Northern Colorado Athletics celebrates standout 2008-09 performances
GREELEY, Colo. -- Northern Colorado's athletics department celebrated another successful school year last Friday, May 1, with its annual Student-Athlete Award Celebration at Greeley's Downtown Clarion Hotel and Conference Center.
In all, about 50 Bears student-athletes were honored for their individual athletic achievements, and nearly 100 were recognized for their work in the classroom.
Headlining the athletic-award winners were Cristian Sarmento (football) and Kenzie Shreeve (volleyball), who were honored as this year's Outstanding Athletes of the Year.
Mitchell Polkowske (wrestling) and Melisa Ryba (softball) were this year's picks for Newcomers of the Year, and Erik Hegstad (baseball) and Tali Slafter (women's track and field) were the Breakthrough Award winners.
Academically, Megan Bellendir (soccer) received this year's Dr. Mary Behling Scholar-Athlete Award, while Ryan Johnson (wrestling) brought home the Dr. George Sage Scholar-Athlete Award.
Below is a complete list of all the winners from this year's ceremony:
Bear
Leadership Award
Male
(1) Female
(1)
Ryan Johnson,
wrestling
Hillarie VanOtterloo, softball
Newcomer of
the Year
Male
(1) Female
(1)
Mitchell Polkowske,
wrestling
Melisa Ryba, softball
Bear Down
Award
Male
(1) Female
(1)
Cristian Sarmento,
football
Jamie Schroeder, women's basketball
Breakthrough
Award
Male:
Erik Hegstad, baseball
Female:
Tali Slafter,
women's track and field
All-Bear
Team
Male
(4) Female
(4)
Kevin Sandberg,
baseball Courtney
Stoermer, women's basketball
Devon Beitzel, men's
basketball Sarah Cook,
swimming and diving
Ryan Johnson,
wrestling Allison
Raguse, volleyball
Mitchell Polkowske,
wrestling
Meaghan Green, women's track and field
Outstanding
Athletes of the Year
Male
(1) Female
(1)
Cristian Sarmento,
football
Kenzie Shreeve, volleyball
Life Skills
Team Award
08-09 Volleyball (head
coach - Lyndsey Benson)
Dr. Mary
Behling Scholar-Athlete Award
Megan
Bellendir, Soccer
Dr. George
Sage Scholar-Athlete Award
Ryan
Johnson, Wrestling
Top graduating
seniors (16)
Athletic
training
Brittany Darling
Baseball Andy
Mees
Women's
basketball Jamie
Schroeder
Football Mike
Vlahogeorge
Women's
golf Shayna
Godfrey
Soccer Megan
Bellendir
Softball Hillarie
VanOtterloo
Women's swimming &
diving Nicole
Lydin
Women's track and
field Brianna
Spletstoser
Men's track and
field Charles
Hillig
Volleyball Lauren
Carter
Wrestling Ryan
Johnson
New record
holders:
Kevin
Sandberg, baseball
- Career doubles (ongoing)
Cameron Kaman,
football
- Longest punt (80 yds) - tied
Michael Van Portfliet,
football
- Most blocks in a game (2) - tied
Quincy Wofford,
football
- Longest kickoff return (100 yds) - tied
Jessie Schoepflin,
softball
- career triples (ongoing)
Justine Sandersfeld,
women's track and field
- 400 meters
- 4x400 indoor relay
- 4x400 outdoor relay
Tali Slafter, women's
track and field
- 60 hurdles
Abby Weedor, women's
track and field
- 60 meters
Shaylee Robinette,
women's track and field
- 4x400 indoor relay
- 4x400 outdoor relay
Lisa Drew, women's
track and field
- 4x400 outdoor relay
Keira Moczulski,
women's track and field
- 4x400 relay
Jillian Hoblitt,
women's track and field
- 4x400 indoor relay
- 4x400 outdoor relay
Meaghan Green, omen's
track and field
- Hammer
Terrence McGaughy,
men's track and field
- 60m indoor
- 200m indoor
Tori Gutt,
swimming
- 200 breaststroke
