MORAGA, Calif. -- The Saint Mary's athletic department honored its student-athletes at the 14th annual Gael Awards Show Monday night at the Rheem Theater. The event honors SMC student-athletes, top performers and noteworthy performances athletically and academically from the past year.
The Saint Mary's women's cross country team earned the department's award for the highest team grade point average with a cumulative GPA of 3.36. The men's soccer team earned the Gael Cup, awarded to the team with the highest winning percentage, after posting a 12-5-2 record – the highest number of victories in a single season in the program's history.
Women's basketball received the Lasallian Service Award, presented to the team that demonstrates commitment to the Saint Mary's College mission and dedication to helping the local community. The program conducts youth basketball practices and clinics, works with local Girl Scout troops and annually makes a significant impact to the area communities.
Men's soccer defender Bobby Conner and women's basketball forward Hayley Hendricksen were honored with the George R. McKeon Award, which is presented to a male and female graduating student-athlete who has achieved noteworthy success in the classroom, on the playing field and in extracurricular activities.
Men's soccer senior Andre Rawls and women's basketball junior Lauren Nicholson were named the Male and Female Athletes of the Year. A native of San Ramon, Rawls was named the West Coast Conference Goalkeeper of the Year and was drafted in the third round in Major League Soccer's SuperDraft. He was a first-team all-WCC and NSCAA all-Far West Region honoree. Nicholson, a native of Sydney, Australia, was a first-team all-WCC selection and set the third-highest single season scoring total in program history.
Baseball second baseman Zach Kirtley and women's basketball guard Stella Beck were named the Male and Female Newcomers of the Year. Kirtley led all WCC freshmen in hitting through 50 games and ranked in the top 10 in the conference overall. Beck was named the WCC Newcomer of the Year after leading the league in field goal percentage.
Rawls' 9-save performance in the Gaels' 2-1 overtime win at 4th ranked Washington earned the Male Individual Performance of the Year. Junior women's basketball guard Shannon Mauldin was honored with the Female Individual Performance of the Year after scoring 32 points in the Gaels' 92-88 win over Hawai'i in the Women's National Invitation Tournament.
The SMC men's soccer team's impressive early-season victory at Washington was selected the Male Team Performance of the Year. The Gaels were without several defensive starters due to injury and overcame a significant shot deficit to post the program's first ever victory over a top-5 nationally ranked team. The women's tennis team's dominant 6-1 win over 18th ranked Pepperdine was honored as the Female Team Performance of the Year. The Gaels earned the doubles point then battled to five of six singles victories on Senior Day at the Korth Tennis Center.
The Brother Agnon Coach of the Year Award was delivered to women's basketball coach Paul Thomas. Despite losing three of the top players in school history, he led the Gaels to a 23-11 record and won his 400th career game during the season. The Gaels played 21 of their 34 games against teams that qualified for the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the WNIT quarterfinals.
The department also honors several individuals who make a significant impact on the overall athletics program and the experience of its student-athletes. The Bryan Vargas Spirit Award, which recognizes the efforts of a College staff or faculty member who makes a significant contribution to SMC athletics, honored Derek Marks for his years of support and service to SMC student-athletes.
The newly named Todd Ogorzelec Student Employee of the Year award was presented to Danny Baladi, a student assistant in the strength and conditioning area. Haley McCollough was honored with the Mike Gibbons Volunteer of the Year Award after serving the department in a variety of areas throughout the year.
Athletic Director Mark Orr honored 10 student-athletes with the department's highest cumulative GPAs: Flannery Davis (women's soccer), Nate Nolan (baseball), Madelyn Hutson (volleyball), Sam Bloore (men's tennis), Carina Novell (women's cross country/track), Lowell Kirkwood (men's cross country/track), Isabella Navarro (women's cross country/track), Lukas Isaacson (men's soccer), Jordan Kurtz (men's cross country/track) and Erica Musgrave (softball).
Orr also recognized the accomplishment of the men's club rugby team, which won the program's second-consecutive national championship last weekend. The Gaels defeated Life University 30-24 in the national title game in Kennesaw, Ga.
