June 2, 2004
BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Libero Nicola Parker, a senior from Auburn who earned first-team All-America honors in leading the volleyball team to the best record in school history and a third straight Great Northwest Athletic Conference title with an unbeaten record, has been named Western Washington University Female Athlete of the Year.
Sharing the Vikings' Male Athlete of the Year honors were Kurt Hartmaier, a senior from Woodinville, who earned All-America honors in helping the cross country team to 13th place at nationals and was a national provisional qualifier in two events in outdoor track, and stroke Josh Griesse, a senior from Monroe, who helped the men's varsity four to a grand final triumph at the Pacific Coast Rowing Championships.
Parker, a first-team Daktronics and honorable mention American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American, led the nation in digs with a 6.16 per game average as she helped the Vikings to a 24-2 record, tops in school history. Western reached the semifinal round at the NCAA Division II Pacific Regional and won the GNAC title with a perfect 18-0 record, running its league winning streak to 54, the fourth-longest string in NCAA II history.
Parker was a first-team AVCA and Daktronics Pacific Region all-star and GNAC all-star, all for the second straight year. A four-year letter winner, she set school records for digs in a match (38), season (542) and career (1,435).
Parker also stood out academically, being a second team College Sports Information Directors of America College Division Academic All-American. She also was a two-time District VIII and three-time GNAC academic all-star.
Parker's sister, Michelle, was named Western Female Athlete of the Year in 2000-01.
Hartmaier, a graduate of Redmond High School, placed 41st at the NCAA II National Cross Country Championships to earn All-America recognition, becoming just the second Viking to earn that distinction. He helped Western place 13th in the school's first appearance at the NCAA II nationals and the Vikings' first overall appearance as a team since 1997.
A four-year letter winner, Hartmaier earned West Region all-star honors, finishing 15th in his fourth regional appearance as Western placed fourth. He also helped the Vikings to an unbeaten regular season and the GNAC championship, earning all-star honors by placing seventh.
Hartmaier also was a four-year letter winner in track, posting national provisional qualifying times in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (9:17.57) and the 5,000 (14:47.25). He placed second at the GNAC Championships in the steeplechase and was third in the 1,500.
Griesse helped the varsity four win gold medals by placing first at the Pacific Coast Rowing Championships. A four-year letter winner, he also was in Western's four that finished second in the grand final at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Assocation Championships, earning second-team all-WIRA recognition.
As a sophomore and junior, Griesse was in the Vikings' varsity eight that placed first at the Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference Championships.
The names of Griesse, Hartmaier and Parker will be added to the G. Robert Ross Memorial Trophy.
WWU 2003-04 ATHLETE OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
MALE
Cross Country
Kurt Hartmaier, No.1, Senior, Woodinville, WA/Redmond
Placed 41st at NCAA II National Championships to earn All-America recognition, becoming just second Viking to earn that distinction. Helped Western place 13th in school's first appearance at NCAA II nationals and Vikings' first overall national appearance since 1997. Earned West Region all-star honors, finishing 15th in fourth regional appearance, on team that placed fourth. Helped Western to GNAC championship, earning all-star honors with seventh-place finish. Four-year letter winner.
Soccer
Joel Saulter, Defender, Senior, Edmonds, WA/Blanchet
First-team GNAC all-star. Helped Vikings hold opponents to 1.56 goals per game and 4.0 shutouts. Scored one goal, game winner in 2-1 win over defending national champion Sonoma State. Also had two assists. GNAC academic all-star for second straight year. Scored three career goals, all of them game winners. Two-year letter winner.
Football
Andy Olson, Wide Receiver, Sophomore, Chehalis, WA/W.F. West
Named honorable mention D2Football.com All-American. Second-team Don Hansen's Football Gazette all-West Region and first-team GNAC all-star. Ranked No.9 nationally in receiving yards (106.3 avg.), No.17 in receptions (6.4), No.42 in punt returns (0.9) and No.50 in all-purpose yardage (126.0). Helped team win GNAC championship, leading squad with 1,063 yards receiving and 56 points. Had four games with over 150 receiving yards. Two-year letter winner.
Basketball
Grant Dykstra, Forward/Guard, Sophomore, Everson, WA/Lynden Christian
National finalist for Comeback Award sponsored by V Foundation. Second-team GNAC all-star. Led team in points and rebounds, averaging 15.4 points and 5.9 rebounds, respectively. Has started every game over last two seasons. Two-year letter winner.
Track - Indoor
Steve DeKoker, Distance, Senior, Maple Valley, WA/Tahoma
Won 5,000 meters at GNAC Championships with time of 15:24.02 in last collegiate race. Four-year letter winner in cross country and three-year letter winner in track. GNAC Academic all-star.
Crew
Josh Griesse, V4 Stroke, Senior, Monroe, WA
Rowed in varsity four shell that placed first in final at Pacific Coast Rowing Championships and second in a grand final at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships. Second-team all-WIRA selection. Four-year letter winner.
Golf
Chris Anderson, No.2, Junior, Oak Harbor, WA (Papillion-LaVista, Neb.)
Third-team PING All-American as selected by Golf Coaches Association of America and first-team West Region all-star. Tied for 27th at nationals and placed sixth at regionals. Had season scoring average of 74.1. Placed second at WWU Fall Invitational. Three-year letter winner.
Track - Outdoor
Kurt Hartmaier, Distance, Senior, Woodinville, WA/Redmond
Posted national provisional qualifying marks in 3,000-meter steeplechase and 5,000. Placed second in steeplechase at GNAC Championships. Four-year letter winner.
FEMALE
Cross Country
Laura Trevellyan, No.1, Sophomore, Vashon, WA/Vashon Island
Finished 21st at NCAA II Championships to earn All-America honors, becoming first Western All-American since 1993, and her finish at nationals was the best by a Viking since 1987. Earned West Region all-star honors by placing fifth, highest finish by GNAC runner. Placed third at GNAC Championships to earn all-star recognition. Top Western finisher in every race of season. Also GNAC academic all-star. Two-year letter winner.
Soccer
Ashley Jensen, Forward, Sophomore, Tacoma, WA/Wilson
Second-team GNAC all-star. Led team in scoring with six goals, including two game winners. Also had one assist. Two-year letter winner.
Volleyball
Nicola Parker, Libero, Senior, Auburn, WA
Named first-team Daktronics and honorable mention AVCA All-American. First-team AVCA and Daktronics Pacific Region and GNAC all-star for second straight year. Named second-team CoSIDA Academic All-American, and first-team District VIII and GNAC academic all-star. Ranked No.1 nationally in digs, helping Vikings to 24-2 record, best in school history, semifinals of NCAA Division II Pacific Regional and third straight league title with 18-0 record, running league winning streak to 54, fourth longest string in NCAA II history. Set school records for digs in match (38), season (542) and career 1,435). Four-year letter winner.
Basketball
Tessa DeBoer, Forward, Senior, Lynden, WA/Lynden Christian
Second-team Daktronics West Region and first-team GNAC all-star, and West Regional all-tourney pick. Led team in points (15.5 avg.), rebounds (7.1) and field goal percentage (54.9). Made 135 free throws, one short of school record. Finished 13th among Western career leaders in scoring with 1,134 points. First-team CoSIDA academic All-America District VIII College Division choice. GNAC academic all-star for third straight year. Four-year letter winner.
Track - Indoor
Danielle Juarez, Pole Vault, Senior, Olympia, WA/North Thurston
Placed fifth at NCAA II National Championships to earn All-America honors, tying school record by clearing 12-0. Finished first at GNAC Championships.
Crew
Emily Davis, V8 coxswain, Senior, Carnation, WA/Mount Si
First-team Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association All-American for second straight year. Helped nationally No.1-ranked Vikings place third in team standings and fourth in varsity eight grand final at NCAA II National Championships. Western took West Region title and won petite final at Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships. Member of varsity eight that place second at nationals in 2003 and 2002. Four-year letter winner.
Golf
Kelly White, No.1, Senior, Monroe, WA
Tied for 10th at NCAA II National Championships and fifth at West Regional. Honorable mention National Golf Coaches Association All-American ... Helped Vikings place second at West Regional and fifth at NCAA II National Championships. Medalist at Grand Canyon Fall Invitational. Had team-best 79.3 scoring average. Four-year letter winner.
Softball
Megan McPhee, Outfield, Junior, Anacortes, WA
Named first-team GNAC all-star. Led Western hitters for second straight year with .349 batting average. Top five in 14 offensive categories. Drive in 19 runs, scored 24 and had nine doubles. Three-year letter winner.
Track - Outdoor
Danielle Juarez, Pole Vault, Senior, Olympia, WA/North Thurston
Tied for eighth at NCAA II National Championships to earn All-America honors for second time in outdoor competition and third time overall. Entered competition ranked 10th nationally with school-record effort of 12-2 3/4. Third trip to outdoor nationals, placing fifth in 2002 and ninth in 2001. Four-year 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 Crew
