June 1, 2007
BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Volleyball libero Courtney Schneider, a junior from Snohomish who was named to two All-America teams and led the nation in digs, and varsity eight rower Lindsay Mann-King, a senior from Colville who earned All-America honors on three national championships teams, have been named the Western Washington University Female co-Athletes of the Year for 2006-07.
The Vikings' Male Athlete of the Year is runner Anthony Tomsich, a sophomore from Fairbanks, Alaska, who earned All-America recognition in both indoor and outdoor track and field and received all-star honors in cross country on a team that barely missed going to nationals.
Mann-King was a three-time Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association NCAA II Pocock All-American. As the No.7 seat in a varsity eight that was ranked No.1 nationally all season long, she helped the Vikings to a third straight national championship. It is the first time a NCAA school in any division has achieved that feat.
The team captain and a 2002 graduate of Colville High School, Mann-King was in Western's top boat for four years. She is just the ninth athlete in school history in all sports to receive All-America honors three or more years.
Schneider, a 2004 graduate of Snohomish High School, averaged a NCAA Division II-leading 7.66 digs per game, setting school and Great Northwest Athletic Conference records for digs with 666. That helped the Vikings to an 18-7 record and the first round of the Pacific Regional, the school's first post-season appearance in three years.
Schneider was named to two All-America teams, being a first-team Daktronics choice and third-team American Volleyball Coaches Association selection. She also was a first-team Daktronics and AVCA Pacific Region all-star and a unanimous first-team GNAC all-star.
Already having a school-record 1,844 career digs, Schneider has her sights set next season on the GNAC career mark of 2,008. Schneider, who also set a school match record with 49 digs versus Seattle Pacific on Nov. 2, 2006, already is the GNAC career leader in digs per game at 6.71.
Schneider also is a standout in the classroom, being a second-team ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA College Division District 8 all-academic choice as well as a GNAC academic all-star for the second straight year. A community health major, she is maintaining a 3.58 grade point average.
Tomsich, a 2005 graduate of West Valley (Alaska) High School, earned All-America honors by placing fourth in the 1,500 meters at the NCAA II Outdoor National Championships with a personal-best time of 3:48.72 and third best in school history. He won that event at the GNAC Championships with a league and meet record time of 3:50.25.
Tomsich also placed second in the 5,000 at the GNAC meet. In that event, he broke a school record that had stood for 14 years with a 14:32.44 clocking at the Stanford Invitational and later bettered it with a time of 14:31.86 at the Oregon Invitational. Those accomplishments earned him GNAC Male Track and Field Athlete of the Year recognition.
Last fall, Tomsich finished third individually to help the Vikings win the GNAC cross country title. He was 18th at the West Regional as Western placed fourth, missing out on a trip to nationals by two points.
Tomsich earned All-America recognition in indoor track in March as he ran the anchor leg on Western's distance medley relay which placed second at nationals. He began the final leg in fourth and finished second after making a strong bid for first.
Tomsich, an accounting major, has a 3.04 GPA.
The names of Mann-King, Schneider and Tomsich will be added to the G. Robert Ross Memorial Trophy.
WWU 2006-07 ATHLETE OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
MALE
Cross Country
Anthony Tomsich, No.1, So., Fairbanks, AK/West Valley
Earned league all-star honors by placing third individually in helping the Vikings win the Great Northwest Athletic Conference title. Finished 18th at NCAA II West Regional on team that placed fourth, missing out on a trip to nationals by just two points. Two-year letter winner.
Soccer
Gus Zadra, Forward, Senior, Poulsbo, WA/North Kitsap
First-team GNAC all-star, leading team in scoring with 14 points on seven goals. Four-year letter winner.
Football
Todd McClellan, Free Safety, Senior, Lacey, WA/Timberline
Third-team Don Hansen's Football Gazette Northwest Region all-star and received North Central Conference honorable mention. Led NCC in pass interceptions with six, grabbing at least one in each of Western's last three games. Both of those accomplishments were the most by a Viking player since 1995. Finished second on the team with 66 tackles and also forced three fumbles. Four-year letter winner.
Basketball
Lukas Henne, Forward, Senior, Bremerton, WA/Central Kitsap
Second-team Daktronics West Region and GNAC all-star. Led team in points (18.0 avg.), rebounds (7.3), field goal percentage (53.4 percent, 156-of-292) and free throw accuracy (88.9 percent, 136-of-153). Ranked sixth nationally in free throw percentage. Named MVP of WWU Chuck Randall Thanksgiving Classic and all-tourney at Seattle Pacific Tip-Off Classic. Finished seventh among WWU career leaders in blocked shots with 95. Four-year letter winner.
Track - Indoor
Michael Dean, Sprinter, Freshman, Tacoma, WA/Stadium
Named Outstanding Male Performer at GNAC Championships and was unanimous choice as GNAC Male Freshman of the Year. Placed first at GNAC meet in both 200 meters (22.42) and 400 (49.95), and set meet record in qualifying heat of 60 (7.06). Set school records in 60 and 200 (22.34).
Golf
Sean Packer, No.1, Junior, Sumner, WA/Auburn-Riverside
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 regular-season finishes. Three-year letter winner.
Track - Outdoor
Anthony Tomsich, Middle Distance, Sophomore, Fairbanks, AK/West Valley
GNAC Male Athlete of the Year. Earned All-America honors by placing fourth in the 1,500 meters at NCAA II National Championships with personal-best time of 3:48.72, the third-best in school history. Won that event at GNAC Championships in league and meet record time of 3:50.25. Tomsich also placed second at GNAC meet in 5,000, an event in which he broke a school record that had stood for 14 years with 14:32.44 clocking at Stanford Invitational and later bettered it with GNAC-record time of 14:31.86 at Oregon Invitational. At the national indoor championships in March, he ran the anchor leg on a distance medley relay which placed second. In that event, he helped Western move up from fourth to second during his final leg. Two-year letter winner.
FEMALE
Cross Country
Ashley McDougall, No.1, Freshman, Redmond, WA/Redmond
Was Vikings' top finisher in six of seven races, including 17th place at GNAC Championships.
Soccer
Katie Weber, Midfielder, Senior, Yakima, WA/Eisenhower
First-team NSCCAA West Region, second-team Daktronics Far West Region and unanimous first-team GNAC all-star. Led team in scoring with 19 points and goals with nine. Helped Vikings to 14-5-1 record, the victory total being the most since 1984, and the school's first NCAA II Far West Regional appearance, its first post-season game since 1996. Four-year letter winner.
Volleyball
Courtney Schneider, Libero, Junior, Snohomish, WA/Snohomish
First-team Daktronics and third-team AVCA All-American. Daktronics and AVCA Pacific Region first-team all-star and unanimous first-team GNAC all-star, all for second straight year. Led nation in digs per game (7.66). Set school and conference season records for digs with 666, and school mark for digs per game. Helped Vikings to first round of NCAA Division II Pacific Regional. Second-team ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA District 8 Academic all-star and GNAC academic all-star for second consecutive season. Three-year letter winner.
Basketball
Mollie Stelmack, Guard, Senior, New Westminster, BC/New Westminster
Honorable mention Kodak/WBCA and DII Bulletin All-American. First-team Kodak/WBCA and Daktronics West Region and unanimous first-team GNAC all-star. Became first guard since 1984 to lead the team in scoring, averaging 15.7 points. Named to three all-tournament teams. Also led squad in assists (3.5) and 3-pt. shooting (40.9 percent, 67-of-164). Scored 1,313 points during her four-year career, playing first two years at Franklin Pierce College NH (567). GNAC Newcomer of the Year in 2005-06. Two-year letter winner.
Track - Indoor
Kim Bascom, Jumps, Senior, Camano Island, WA/Stanwood
Placed first at GNAC Championships in long jump (18-3 3/4) and triple jump (37-9 1/4) with school-record marks in both events. Four-year letter winner.
Rowing
Lindsay Mann-King, Varsity eight - No.7 seat, Senior, Colville, WA/Colville
Three-time Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association All-American, helping Vikings to three-peat at NCAA II regional and national championships. Varsity eight ranked No.1 nationally all season in CRCA Poll. Four-year letter winner. One of just nine athletes in school history to receive All-Americas honors three or more years.
Golf
Catherine Kim, No.1, Junior, Bellevue, WA/Skyline
Led team with 78.3 scoring average, tying for 13th 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 four regular-season tournaments. Three-year letter winner.
Softball
Jackie Quint, Pitcher, Senior, Silverdale, WA/Central Kitsap
GNAC Pitcher of the Year. First-team Daktronics and second-team National Fastpitch Coaches Association West Region all-star and unanimous first-team all-GNAC. Let team with 18-11 record and 1.97 earned run average. Struck out school-record 15 batters in one game twice. Set school season records for wins (18), complete games (24), innings pitched (188-2/3) and strikeouts (175). Established WWU career marks for complete games (68), innings pitched (601-1/3) and strikeouts (478), and tied mark for wins (48). Four-year letter winner.
Track - Outdoor
Monika Gruszecki, Javelin, Freshman, Edmonds, WA/Meadowdale
National champion in javelin at NCAA II Championships with mark of 145-8. Placed second at GNCA Championships. Had personal-best mark of 146-10, the sixth-best in school history. Letter winner.
WWU ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
1947 Norm Dahl - Men's Track & Field Willis Ball - Football1954 Ken Swalwell - Football, Men's Track & Field, Baseball1955 Bruce Randall - Football, Men's Basketball1956 Ted Whan - Men's Track & Field1957 Bruce Randall - Football, Baseball1958 Fred Emerson - Football, Baseball1959 Sam Martin - Football1960 Jerry Joyce - Men's Track & Field1961 Don Trethewey - Men's Track & Field1962 Mike Kirk - Men's Basketball1963 Jim Adams - Men's Basketball1964 Bob Thomas - Men's Basketball1965 Keith Shugarts - Football, Men's Basketball1966 Jack Nighbert - Men's Basketball, Baseball1967 Steve Richardson - Football, Baseball1968 Dave Weedman - Football1969 Gary Reiersgard - Men's Basketball1970 Mike Clayton - Men's Basketball1971 Gary White - Men's Basketball1972 Lee Andersen - Wrestling1973 Mike Franza - Men's Basketball1974 Mike Vorce - Men's Track & Field1975 Chuck Price - Men's Basketball1976 Charmon Odle - Women's Basketball1977 Pat Locker - Football1978 Bruce Manclark - Men's Track & Field, Men's Cross Country1979 Rohn McCoy - Men's Basketball1981 Jo Metzger - Women's Basketball1982 Marilyn Thibodeau - Women's Cross Country, Women's Track & Field1983 Wendy Malich - Women's Track & Field1984 Joan Williamson - Women's Track & Field1985 Dave Peterson - Football Genevie Pfueller - Women's Cross Country and Track & Field1986 Carmen Dolfo - Women's Basketball Allen James - Men's Track & Field1987 Kim Nix - Men's Track & Field and Football Hollie Watson - Women's Track & Field1988 James Johnson - Men's Basketball Shelly Borovich - Women's Volleyball and Track & Field1989 Peter LaBarge - Football Anna Rabel - Women's Basketball1990 Peter LaBarge - Men's Soccer Lorrie Post - Women's Volleyball1991 Peter LaBarge - Men's Soccer Scott Lohr - Football Lorrie Post - Women's Volleyball1992 Jeff Van Kleeck - Men's Cross Country & Track Joanie Armstrong - Women's Crew1993 Shane Volkmann - Football Lynton Hyde - Football Kris Maraveller - Women's Cross Country & Track1994 Dwayne Kirkley - Men's Basketball Brandi Stevenson - Women's Track1995 Bill Christensen - Football Gina Sampson - Women's Basketball1996 Orlondo Steinauer - Football Gina Sampson - Women's Basketball1997 Chris Nicholl - Football Amy Cameron - Women's Track1998 Mark Spencer - Football Cathy Johnson - Fastpitch1999 Joel Skarbo - Men's Golf Devin Kemper - Men's Track Celeste Hill - Women's Basketball2000 Ben Clampitt - Football Celeste Hill, Women's Basketball Craig Welty - Men's Golf2001 Erik Totten - Football Michelle Parker - Volleyball2002 Scott Mitchell - Football Shannon Rowland - Volleyball2003 Mike Palm - Men's Basketball Liz Bishop - Volleyball Ashlee Vincent - Women's Cross Country and Track2004 Nicola Parker - Volleyball Kurt Hartmaier - Men's Cross Country and Track Josh Griesse - Men's Crew2005 Michael Koenen - Football Tim Feenstra - Men's Golf Julia Gamache - Women's Rowing2006 Grant Dykstra - Men's Basketball Katja Trygg - Women's Golf2007 Anthony Tomsich - Men's Track and Cross Country Courtney Schneider - Volleyball Lindsay Mann-King - Women's Rowing
