. Four-year letter winner.
Volleyball
Jamie Petersen, Setter, Senior, Kent, WA/Kentwood, 3.57, Business Administration and Finance
GNAC Academic all-star for third straight year. Had 97 kills and 203 digs. Four-year letter winner.
Soccer
Lizzy Page, Midfielder, Senior, Sammamish, WA/Eastake, 3.37, Business Administration and Marketing
GNAC Academic all-star for third straight year. Honorable mention GNAC all-star for second consecutive season after earning second-team honors as sophomore. Had one goal and tied for team lead with five assists. Four-year letter winner.
Basketball
Samantha Hubbard, Guard, Senior, White Salmon, WA/Carbonado, 3.69, Mathematics
GNAC Academic all-star for third straight year. Averaged 5.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and team-best 4.3 assists per game. Helped Vikings to 27-2 record, GNAC title (18-0), school-record 21-game winning streak, and semifinals of NCAA II West Regional. Four-year letter winner.
Softball
Mandy Harvey, Second Base, Senior, Coeur d'Alene, ID/Lake City, 3.41, Physical Education & Health
GNAC academic all-star for third straight year. Second-team GNAC all-star for second consecutive year. Hit .343 with 6 doubles, five triples, one home run, 22 runs batted in and team-best 31 runs scored. Led team with 15 steals. Finished career with .317 batting average, being third among career leaders in triples (12), fourth in runs scored (89), hits (164) and steals (52) and ninth in RBIs (54). Four-year letter winner.
Golf
Katja Trygg, No.1, Senior, Bainbridge Island, WA, 3.19, Physical Education
First-team National Golf Coaches Association All-American and West Region all-star for second straight year. Medalist at three regular-season tournaments and eight during four-year career. Placed fifth at NCAA II National Championship, the highest finish in school history, helping Vikings place fifth in team standings. Tied for 15th at nationals in 2005 and placed 16th in 2004. Ranked fifth nationally (Golfstat) in scoring average at 75.27. Placed third at West Regional, helping Vikings place second. Four-year letter winner and three-time national tournament participant.
Crew
Samantha Marikis, bow - Varsity eight, Sophomore, Republic, WA, 3.35, Physical Education
Helped Vikings win West Regional and NCAA II National titles. The Vikings' eight ranked No.1 in the CRCA/NCAA II National Poll all season long. Two-year letter winner.
Track
Jessica Telleria, Throws, Senior, Boise, ID/Capital, 3.78, Biochemistry
Made second trip to NCAA II National Championships, placing 10th after being 14th in 2005. Set school record with national provisional qualifying mark of 156-2. Became league's first four-time event winner at GNAC Championships, improving own meet record with mark of 147-9. Three time GNAC academic all-star. Four-year letter winner.
WWU SCHOLAR ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
MALE
1999 Erik Meyer, track
2000 Marty Juergens, football
2001 Erik Totten, football
2002 Erik Totten, football
2003 Greg Dykstra, football
2004 Rob White, football
2005 Rob White, football
2006 Scott Romney, track
FEMALE
1999 Sarah Hiss, track
2000 Sarah Hiss, track
2001 Kelsi Giswald, crew
2002 Liz Bishop, volleyball
2003 Liz Bishop, volleyball
2004 Liz Bishop, volleyball
2005 Jodi Gerald, basketball
Meghan Evoy, volleyball
2006 Jessica Telleria, track
