MORAGA, Calif. -- The Saint Mary's athletic department honored its student-athletes at the 15th annual Gael Awards Show Tuesday night at the Soda Center on campus. 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 3.58. The men's basketball team earned the Gael Cup, awarded to the team with the highest winning percentage, after posting a 29-6 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 numerous youth basketball practices and clinics, works with local organizations and annually makes a significant impact to the area communities.
Men's basketball guard Joe Rahon and four-year softball starter Erica Musgrave 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.
Baseball pitcher Corbin Burnes and women's basketball senior Lauren Nicholson were named the Male and Female Athletes of the Year. A native of Bakersfield, Burnes has earned national attention as one of the top professional prospects in college baseball. He is among the West Coast Conference leaders in several statistical categories and is on the Watch List for several national awards. Nicholson, a native of Sydney, Australia, is a two-time first-team all-WCC selection and concluded her career as one of the program's all-time leading scorers and free throw shooters.
Rahon and beach volleyball freshman Lindsey Knudsen were named the Male and Female Newcomers of the Year. A transfer from Boston College, Rahon was the WCC Newcomer of the Year and earned first team all-league honors. Knudsen was named the WCC Freshman of the Year and teamed with Dalas Dodd to register a 19-4 record, including eight wins over nationally ranked teams.
Senior golfer Jonathan De Los Reyes' dominant showing at the WCC Championships earned the Male Individual Performance of the Year. He won the league title by 11 strokes and set program and WCC records in the process. The beach volleyball duo of Dodd and Knudsen was honored with the Female Individual Performance of the Year. They defeated the No. 1 ranked team from Pepperdine, which was ranked second nationally, at the WCC Championships in Santa Monica.
The SMC golf team's impressive WCC Championship earned the Male Team Performance of the Year honors. The Gaels ran away with their third league title in five years by a resounding 23 strokes to claim the WCC's automatic berth into the NCAA Regional Championships. The women's basketball team's tournament championship at Cal was honored as the Female Team Performance of the Year. The Gaels defeated host Cal and Villanova on consecutive days to claim the tournament title.
The Brother Agnon Coach of the Year Award was delivered to baseball coach Eric Valenzuela. In his third season at Saint Mary's, he has the Gaels in first place in the WCC standings and has led SMC to series victories against every league opponent this season. SMC also has an impressive road victory at UC Santa Barbara and is on pace to qualify for the WCC Championships for the first time in program history.
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 Michael Flood for his support and service to SMC student-athletes.
The Todd Ogorzelec Student Employee of the Year award was presented to Justin Traille, a student assistant in the strength and conditioning area. Devon Bridges 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), Jocelyn Lubert (lacrosse), Lauren Watanabe (softball), Isabella Navarro (cross country/track), Carina Novell (cross country/track), Josh Spooner (cross country/track), Lisa Janko (women's basketball), Jana McCord (tennis), Lukas Isaacson (soccer) and Erica Musgrave (softball).
