With the end of the school year rapidly approaching, the Athletics Department is hosting its annual Iggy Awards Monday night at the LAX Marriott to honor the year’s best student-athletes. My picks below are not exactly the same categories as the ones that will be announced Monday evening, as I am also including coaching awards, but for the most part, they are similar. I shall call them The Bottom Lines.
Male Athlete of the Year: Rafael Baca
This was a tough choice, but in the end, men’s soccer junior forward Rafael Baca takes the most prestigious male Bottom Line. Not only did Baca lead the team with nine goals on the season, an especially impressive feat considering no one else on the team had more than three, but he also led his team to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2004.
Others receiving consideration: Men’s water polo junior Andy Stevens, men’s basketball junior Vernon Teel and men’s basketball sophomore Drew Viney.
Female Athlete of the Year: Anne Scott
Senior water polo and swimming star Anne Scott receives this year’s top female Bottom Line. She is currently leading the water polo team with 50 goals on the season and has led the Lions to a No. 7 national ranking. Scott also graduates with numerous all-time LMU swimming records.
Others receiving consideration: Women’s basketball sophomore Alex Cowling and softball sophomore Sam Fischer.
Coach of the Year: Max Good
I will admit I may be slightly biased here, considering I worked with men’s basketball Head Coach Max Good on a regular basis for almost five months this year. However, I think that any coach who takes his team from a 3-25 record to a 18-16 record in just one year deserves as many accolades as possible. Good took a team at its worst to a WCC Tournament semifinal appearance, as well as the team’s first postseason appearance in years.
Others receiving consideration: Men’s water polo Head Coach John Loughran, women’s water polo Head Coach Kyle Witt and men’s soccer Head Coach Paul Krumpe.
Team of the Year: Men’s Soccer
Although I almost gave this to the men’s basketball team, purely for the fact that they helped raise school spirit to the highest its been in years, the men’s soccer team made it to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in six years, and came extremely close to winning its tournament game (losing 2-1 in OT). The men’s basketball team is on its way to being one of the best teams in the country, while the men’s soccer team proved they are already there.
Others receiving consideration: Men’s basketball, men’s water polo and women’s water polo.
Male Freshman of the Year: Ashley Hamilton
Men’s basketball redshirt freshman Ashley Hamilton made his presence known this season. Despite missing nine games due to injury, Hamilton averaged almost nine points and five rebounds a game, and was named to the WCC All-Freshman team earlier this spring.
Others receiving consideration: Men’s soccer freshmen Chris Bernardi and Max Young.
Female Freshman of the Year: Molly Medeiros
Softball freshman Molly Medeiros has had the most impressive season of any female freshman athlete this year, getting thrown into the No. 2 pitching spot after an injury to sophomore Corie Goodman. Medeiros has earned seven wins on the season and has pitched six complete games, including one complete game shutout.
Others recieving consideration: Women's soccer freshman Kelsey Wilson.
Most Valuable to Their Team – Male: Drew Viney and Vernon Teel
I know it’s a complete copout to pick two athletes, but there was no way I could choose. Both men’s basketball sophomore Drew Viney and junior Vernon Teel led the Lions on the court to their spectacular turnaround season. Viney and Teel led the Lions in scoring in 23 of the team’s 32 games and have secured their place as two of the WCC’s most elite players.
Others receiving consideration: Men’s soccer junior Rafael Baca and men’s water polo junior Andy Stevens.
Most Valuable to Their Team – Female: Alex Cowling
Women’s basketball sophomore Alex Cowling led the WCC in scoring with 20.4 points per game in conference play, an extremely impressive feat considering Cowling is still just a sophomore. The only reason I didn’t give her the Female Athlete of the Year award is because her team struggled to a 13-17 overall record. Nevertheless, it is clear to me that without Cowling, the Lions would have barely had nine season victories.
Congrats to all of the winners. This was a special year for LMU Athletics, and I am extremely glad to have been a witness to it. Stay tuned for next Thursday’s issue of the Loyolan for the Iggy Award results.
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