June 3, 2008
BELLINGHAM, Wash. - For the second straight year, Audrey Coon, who rowed in the varsity eight on a team that won a fourth straight national championship, and Keith Lemay, a standout in cross country and track and field, are the Western Washington University Female and Male Scholar-Athletes of the Year, respectively, for 2007-08.
The awards recognize Viking student-athletes who best demonstrate excellence both on the playing field and in the classroom.
Coon, a junior from Kenai, Alaska, is a Spanish/elementary education major with a 3.95 (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 Great Northwest Athletic Conference academic all-star.
Coon was the No.2 seat in the varsity eight that ranked No.1 in the CRCA/NCAA Division II National Poll all season and was a national champion for the second consecutive time during the school's string of four titles.
Lemay, a senior from Lynden, is a physical education (pre-physical therapy) major with a 3.69 GPA. He was a U.S. Cross Country and Track & Field Coaches Association National Scholar-Athlete in both cross country and track for the third straight season.
A GNAC academic all-star in both sports, also for the third consecutive time, Lemay competed at nationals in both cross country and outdoor track.
Lemay ran in the 800 meters at the NCAA II National Outdoor Championships, placing sixth to earn USTFCCCA All-America honors. He had personal-best times of 1:51.33 in the 800 and 3:52.35 in the 1,500, which rank third and fifth, respectively, among WWU career leaders. Lemay set a school indoor record (1:54.84) in the 800, placing first at the GNAC Indoor Track Championships (1:57.86).
A 2004 graduate of Lynden Christian High School, Lemay placed 20th at the GNAC Cross Country Championships to earn all-star honors on a league title-winning team. He finished 32nd at the NCAA II West Regional as the Vikings placed second and was 158th at nationals on a Western squad that was 11th.
WWU 2007-08 SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
MALE
Cross Country
Keith Lemay, No.7, Senior, Lynden, WA/Lynden Christian, 3.69, Physical Education Pre-Physical Therapy
Placed 20th at GNAC Championships to earn league all-star honors, finished 32nd at NCAA II West Regional as Vikings placed second and was 158th at nationals on 11tth place team. U.S. Cross Country Coaches Association National Scholar-Athlete and GNAC academic all-star, both for third straight year. Four-year letter winner.
Soccer
Michael Lockwood, Goalkeeper, Senior, Canby, OR/Canby, 3.36, Economics/Accounting
GNAC academic all-star. Second-team Daktronics West Region and GNAC all-star. Had 0.81 goals against average and seven shutouts. Two-year letter winner.
Football
Anthony Zackery, Cornerback, Redshirt Freshman, Spokane, WA/Ferris, 3.94, Business Administration and Finance.
Named to North Central Conference Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll. Credited with 13 tackles. Had two pass interceptions and two pass breakups. Letter winner.
Basketball
Calin Schell, Forward, Junior, Chelan, WA/Chelan, 3.67, Manufacturing Engineering Technology
GNAC Academic All-Star. Averaged 7.4 points and 6.4 rebounds. Two-year letter winner.
Golf
Sean Packer, No.2, Senior, Sumner, WA (Auburn-Riverside), 3.42, Business Administration & Marketing
Three-time GNAC Academic all-star. Third-team GCAA All-American and first-team West Region and GNAC first-team all-star. Tied for third, one stroke behind leaders, at NCAA II National Championships. Second-best finish in school history. Third trip to nationals. Had 72.8 scoring average and six top 10 finishes. Four-year letter winner.
Track
Keith Lemay, Middle Distance, Senior, Lynden, WA (Lynden Christian), 3.69, Physical Education Pre-Physical Therapy
Three-time USTFCCCA National Scholar-Athlete and GNAC academic all-star. Competed in 800 meters at NCAA II National Outdoor Championships, placing sixth to earn USTFCCCA All-America honors. Had personal best times of 1:51.33 in 800 and 3:52.35 in 1,500, which rank third and fifth, respectively, among WWU career leaders. Set school indoor record (1:54.84) in 800 and placed first at GNAC Championships (1:57.86). Four-year letter winner.
FEMALE
Cross Country
Keely Kaligis, No.2, Senior, Mukilteo, WA/Kamiak, 3.23, Sociology
U.S. Cross Country Coaches Association National Scholar-Athlete and GNAC academic all-star. Placed 34th at GNAC Championships. Four-year letter winner.
Volleyball
Courtney Schneider, Libero, Senior, Snohomish, WA, 3.63, Community Health
Second-team ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA College Division District 8 academic choice for second straight year and GNAC Academic all-star for third consecutive season. First-team AVCA All-American. Set NCAA II national records for digs per game in season and career, helping Vikings to GNAC and Pacific Region titles and championship match at NCAA II National Tournament. Four-year letter winner.
Tiana Roma, Middle Blocker, Junior, Edmonds, WA/Edmonds-Woodway, 3.78, Biology/Secondary Education
GNAC Academic all-star. Honorable mention AVCA All-America, helping Vikings to GNAC and Pacific Region titles and championship match at NCAA II National Tournament. First-team AVCA Pacific Region and GNAC all-star. Led team in attack percentage (.358) for second straight year. Two-year letter winner.
Soccer
Amanda Font, Midfielder, Senior, Federal Way, WA/Decatur, 3.89, Computer Science
First-team ESPN the Magazine/CoSIDA College Division District 8 Academic all-star after being second-team pick in 2006. GNAC academic all-star for third straight year. Second-team NSCAA Far West Region all-star for second consecutive year. Four-time GNAC all-star, twice first team and twice second team. Four-year letter winner.
Basketball
Tara Holgate, Center, Sophomore, Everett, WA/Snohomish County Christian, 3.43, Business Administration & Finance
Averaged 6.0 points and 5.0 rebounds, shooting 52.4 percent from the field and blocking 30 shots. Letter winner.
Softball
Morgan Parkerson, First Baseman, Junior, RAF Lakenheath, England, 3.33, Physical Education/Pre-Physical Therapy
GNAC academic all-star. Three-year letter winner.
Golf
Breanna Carmichael, No.2, Sophomore, Tacoma, WA/Bellarmine, 3.33, Pre-Dentistry
First-team NGCA West Region all-star. Tied for 15th at NCAA II National Championships and tied for fifth at West Regional. Had 79.6 scoring average with two top 10 finishes. Two-year letter winner.
Rowing
Audrey Coon, Varsity eight - No.2 seat, Junior, Kenai, AK/Kenai Central, 3.95, Spanish/Elementary Education
Collegiate Rowing Coaches of America Scholar-Athlete, first-team ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA District 8 and GNAC academic all-star, all for second straight year. Helped Vikings to NCAA II national title as well as West Region and Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference championships. The Vikings' eight ranked No.1 in the CRCA/NCAA II National Poll all season long. Three-year letter winner.
Gina Auriemma, Varsity eight - No.5 seat, Junior, Lake Forest Park, WA/Shorecrest, 3.94, Planning and Environmental Policy
Collegiate Rowing Coaches of America Scholar-Athlete, first-team ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA District 8 and GNAC academic all-star, all for second straight year. Helped Vikings to NCAA II national title as well as West Region and Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference championships. The Vikings' eight ranked No.1 in the CRCA/NCAA II National Poll all season long. Three-year letter winner.
Track
Heidi Dimmitt, Sprints and Hurdles, Junior, Wenatchee, WA/Wenatchee, 3.70, Chemistry
GNAC academic all-star for second straight year. Made second consecutive trip to NCAA II National Championships, placing fourth in 400-meter hurdles to earn USTFCCCA All-America honors. Her time of 1:00.52 was a personal best and the second-fastest time in school history. Had meet record time in winning 400-meter hurdles at GNAC Championships for second straight year. Three-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, track2008 Keith Lemay, track/cross country
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, rowing2008 Audrey Coon, rowing
