June 11, 2003
BELLINGHAM, Wash. -
Western Washington University won the Great Northwest Athletic Conference All-Sports title for the second straight year in 2002-03, with a second-place finish by women's crew at the NCAA Division II National Championships highlighting the Vikings' team performances.
Among Western's other top team accomplishments were volleyball running its league winning streak to 41, the seventh longest string in NCAA II history, in capturing a second straight league title with a perfect 18-0 record; and men's soccer posting a 15-4-1 record, the second-best mark in school history, in winning a GNAC championship with a 4-0-0 record. Softball made its first national appearance, reaching the first round of the NCAA West Regional, and men's golf placed 11th at nationals.
Heading the individual award winners was junior volleyball setter Liz Bishop, who was a first-team All-American and GNAC Player of the Year. Sophomore men's soccer forward Paul Nissley also earned GNAC Player of the Year honors, and junior Paul Kezes and sophomore Ashlee Vincent were the male and female GNAC Cross Country Athletes of the Year, respectively.
Kezes earned All-America honors by placing seventh at the national meet. Vincent and junior Stacey Hopkins also received All-America recognition, Vincent finishing third in the women's 5,000 meters and Hopkins seventh in the women's javelin at the track and field nationals.
Junior women's golfer Kelly White earned second-team All-America honors as she placed 10th at nationals, and men's golfer Tim Feenstra was a third-team All-American and NCAA II Freshman of the Year.
Sophomore Michael Koenen was named to three All-America football teams as he led the nation in punting. Senior rower Katie Miller and junior coxswain Emily Davis were first-team All-Americans, and junior volleyball libero Nicola Parker was a third-team All-American. Senior pitcher Amanda Grant was named GNAC co-Pitcher of the Year.
Receiving honorable mention All-America recognition were sophomore men's golfer Josh Immordino, and senior women's basketball forward Stacey Miller, and three senior football players - offensive tackle Joaquin Paratore-McNabb, tight end Adam Snel and cornerback Anthony Dalton.
GNAC Coach of the Year honors went to two Viking coaches - Diane Flick in volleyball and Travis Connell in men's soccer. Flick also was named American Volleyball Coaches Association Pacific Region Coach of the Year.
Western won outright league titles in volleyball and men's soccer. The Vikings got to the first round of NCAA regional competition in volleyball, women's basketball and softball; and placed third in women's golf and fourth in men's golf.
In men's rowing, Western's varsity eight reached the grand final at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships, placing fourth.
Two Vikings received GNAC Newcomer of the Year honors - Kezes in cross country and senior softball first baseman Hadley Jensen. Football running back Duncan Sherrard was a GNAC Freshman of the Year as were men's soccer goalkeeper Ben Dragavon and women's soccer forward Chela Gray.
Western athletes were standout students as well. Named District VIII Academic all-stars were Bishop, Parker, senior women's rower Laurel Kaminski, and three football players - senior wide receiver Greg Dykstra, junior linebacker Brett Thompson and junior strong safety Rob White. Kaminski also was named a Collegiate Rowing Association Coaches National Scholar-Athlete.
A total of 41 Vikings earned league all-star honors and 34 were GNAC academic all-stars.
Named Western Co-Female Athletes of the Year were Bishop and Vincent, with senior men's basketball center Mike Palm, who set a career record for rebounds and nearly became the first player since 1976 to average a double-double in points and rebounds, being the Male Athlete of the Year.
Bishop was the WWU Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the second straight season, and Dykstra was the Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
