PBA Athletics Hosts Awards Night at Vera Lea Rinker Hall
April 17, 2012
Written By: Michael Brown, Assistant A.D. for Athletic Communications
Mariela Quesda (Left) and Kenny Hogg (Right) Pose for a Picture with PBA Director of Athletics Carolyn Stone (Center) as the 2011-12 Female and Male Athletes of the Year. Photo Courtesy of: Lori Richards. WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.- The Palm Beach Atlantic University athletic department hosted their annual Awards Night on Sunday, April 15th as they embarked on Vera Lea Rinker Hall and the Helen K. Persson Recital Hall to honor the best and the brightest of the year in Sailfish athletics. The program began with horderves for all student-athletes and coaches which preceded an hour long program awarding 14 annual awards in varying categories.
Athletic excellence wasn’t the only area honored on Sunday evening as different awards were handed out for combining athletic prowess with academic success and spiritual leadership.
The evening began by awarding the annual Athletic Director’s awards to a female and male student-athlete who exemplified the Christian values on and off the field of competition along with upholding the academic and athletic standards of the PBA athletic department. Those awards went to Jordan Kong of the women’s basketball team and Luke Bolanos of the men’s tennis team. Both awards were presented by Director of Athletics, Carolyn Stone.
Up next came the President’s Award which highlights academic excellence and was presented by Palm Beach Atlantic Interim President, Mr. Bill Fleming. Fleming handed plaques to Ashley Dolberry of women’s basketball and Logan Thomas from the Sailfish baseball team.
The annual Clark Botel Award, named after PBA’s first Sports Information Director and given to a female and male student-athlete who represents the University with outstanding attitude, leadership and servant-hood, was presented by women’s soccer head coach James Kryger.
The 2012 Clark Botel winners were Faith Warren from the women’s cross country team and Travis Murray from the baseball team.
Clarisse Garcia, the Sailfish women’s basketball head coach presented the annual Don Harp Award winners as it annually honors a rising senior who has excelled in competition and demonstrated outstanding Christian leadership.
The winners were Natalia Trotter of the women’s tennis team and Matthew Gierl of the men’s basketball team. Both recipients receive a one-year scholarship as part of the endowed award.
A slideshow of pictures was shown in the midpoint of the evening as the year was recapped in photographs of PBA’s ten varsity teams.
The Sailfish Award was up next and went to Miranda Welch of the softball team and Terrell Terry of men’s basketball. Both awards were presented by head men’s basketball coach, Terry Primm and awards a student-athlete who bleeds Sailfish “blue and white”.
PBA strength and conditioning coach Ron Kotouch handed out the first-time Strength and Conditioning Award to volleyball player Mariela Quesada and men’s basketball player Ian Sitz. The award puts emphasis on the hard-work and dedication of these athletes in improving their physical fitness and skill set.
The final annual award brought Stone back to the stage as she called out the names of Quesada and men’s soccer player Kenny Hogg as the 2011-12 PBA Female and Male Athletes of the Year.
Quesada put together one of the most dominant seasons ever by a PBA volleyball player while Hogg led the NCAA Division II ranks in goals and points per game as a sophomore to earn the prestigious award.
Associate Athletic Director Chi Ly then proceeded to come on stage and induct the new members of the Chi Alpha Sigma which is a national student-athlete honor society. The eight returning members of Chi Alpha Sigma were honored with cords to be worn at graduation signifying their honor while a PBA-record of 13 new members were also inducted with a pin.
Female Athlete of the Year- Mariela Quesada (Volleyball)
Male Athlete of the Year- Kenny Hogg (Men’s Soccer)
Female President’s Award- Ashley Dolberry (Women’s Basketball)
Male President’s Award- Logan Thomas (Baseball)
Female Athletic Director’s Award- Jordan Kong (Women’s Basketball)
Male Athletic Director’s Award- Luke Bolanos (Men’s Tennis)
Female Clark Botel Award- Faith Warren (Women’s Cross Country)
Male Clark Botel Award- Travis Murray (Baseball)
Female Don Harp Award- Natalia Trotter (Women’s Tennis)
Male Don Harp Award- Matthew Gierl (Men’s Basketball)
Female Sailfish Award- Miranda Welch (Softball)
Male Sailfish Award- Terrell Terry (Men’s Basketball)
Female Strength and Conditioning Award- Mariela Quesada (Volleyball)
Male Strength and Conditioning Award- Ian Sitz (Men’s Basketball)
National College Athlete Honor Society Class of 2012
Victoria Baca
Matthew Crumb
Alyssa DeMonte
Alejandro DeMoya
Ashley Dolberry
TJ Harbuck
Katherine Harvey
Taylor Kaprive
Jessie Kubiak
Meagan Phillips
Ashley Shoaf
Natalia Trotter
Faith Warren
Returning members:
Meghan Gilmore
Jordan Kong
Janeen McCormick
Travis Murray
Katie Runyon
Logan Thomas
Kimberly Traxler
Allie Warren
All annual awards and nominees are voted on by the PBA Athletics Administration, Head Coaches and Support Personnel
