May 30, 2007

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Audrey Coon, who rowed in the varsity eight on a team that won a third straight national championship, and Keith Lemay, a standout runner in men's cross country and track and field, are Western Washington University's respective Female and Male Scholar-Athletes of the Year for 2006-07.

The awards recognize Viking student-athletes who best demonstrate excellence both on the playing field and in the classroom.

Coon, a sophomore from Kenai, Alaska, is a Spanish/elementary education major with a 3.93 (4.0 scale) grade point average. A 2005 graduate of Kenai Central High School, she was a Collegiate Rowing Coaches of America National Scholar-Athlete as well as a first-team ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA District 8 and GNAC academic all-star.

Coon was the No.2 seat in the varsity eight that ranked No.1 in the CRCA/NCAA II National Poll all season long and was victorious at the West Regional and NCAA II National Championships.

Lemay, a junior from Blaine, was a GNAC academic all-star in both cross country and track for the second consecutive season. He posted a NCAA II national provisional qualifying time of 3:53.89 in the 1,500 meters, the seventh-best time in school history.

Lemay, who graduate from Lynden Christian High School in 2004, finished second in the 1,500 at the GNAC outdoor track and field championships. He also helped the Vikings to the GNAC cross country title last fall, placing 11th individually, and finished 28th at regionals as Western was fourth, coming within two points of a trip to nationals.

WWU 2006-07 SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

MALE

Cross Country

Chad Portwood, No.2, Senior, Cheney, WA/Western State, 3.20. Computer Science

Placed sixth at GNAC Championships to earn league all-star honors and finished 21st at NCAA II West Regional. U.S. Cross Country Coaches Association National Scholar-Athlete and GNAC academic all-star. Western won the league title and placed fourth at the West Regional, finished two points shy of a trip to nationals. Two-year letter winner

Soccer

Joel Grossman, Midfielder, Junior, Anacortes, WA, 3.82, Business Management

GNAC Academic all-star. Played in all 20 games, scoring two goals. Three-year letter winner.

Football

Steve Davis, Safety/Linebacker, Sophomore, Kennewick, WA/Kamiakin, 3.21, Business Administration

North Central Conference Academic Honor Roll. Led team with 69 tackles. Two-year letter winner.

Basketball

Calin Schell, Forward, Sophomore, Chelan, WA/Chelan, 3.57, Manufacturing Engineering Technology

GNAC Academic All-Star. Averaged 7.4 points and 6.4 rebounds. Two-year letter winner.

Golf

Sean Packer, No.1, Junior, Sumner, WA (Auburn-Riverside), 3.18, Business Administration & Marketing

GNAC Academic all-star. Led team with 73.9 scoring average, helping Vikings to ninth straight appearance at NCAA II West Regional where they placed seventh. Had three top 10 finishes during regular-season. Three-year letter winner.

Track

Keith Lemay, Middle Distance, Junior, Blaine, WA/Lynden Christian, 3.67, Physical Education

GNAC academic all-star for second straight year. Posted NCAA Division II national provisional qualifying time of 3:53.89 in 1,500 meters. Placed second at GNAC championships. Three-year letter winner.

FEMALE

Cross Country

Marissa Harshman, No.3, Senior, Vancouver, WA/Heritage, 3.44, Journalism

Placed 37th at GNAC Championships in helping Western finish fourth. Two-year letter winner.

Volleyball

Tiana Roma, Middle Blocker, Sophomore, Edmonds, WA/Edmonds-Woodway, 3.77, Biology

First-team ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA College Division District 8 and GNAC Academic all-star. Second-team GNAC all-star. Led team in attack percentage (.297) and was second in blocks per game (0.94) and in kills per game (2.93). Two-year letter winner.

Soccer

Amanda Font, Midfielder, Junior, Federal Way, WA/Decatur, 3.93, Computer Science

Second-team ESPN the Magazine/CoSIDA District 8 Academic all-star and GNAC academic all-star for second straight year. First-team GNAC all-star. Helped Vikings to first NCAA II West Regional appearance and first post-season berth since 1996, scoring 14 points (5 goals and 4 assists). Western had 14-5-1 record, win total being second-highest in school history and best since 1984. Three-year letter winner.

Basketball

Liz McCarrell, Guard, Junior, Ferndale, WA/Ferndale, 3.00, Human Services

Averaged 5.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and team-best 4.3 assists per game. Helped Vikings to 18-11 record and first round of NCAA II West Regional. Two-year letter winner.

Softball

Nicole Walker, Shortstop, Senior, Kenmore, WA/Juanita, 3.63, Community Health

Three-time GNAC academic all-star. Second-team GNAC all-star. Hit .304 with four home runs and nine doubles, scoring 28 runs and driving in 11. Four-year letter winner.

Golf

Breanna Carmichael, No.2, Freshman, Tacoma, WA/Bellarmine, 3.11, Undeclared

Had 80.2 scoring average and tied for 10th at West Regional. Helped Vikings to No.14 ranking in final NGCA Top 25 and fifth straight regional appearance where they placed fourth. Finished among top 10 in two regular-season tournaments. Three-year letter winner.

Rowing

Audrey Coon, No.2 seat - varsity eight, Sophomore, Kenai, AK/Kenai Central, 3.93, Spanish/Elementary Education

Collegiate Rowing Coaches of America National Scholar-Athlete. First-team ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA District 8 and GNAC academic all-star. 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

Heidi Dimmitt, Sprints and Hurdles, Sophomore, Wenatchee, WA/Wenatchee, 3.79, Chemistry

GNAC academic all-star. Won 400-meter hurdles at GNAC Championships in NCAA II national provisional qualifying time of 1:02.89. Competed at national championships. Two-year letter winner.

WWU SCHOLAR ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
MALE
1999 Erik Meyer, track2000 Marty Juergens, football2001 Erik Totten, football2002 Erik Totten, football2003 Greg Dykstra, football2004 Rob White, football2005 Rob White, football2006 Scott Romney, track2007 Keith Lemay, track
FEMALE
1999 Sarah Hiss, track2000 Sarah Hiss, track2001 Kelsi Giswald, rowing2002 Liz Bishop, volleyball2003 Liz Bishop, volleyball2004 Liz Bishop, volleyball2005 Jodi Gerald, basketball     Meghan Evoy, volleyball2006 Jessica Telleria, track2007 Audrey Coon, rowing