The UC Riverside Athletic Department put the crowning touch on
the 2000-2001 school year with the fabulous Braveheart Auction
and Food Festival fund-raiser, taking the opportunity to celebrate
the achievements of UC Riverside's student-athletes and coaches.
The inaugural event was the major fundraiser for the UCR Athletics
Association, featuring over 30 restaurants, 600-plus live and
silent auction items and a crowd of approximately 800 people.
The part of the evening's festivities was the celebration of
the achievements of UCR's student-athletes and coaches with the
presentation of the Male and Female Athletes of the Year, the
Lindy Award, the Scholar -Athlete of the Year Award, the Rob Roy
Award and the Braveheart Award. Each recipient received a beautiful
plaque with a faux newspaper article detailing their honor.
Following is a summary of the honorees from the evening, consisting
of the text that appeared on their award.
Male Athlete of the Year - Matt Teahen
Senior baseball player Matt Teahen has been named the University
of California, Riverside Male Athlete of the Year for the 2000-2001
academic year. The award was presented at the Braveheart Auction
and Food Festival on June 1.
Teahen, a graduate of Yucaipa High School, finished his four-year
Highlander career with a .365 batting average, 34 doubles, 134
runs scored and 116 RBI. In the 2001 season, Teahen batted a team-high
.313 with 22 runs scored and 23 RBI, despite suffering a back
injury that limited him to about two weeks of fall practice and
hampered him throughout the season.
"I don't think people realized how badly he was hurting this
year," Coach Jack Smitheran said. "He played in a lot of pain,
but he loves the game of baseball and continued to play well."
Teahen was a picture of consistency throughout his career, but
his best season came as a sophomore in 1999 when he destroyed
the single season record in batting average with a .456 mark,
earning All-American honors in the process. As a junior, he broke
another school record by hitting safely in 11 consecutive plate
appearances.
"Without question, Matt Teahen is one of the finest players to
ever come through this program," Smitheran said. "He was a four-year
starter and holds a great number of school hitting records. He
led by example, played hard and did the right thing." Teahen,
a senior, is scheduled to graduate in the winter of 2002 with
a degree in Sociology.
"True athletes know how to compete when they are hurt, but few
can compete when injured," UCR Athletics Director Stan Morrison
said. "Matt Teahen is one of those rare athletes who is driven
to be on the field of competition every day regardless of his
physical well being. Consistent production is another attribute
of outstanding athletes, and Matt again demonstrated why he has
been selected the Male Athlete of the Year for UCR by continuing
to set university records and lead the team in batting average
again. His four years as a starter for Coach Smitheran's team
reflect All-American numbers. We are very proud of this young
man."
Female Athlete of the Year - Syreeta Waller
Sophomore track and field athlete Syreeta Waller has been named
the University of California, Riverside Female Athlete of the
Year for the 2000-2001 academic year. The award was presented
at the Braveheart Auction and Food Festival on June 1.
As a freshman in 2000, Waller broke the school record in the
shot put with a 40' effort, but was injured in an auto accident
on March 5 and ended up redshirting the season. She returned with
a vengeance in 2001, breaking the school record in the discus
with a throw of 146'1" and destroying the school record in the
hammer throw with a 164'3" effort, almost 30 feet better than
the previous record of 135'7". She also improved to 42'10" in
the shot, but lost the school record to teammate Evangela Dixon.
Waller finished the season as a finalist in the Cal/Nevada Championship
in the hammer.
"Syreeta has only begun to touch her potential," Head Coach Chris
Rinne said. "She is acknowledged by coaches and officials as one
of the finest young throwing prospects in the country."
Waller, who hails from Hesperia, is majoring in Biomedical Science.
"Records are generally broken by fractions of inches in throwing
events in track and field," UCR Athletics Director Stan Morrison
said. "At UCR, a sophomore woman has emerged who breaks records
by many feet! With the potential to become a national or international
star in her events of the discus, hammer throw and shot put, Syreeta
Waller's teammates and coaches are excited about seeing her perform
in the blue and gold uniform for the next two seasons. Coachable
like few before her, Syreeta is becoming a student and expert
in her events and is destined to permanently etch her name in
Highlander record books. A bright future hardly describes what
is on the horizon for our Female Athlete of the Year."
Braveheart Award - Jennifer Benbury
UC Riverside senior softball player Jennifer Benbury was named
the winner of the Braveheart Award for 2000-01. The award was
presented at the Braveheart Auction and Food Festival on June
1.
The Braveheart Award is presented to a student-athlete, coach
or staff member who has shown exemplary courage.
Benbury originally enrolled at UCR in 1991 and played softball
in 1993, hitting .330 and blasting the first grand slam in program
history before injuries cut short her season.
In 1994 Benbury left UCR to join the US Army. She served for
four and a half years, reaching the rank of sergeant. After her
discharge, she went to work for a year before returning to UCR
to finish her degree.
But just returning to school wasn't enough for this young woman,
who walked on to the UCR softball team and earned a spot on the
squad that was playing its first ever Division I schedule. She
moved up the depth chart and was soon the starting right fielder,
batting in the heart of the Highlander order. She finished the
season batting .198 with five doubles, a triple, a homer and a
team-high 14 RBI.
Benbury, who resides in Rainbow in northern San Diego County,
will graduate in the fall of 2001 with a degree in liberal studies.
"Jennifer was asked to make a commitment to the program, and
she did so with a passion that I have seen in very few," Miller-Reif
said. "She has been a big sister to the entire team and a needed
leader by example for me. I have had few student-athletes who
have made such a large impact in such a short period of time."
"Courage comes in many sizes, shapes and colors. Walking on to
an intercollegiate Division I athletics team requires not only
courage, but vision and real moxie," UCR Director of Athletics
Stan Morrison said. "It takes courage to be the 'big sister' to
a team when everyone is significantly younger are a newcomer.
These qualities and the admiration and appreciation of her fellow
teammates, coaches, administration, staff and all student-athletes
at UCR helped garner the Braveheart Award for Jennifer Benbury,"
Rob Roy Award - Jayson Swigart
Sophomore Jayson Swigart, a member of the UC Riverside track
and field and cross country teams, has been named the winner of
the Rob Roy Award. The award was presented at the Braveheart Auction
and Food Festival on June 1.
The Rob Roy Award is given to a student-athlete, coach or staff
member who has shown exemplary integrity. Swigart, a native of
Moreno Valley, earned the honor by virtue of his effort as a student-athlete
and for showing exceptional caring in his performance of a job
that is more than "just a job." In addition to being a full time
student-athlete, he works as a live-in aide to Billy Mulligan,
who is confined to a wheelchair, despite carrying a full academic
load and having frequent practices as a dual-sport athlete.
A philosophy major, Swigart was one of the top runners on the
UCR cross country team, overcoming an early season slump to take
first on his team in each of the last four races.
"If something needs to get done, from birthdays to vacation workouts,
Jayson is the one that sees to it that it happens," Head Coach
Chris Rinne said. "He is, without a doubt, the conscience and
the emotional leader of our team."
Off the track, Swigart made a big contribution as the track and
field and cross country representative to the UCR Student Athlete
Advisory Council. As a member of SAAC, he participated in the
organizing and carrying out numerous community projects, such
as the UCR Athletics Shoe Drive and the Christmas Gift Drive to
Benefit the Riverside Department of Social Services.
"Enthusiasm, passion and a love of his fellow man characterizes
the Male Athlete recipient of the Rob Roy Award for unusual integrity,"
UCR Director of Athletics Stan Morrison said. "His teammates simply
know they can count on him to lead them in cross country and as
a team. His coaches recognize him as the conscience of the team.
Billy Mulligan knows this man as far more. He is a dear friend,
a companion, a cook, a driver, a brother to someone in need 24
hours a day. The integrity to show a loving and caring attitude
daily is why Jayson Swigart is the Male Athlete Rob Roy Award
recipient."
Rob Roy Award - Coach Lisa James
Lisa James, who served as an assistant softball coach and assistant
sports information director at UC Riverside during the 2000-2001
school year, has been named the winner of the Rob Roy Award. The
award was presented at the Braveheart Auction and Food Festival
on June 1.
The Rob Roy Award is given to a student-athlete, coach or staff
member who has shown exemplary integrity. James, who graduated
from UCR in 1999, showed dedication and devotion despite having
to wear many hats, while finishing work on her master's degree
in statistics at Cal Poly Pomona. Her effort was evident, whether
it was preparing the field for play, recruiting, or helping the
softball team find the classes they needed to take to further
their education.
"Lisa's main goal was to be able to help keep the kids on track
academically and still maintain the team's practice schedule,"
Head Coach Rachel Miller-Reif said. "Her emphasis on the details
have kept our student-athletes focused on the idea that obtaining
a degree is mandatory. She has gotten this program on the right
path for the future." Away from the field James threw herself
into her role as an assistant SID, despite not having any prior
experience in the field.
"Lisa gave it all she had from day one and was very hungry to
learn more," UCR Sports Information Director Ross French said.
"Her devotion towards doing a good job the first time is rivaled
only by her love for her alma mater." "I thank goodness for Lisa
James and her willingness to take on more than she thought she
could handle," Miller-Reif said.
"In making the transition from player to coach to administrator
in a two year period, Lisa demonstrated an unusual level of maturity,
strength and character," UCR Athletics Director Stan Morrison
said. "Her commitment to the academic perspective of the softball
team was reflected again in detailed work with the student-athletes
in the program.
To do it all with a smile, behind the scenes, speaks to the level
of integrity that the Rob Roy Award stands for and why Lisa James
is this year's recipient as a coach."
UCR Scholar-Athlete of the Year - Laura Ratto
Senior Laura Ratto has been named the UC Riverside Scholar-Athlete
of the Year Award winner for the 2000-2001 academic year. The
award was presented at the Braveheart Auction and Food Festival
on June 1.
The award is selected by a committee of scholars and athletes
and is presented annually to a student-athlete whose athletic
and scholarly achievements are deemed most outstanding.
Ratto, a native of Oakland, CA, was selected not merely for her
athletic and academic ability, but also for her exhibition of
leadership and mental toughness during a trying season as the
Highlanders faced their first Division I schedule.
Ratto graduated in the Fall of 2000 with a degree in psychology,
finishing her program with a 3.482 grade point average and a 3.612
GPA in her junior and senior years. In Spring of 2000, Ratto presented
her Upper Division University Honors Thesis, Effects of Perceived
Versus Preferred Coach Leadership Styles on Athletes Performance
and Satisfaction.
"Laura Ratto was our top student-athlete," Coach Sue Gozansky
said. "Number one is volleyball, and the other number one is academics.
She has put all of her energy into being successful in both areas
and wants to continue utilizing these disciplines in her career."
Ratto plans to go on to earn a Ph.D. in psychology with the goal
of becoming a university professor. She hopes to research how
physiological and mental responses and thoughts affect performance
and how to optimize those conditions
"Laura represents all that is good in Intercollegiate Athletics
because she has managed to maintain balance at the highest level
while setting records as an athlete and as a student," UCR Director
of Athletics Stan Morrison said. "She has achieved star status
as an athlete, setting school records as a setter while being
nominated for the Rhodes Scholarship, the highest academic award
available for students in American higher education. This university
is extremely proud to award this outstanding young woman with
an award that reflects those accomplishments."
The Lindy Award - Julie Shaw
UC Riverside junior women's basketball player Julie Shaw was
named the winner of the Lindy Award for 2000-2001. The award was
presented at the Braveheart Auction and Food Festival on June
1.
The Lindy Award is presented annually to the student-athlete
or service group member who has demonstrated exceptional dedication
by participating in extracurricular activities in the community
and at the university, and who is in satisfactory academic standing.
Shaw served as UCR Student Athlete Advisory Council President
and was involved in organizing and carrying out numerous community
projects, such as the UCR Athletics Shoe Drive and the Christmas
Gift Drive to Benefit the Riverside Department of Social Services.
Additionally, she was selected by the NCAA to participate in
the NCAA Foundation 2001 Leadership Conference in Orlando, FL.
On the court, Shaw has been a three-year starter for the Highlanders
and a team captain the last 2 years. Last season she finished
second on the team in scoring with an 11.1 points per game average
and had a team high 7.1 rebounds per game.
"Julie Shaw exemplifies the ideal role model that we strive for
in a student-athlete," Head Women's Basketball Coach Jennifer
Young said. "Julie is exceptional in many areas of her life, including
time management, responsibility, dedication and social skills.
Each are important not only as an elite student-athlete, but also
in life."
Shaw, a native of Riverside, is a psychology with a 3.19 GPA.
"Julie has excelled in so many ways since she came to UCR," UCR
Athletics Director Stan Morrison said. "Balance in one's life
comes from the capacity to be organized and use the commodity
of time in a meaningful way. Frank Lindeburg wanted to see to
it that such a person was annually recognized and honored and
this year we have found just such a young woman. Julie Shaw is
the recipient of the Lindy Award for 2001. Our heartfelt congratulations
go out to this wonderful woman who will return for her senior
season next year."
February 28, 2001
Sunday's baseball game between the University
of California, Riverside and the University of Washington will be
rebroadcast in Riverside on Charter Communications Channel 3 on
Saturday and Sunday, March 10 and 11 at 1:30 PM.
"We had a great deal of success with our
televising of men's basketball games, so we decided to expand
it to baseball as well," Associate Athletics Director Cliff Dochterman
said.
Dan Hubbard will do the play by play for
the game.
The Highlanders also plan to televise their
game on Friday, April 20th vs. Long Beach State.
November 27, 2000
Highlander Team to Begin Play in
2001-2002
The University of California, Riverside has
hired University of Texas, El Paso Coach Veronica O'Brien to be
the Highlanders' new head women's soccer coach, Athletics Director
Stan Morrison announced today.
"We are delighted with the appointment of Veronica
O'Brien as our women's soccer coach. Her past experience in building
a program from the ground up makes her a terrific addition to our
staff," Morrison said.
Women's soccer at UCR is scheduled to begin
play during the 2001-2002 academic year, the Highlander's first
at the NCAA Division I level and their first in the Big West Conference.
O'Brien will begin immediately.
A native of Barrie, Ontario, Canada, O'Brien
was picked by UTEP to lead their inaugural program prior to the
1996 season. In her five years the Miners evolved into a league
power. In her tenure she won the 1998 WAC Mountain Division Coach
of the Year Award, guided her team to the WAC Mountain Division
title, and notched wins over schools from the Pac-10, Big Ten, and
Big Twelve Conferences. In 2000 her team went 8-12 overall and 3-4
in the Western Athletic Conference.
She joined UTEP after spending 1994 and 1995
as an assistant coach at her alma mater, the University of New Hampshire.
During her tenure at UNH she worked with the Olympic Development
Program and started the women's Division I volleyball program, serving
as head coach in 1995.
O'Brien was an outstanding center midfielder
for UNH from 1990-93. A three-time All-North Atlantic Conference
honoree and All-American in 1993, she finished her career as the
third-highest point scorer in NAC history with 51 points (16 goals,
19 assists).
O'Brien played on the Canadian National team
from 1988 to 1998 and was the starting midfielder for the 1995 Canadian
team that competed in the World Cup in Sweden. She also represented
Canada in the 1993 World University Games and Team Ontario in the
1992 Canada Olympic Games.
August 21, 2000
Chaffey High, UCLA Graduate
was Assistant Coach at University of Washington
The University of California, Riverside
has hired Nat Gonzalez as the new men's soccer coach, Director of
Athletics Stan Morrison announced Monday.
"We
are extremely pleased to announce Nat's appointment," Morrison said.
"He has outstanding playing and coaching experience and will be
an outstanding addition to the Highlander athletics family."
Men's soccer is scheduled to begin play during
the 2001-2002 academic year, the Highlander's first at the NCAA
Division I level and their first in the Big West Conference. Gonzalez
will begin his duties immediately and will have a year to build
his first team.
"We have a lot of work ahead of us, and the
road will not be an easy one," Gonzalez said. "I look forward to
the challenge and believe that we will have a first-rate program
in place in the near future."
Gonzalez comes to UCR from the University of
Washington, where he had served as the Huskies' assistant coach
under Coach Dean Wurzberger from 1996 to 2000. In his tenure, the
Huskies won the 1998 and 1999 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation
Championships and were consistently ranked in the top-20.
Prior to joining Washington he had also served
as an assistant at Cal Poly Pomona in 1995-96 and as a graduate
assistant for the UCLA women's soccer team in 1994-95.
He is a 1988 graduate of Chaffey High School
in Ontario, CA, where he earned three letters and first-team All-Baseline
League as a senior and second team honors as a sophomore and junior.
Gonzalez was a standout goaltender and four-year letterman at UCLA
from 1988-'91, helping the Bruins to the 1990 NCAA National Championship.
In 1991 he was selected to the Olympic Development Program Under-23
Regional Team. He was drafted by the Wichita Wings of the Major
Indoor Soccer League, where he played from 1991-'93. He also played
with the Arizona Sandsharks in 1993, the Los Angeles Salsa in 1994-'95,
and the Seattle SeaDogs in 1995-'96.
Gonzalez earned his bachelor's degree in psychology
in 1995. He possesses a United States Soccer Federation "B" License
and is a member of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
In his free time he enjoys playing golf, running, basketball and
reading biographies. He and his wife Kari will reside in Temecula.
Located in the city of Riverside, UCR has 13,000
students and was recently selected as the most beautiful UC campus.
Long a Division II power, the Highlanders begin their second year
of transition to NCAA Division I in 2000-2001. They will join the
Big West Conference in 2001-2002. Other members of the conference
include UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, Cal State Fullerton, Long Beach
State, Cal State Northridge, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, the University
of the Pacific, Utah State University, and Idaho.
Gonzalez is the second head coach hiring of
the summer, following the naming of Paul Hjulberg as director of
men's golf and women's golf in June. The department expects to announce
the hiring of a women's soccer coach following the Fall 2000 soccer
season.
June 26, 2000
Long-time Riverside vascular
surgeon Dr. Raymond Richardson has given UC Riverside their first-ever
fully endowed athletic scholarship. The scholarship is the first
fully endowed sport-specific scholarship in UCR history and comes
shortly after the school hired a new golf coach, Paul Hjulberg,
to rebuild the men's and women's golf programs.
A strong supporter of the community and believer
in helping youth and doing charitable work, Richardson passed
away on June 29, 2000, six weeks after being diagnosed with liver
cancer. He is survived by his wife, Rosemarie; three daughters,
Julie Omsberg of Belgrade, Maine, Gayle of New York, and Carol
Kimmelman of Bernardsville, N.J; a son, Laurence of Wellesley,
MA; and 10 grand children. He practiced vascular surgery in Riverside
from 1965 to his retirement in 1995.
According to long-time friend and retired
local lawyer Mickey Raftery, Richardson was an avid golfer who
enjoyed the competition and the camaraderie that the game provided.
A familiar face at Victoria Club, his love for the game had taken
him to courses all over the world, most recently to Ireland in
the summer of 1999 for 14 days of golf.
"We would like to express our heartfelt sorrow
to the family regarding Dr. Richardson's passing," UCR Director
of Athletics Stan Morrison said. "This scholarship will carry
on his name and legacy and will memorialize him for years to come."
"We are grateful to Dr. Richardson and his
family to have granted this endowment. It will provide an additional
full scholarship to our men's golf program," UCR Director of Golf
Paul Hjulberg added. "It will give us the opportunity to attract
top prospects to our university and really fulfill his dream to
give a youngster the opportunity to play golf and get an outstanding
education."
Anyone who would like to contribute to the
scholarship may send donations to the Dr. Ray Richardson Golf
Scholarship; Attn: Cliff Dochterman, Associate Director of Athletics/Development,
University of California, Riverside, Riverside CA 92521. For more
information, call (951) 827-4292.
June 20, 2000
Highlander Golf Teams to Begin Play
in 2001-2002
The University of California,
Riverside has hired former Canyon Crest Country Club Golf Professional
Paul Hjulberg as director of men's and women's golf, Director of
Athletics Stan Morrison announced Tuesday.
"We are delighted with the appointment of
Paul Hjulberg to the Director of Men's and Women's Golf at UCR.
His commitment to young people, strong ties to the community and
his ambition to build our golf program from the ground up made
him an attractive and popular choice for the position," Morrison
said.
"I am honored to be selected and I'm excited
to start these two programs at UC Riverside," Hjulberg said. "I
think a strong foundation is there and it won't be long before
we are competitive."
Men's and women's golf at UCR are scheduled
to begin play during the 2001-2002 academic year, the Highlander's
first at the NCAA Division I level and their first in the Big
West Conference. Hjulberg, who will work full-time and will oversee
both teams, will begin July 1 and will have over 14 months to
recruit his first team.
"We are particularly impressed with Paul's
intimate knowledge of junior golf in Southern California because
that will serve as the foundation for his recruiting," Morrison
added. "I know his friends and colleagues in the golfing profession
are thrilled that Paul has this unique opportunity."
Although Hjulberg (pronounced "jewel-berg")
has no prior college coaching experience, he has worked as a golf
professional at Canyon Crest Country Club since 1980. He was responsible
for the total golf operations and has given over 5,000 lessons
to golfers of all levels. He has also planned and coordinated
30-plus member tournaments each year, 20-plus outings per year,
and an annual summer junior golf program for 60+ junior athletes.
"The last couple of years I have been looking
for a change, but I wanted to stay in golf," Hjulberg said. "I
think Riverside is a good fit for me right now. I have a lot of
experience in golf and I understand the juniors system in Southern
California. We'll be looking for good, well-rounded kids who are
excellent golfers, but who also want to graduate from college."
In 1998 he was honored by the San Bernardino-Riverside
Chapter PGA with the Bill Strausbaugh Award for Club Relations.
He has competed in over 125 professional events, winning the PGA
Section Pro-President in 1985 and again in 1996, and the 1981
PGA Chapter Four Ball Championship.
A graduate of Palos Verdes High School in
1974, Hjulberg attended and played golf at Long Beach City College
from 1975-77 and at Utah State University from 1977-1979. He graduated
in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Personnel and Industrial
Relations. Since graduating he has completed 132 hours of continuing
education, including seminars on golf instruction, strategic planning,
goal setting, budgeting, forecasting, expense control, personnel
management, tournament/event coordination and merchandising.
Hjulberg has been a member of the PGA since
1983 and has held several offices, including being a member of
the San Bernardino - Riverside Chapter PGA Board since 1996. He
has also served as PGA Chapter Junior Golf Chairman in 2000 and
as PGA Chapter President and PGA Section Board member in 1999.
Located in the city of Riverside, UCR has
12,000 students and was recently selected as the most beautiful
UC campus. Long a Division II power, the Highlanders just concluded
their first year of transition to NCAA Division I. They will join
the Big West Conference in 2001-2002. Other members of the conference
include UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, Cal State Fullerton, Long
Beach State, Cal State Northridge, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, the
University of the Pacific, Utah State University, and Idaho.
Men's golf and women's golf are the first
of the four new UCR sports scheduled to debut in the 2001-2002
season to hire their coaches. The department expects to announce
the hiring of men's and women's soccer coaches in the next few
weeks.
Surprise "Order of Braveheart" Awards
Cap Off Annual Student Athlete Awards Banquet
The UC Riverside Athletic Department put
the crowning touch on the 1999-2000 school year with the annual
Student-Athlete Awards Banquet on June 4.
The evening began with dinner at the UCR
commons, then the audience was invited by UCR Athletics Director
Stan Morrison to follow a pair of bagpipers dressed in traditional
Highland costumes across the campus to the UCR Theatre for the
awards portion of the evening.
Following the awards ceremony came the surprise
presentation of the "Order of Braveheart," The honorees were each
presented with a replica of the two-handed longsword that Scottish
hero William Wallace wielded. Each sword was engraved with the
honoree's name and their "number" in the group.
Following is a summary of the honorees from
the evening.
Order of Braveheart Inductees
A surprise award that capped off the evening
honoring individuals who had been instrumental in elevating the
standard of preeminence for which UCR is known throughout the
world. Morrison brought each inductee to the stage and had them
"dubbed" into the order.
#1 UC Riverside Chancellor Raymond Orbach
- Stan Morrison on Orbach: "His dedication and vision for strong
intercollegiate athletics programs have been evident through his
leadership and allocation of resources for each of us to move
forward."
#2 Dr. Fred Bryant (1961 graduate, served
as president of UCR Athletics Association and UCR Alumni Association)
- Morrison on Bryant: "His years of continuing leadership positioned
UCR for our move to the NCAA Division I level, keeping the vision
alive through various trials and tribulations."
#3 Nick Goldware (UCR graduate and 1988 inductee
into UCR Hall of Fame) - Morrison on Goldware: "His contributions
to UCR athletics read like a road map of our success. Each successful
venture we have made has had his signature. As a past President
of the UCR athletics Association, the UCR Alumni Association,
chairman and eventual title sponsor of the Gary McCord Golf Classic
and a trustee of the UCR Foundation are just a sampling of his
contributions to our university."
#4 Michael Marlatt (Local attorney, served
four consecutive terms as the UCR Athletics Association President)
- Morrison on Marlatt: "He has worked tirelessly behind the scenes
building strategies while building support from all corners of
the Inland Empire. His leadership demonstrated to the Big West
Conference that UCR had strong community support and was ready
to accept the challenge of Big West competition."
#5 UCR Vice Chancellor Administration Michael
Webster - Morrison on Webster: "His efforts on and off our campus
have truly resulted in the Highlanders opportunity to ascend to
NCAA Division I and become a member of the Big West Conference."
Male and Female Athletes of the Year
Senior baseball player Jeff Stevens and senior
volleyball player Jolene Small were named the Male and Female
Athletes of the Year for 1999-2000.
Stevens, a graduate of Mayfair High School
in Bellflower, CA, had an outstanding career as a student-athlete
at UC Riverside. He has been named All-CCAA three times and All-District
twice, and leaves the Highlanders with a career batting average
of .367. In 2000, Stevens was the picture of consistency as he
posted a team best .401 average, becoming just the 14th player
in UCR history to top the .400 mark. He was held hitless in just
four of the 52 games he played, and failed to reach base at all
in just one game. Defensively, Stevens played third base, catcher
and left field, all with equal excellence.
"Jeff never struggled and played outstanding
defense," UCR Head Coach Jack Smitheran said. "He provided hope
and light when team was struggling in difficult times. This season,
and throughout his career, we couldn't ask for anything more than
he has provided. He done everything we have asked him to do."
Stevens also led the team with a .389 average with runners in
scoring position and had a team best four triples. His 47 RBI,
14 doubles and .561 slugging percentage were each second on the
team. In 1999 Stevens set the school single season doubles record
with 28, a total which also led the nation.
Off the field, Jeff has served on the Student-Athlete
Advisory Council at UCR and will graduate in Spring 2000 with
a degree in history.
Small, a 5-11 middle blocker who transferred
to UCR from Moorpark JC in 1998, led the Highlanders in kills
(378), kills per game (3.780), and led the hitters in hitting
percentage at .278. Defensively she registered a team high 116
blocks, including 25 solo blocks and 91 block assists. She also
recorded 214 digs. Following the season she received All-CCAA
second team honors.
"Jolene was a player who was really fun for
fans to watch play," Head Coach Sue Gozansky said. "She hit some
spectacular balls at great angles, and her play made us effective.
She almost had to hit well in every game if we were going to win,
and more often than not she did. Defensively she helped to shut
down opponents with her blocking ability."
Small recorded 23 games with 10 or more kills
and recorded a career high 24 in her final game against Cal State
Stanislaus.
Gozansky described Small as a quiet leader
on the floor.
"She kept the team under the control," Gozansky
said. "She had a real even-keel personality and was always able
to keep the team in a calm state of mind. She never got too high
or too low."
Small will graduate in Winter 2000 with a
degree in human development and a minor of sociology.
Braveheart Award
Sophomore softball player Monique Baeza and
Women's Basketball Coach Jennifer Young were named the winners
of the inaugural Braveheart Award, which is given to the student-athlete,
coach and/or staff member who has shown exemplary courage.
Baeza, who lost her mother to a brain tumor
three years ago, was honored for her efforts with her family,
as she made the decision to stay close to home to help her father
with her younger brother and sister. She frequently returns home
to take her sister to practice or help her brother do his homework,
placing the family first and working to become a female role model
for her siblings.
Her "never-say-die" attitude carries over
to the softball field, where she has done whatever is necessary
to help her team to the next level.
"She is the ultimate team player, and I am
glad that she is on our team and that she is only a sophomore,"
Miller-Reif said. "The season was difficult, to say the least
in terms of wins and losses, but she found a way to keep going
and would do whatever would make the team better."
"For a young woman to lose her mother at
such a crucial time in her life and continue to help, motivate
and lead others astounds me," Miller-Reif added. " She has shown
by example and wants to be pushed all the time. She is the guardian
of her family and the commander of our UCR softball family."
Young, in her third year as the head of the
women's program, overcame a tremendous personal ordeal involving
verbal taunting and attacks by a neighbor. The incidents produced
several 911 calls and subsequent court appearances, and made her
home life almost impossible to cope with. Rather than run away,
Young fought back and helped send the perpetrator to prison.
Despite the fact that these incidents took
place during the basketball season, Young continued with her duties
as basketball coach and never let the incidents factor into her
day-to-day job responsibilities, nor effect the team in any way.
Though the incidents were not widely known, Young showed courage
and bravery to an extreme that has earned the utmost respect of
her peers on the UCR coaching staff.
"Coach Young has an inner strength that is
reflected by an element of calm whether on the sidelines with
her team or facing great personal harm," UCR Director of Athletics
Stan Morrison said. "I observed a sense of purpose and commitment,
to do the right thing, while she moved through the minefields
of her dilemma. I admire her like few others I have ever known
in my professional career."
Rob Roy Award
Another award making it's debut in 2000 was
the Rob Roy Award, and is given to a student-athlete, coach, and/or
staff member who has shown exemplary integrity. Senior cross country
and track and field runner Phil Gonzalez and Assistant Baseball
Coach Doug Smith were named recipients of the award.
Gonzalez, who graduated in June with a degree
in sociology, was honored for his work and devotion to his teammates
and his program during the Highlanders' transition to NCAA Division
I, a period in which they were ineligible for post-season competition.
But rather than give up, Gonzalez continued his role as the heart
and soul of our men's distance running program in 1999-2000 and
drove other athletes to excel as well.
"The ability to compete, win and reflect
real values sets Phil above and apart from so many student-athletes
in American culture today," UCR Director of Athletics Stan Morrison
said. "His love of competition and willingness to lead his teammates
was inspiring to all who ran at his side. The element of true
integrity was demonstrated daily by his work ethic, leadership
and ultimate success."
As team captain and first man, Gonzalez led
the UCR cross-country team to the championship of the college
division at the prestigious Stanford Invitational, one of the
biggest wins in UCR history. Over Spring break, Gonzalez organized
"Camp Kenya," a training camp for the UCR distance runners. "The
esprit de corps and training from 'Camp Kenya' was instrumental
in assisting five or our runners to lifetime best performances
this season," Head Coach Chris Rinne said.
Gonzalez went on to win the 1,500 meters
at the California/Nevada Collegiate State Championships, defeating
runners from throughout the PAC-10, Big West and WAC conferences
and finished the season with a win in the 1,500 at the CCAA Championships
in 3:51.47.
Gonzalez also leaves a lasting legacy on
the department and each year's graduating class of seniors, as
he conceptualized the medallion that will be presented annually
to the class of graduating seniors. Smith exemplifies the spirit
of the award by showing integrity and courage in the face of an
extremely difficult life experience, the life-threatening illness
of his wife, Ruthan.
"Despite the tremendous pressures that he
was under, Doug continued to practice the type of work ethic and
integrity that we have come to know from him," Coach Jack Smitheran
said. "The student-athletes knew of the situation he was going
through and genuinely respected the fact that he continued to
work and support them, as well as his family." Although her illness
occurred right in the midst of baseball season, Ruthan said that
she knew that she would not be going through her ordeal alone.
"There was never any question that Doug was
going to be there for me, despite the fact that it was right in
the middle of baseball season," she said. "He is 110% behind Jack
and the program and 110% behind his family, and I appreciate the
sacrifice that he made."
"The pain that a loved one experiences can
be nearly as painful for family and friends. Such was the case
for Coach Smith as he endured the uncertainty of his beloved Ruthan's
circumstances," UCR Director of Athletics Stan Morrison said.
"However, the same coach showed daily with the upbeat and positive
attitude that is typical of his being. The ability to demonstrate
that level of strength is a measure of integrity few ever have
to face."
UCR Academic Senate Award, Scholar-Athlete
of the Year
UC Riverside women's tennis player Shari
Cook was named the University of California Scholar-Athlete of
the Year Award winner for the 1999-2000 academic year. The award
is selected by a committee of scholars and athletes and is presented
annually to a student-athlete whose athletic and scholarly achievements
are deemed most outstanding.
"In an age where athletes seem to lose balance
in their lives, Shari Cook demonstrates that excellence as a student,
athlete and human being don't need to be mutually exclusive,"
UCR Director of Athletics Stan Morrison said. "Her ability to
effectively control her time, mind and athleticism has resulted
in achieving one of the highest awards any student-athlete can
possibly receive."
As a Liberal Studies major, Shari made the
Dean's List every quarter and completed her work for the Bachelor
of Arts Degree with a 3.70 cumulative GPA. She has gone on to
pursue a teaching credential and has posted a 4.0 GPA in her student
teaching and course work.
On the court, she was the Highlanders' #1
singles player, recording a 6-10 mark, and a member of the #1
doubles team, posting a 9-8 record with partners Cheryl Bauzon
and Toni Tagami. Following the season, Cook was named to the CCAA
All-Conference Second Team. In addition, Cook was named an ITA
Scholar-Athlete All-American and a CoSIDA District VIII Academic
All-American.
"This year was a difficult year for her as
a student-athlete, because she was involved in her student teaching
and really didn't have as much time as she would have liked to
commit to the sport," Head Women's Tennis Coach Mark Henry said.
"But she was able to balance her academic and athletic responsibilities
and was a major contributor to the team and the success that we
had this season. Her academic and athletic achievements speak
for themselves."
The Lindy Award
Senior men's tennis player Bryan Hollenbeck
was named the winner of the Lindy Award for 1999-2000. Named in
honor of former UCR athletics director Frank Lindeberg, the Lindy
Award is presented annually to the student-athlete or service
group member who has demonstrated exceptional dedication by participating
in extracurricular activities in the community and at the university,
and who is in satisfactory academic standing.
"Bryan has been a very important part of
the men's tennis program here at UC Riverside for the past four
years, and his contributions have come both on and off the court,"
Coach Mark Henry said.
A business administration major with an emphasis
in finance, Hollenbeck has a 3.85 cumulative GPA and a 3.94 GPA
in his major. He has been a four-year member of the Alpha Lambda
Delta National Honor Society, serving as president his senior
year, as well as a four-year participant in the UCR Honors program.
He is a two-year member of the Golden Key Honor Society has twice
been named an ITA Scholar-Athlete All-American.
Hollenbeck founded and is president of the
UCR Black Knights Chess Club and has served as a teaching assistant/lab
instructor at UCR. In addition, he has worked as a volunteer tutor
at Sherman Institute and a paid tutor at Norte Vista High School
for the last two years. During each of the last three Christmas
seasons, he has packaged food for need families as part of the
Needy Families Program.
On the court, Hollenbeck has been a four-year
starter for the Highlanders and finished the 2000 campaign in
the number two singles position and as a team captain.
"Giving consistently to your community, while
competing at the highest level, both on the tennis court and in
the classroom is a measure of greatness. When you can excel in
each endeavor, you walk with kings," UCR Athletics Director Stan
Morrison said. "Bryan has demonstrated this unique ability better
than any student-athlete at UCR. He reflects consummately the
community service of the man for whom the award was created, Frank
Lindeburg."
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