Sul Ross names ‘Student-Athletes Of The Year’

ALPINE Austin Davidson of Hallsville, Art Gonzalez of El Paso and Nitra Woods of Andrews were the recipients of the Male and Female Athlete of the Year awards as Sul Ross State University student-athletes were honored for the past year's performances.
Davidson, a four-year letter winner in football and the American Southwest Conference's two-time javelin champion in track and field, won the award for the second straight year.

Woods, the Lady Lobos' leading scorer and rebounder in women's basketball, also received the honor a second time.

Gonzalez, a four-year letter winner in men's basketball, was recognized for the first time.

The annual awards banquet was held April 29 at the University Center's Becky Ramos Espino Conference Center. All-conference and academic all-conference awards were presented, as well as team honors.

Gonzalez and Janice Mitchell of Round Rock received the Lobos' Scholar-Athlete Awards and Moises Morales of Fort Hancock and Celina Candelaria of El Paso received Sportsmanship Awards.

Recipients and their hometowns of team honors are:
>> Athletic Training: Senior Award, Rogelia Rocha, Tornillo.
>> Cross Country: Outstanding Male Runner, Larry Lovato, Lubbock; Outstanding Female Runner, Stephanie Gutierrez, El Paso; Karen Hancock, El Paso; Senior Award, Gutierrez, Hancock.
>> Volleyball: Defensive Player of the Year, Jennifer Harder, El Paso; Lyndi Cypher, Monahans; Offensive Player of the Year, Stacey Macias, Fabens; Newcomer of the Year, Bianca Espinoza, San Antonio; and Senior Awards, Cypher, Harder, Macias.
>> Football: Best Offensive Player, T.J. Barber, Midland; Best Special Teams Player, Michael Van Wagner, Bandera; Best Defensive Player, Jamal Johnson, Odessa; Most Valuable Player, Austin Davidson, Hallsville; Outstanding Newcomer, Nathan Blair, Shelbyville; Lobo Award, Fernie Acosta, El Paso; Milo Garza, Pharr; and Senior Awards, Davidson, Barber, Garza, Preston Watts, Brazoria; Nathan Graham, Odessa; Ben Ahrens, Cuero; Zach Gideon, Hallsville; Mike Flynt, Odessa; Chris Vela, Stockdale.
>> Women's Basketball: Most Valuable Player, Nitra Woods; Andrews; Defensive Player of the Year, DeShonna Hill, Odessa; Most Improved Player, Casi Tribbett, Eden; Curtis Bozarth Leadership Award, Janice Mitchell, Round Rock; and Senior Award, Morgan Johnson, Christoval; Woods, Mitchell.
>> Men's Basketball: Most Valuable Player, Filiberto Torres, Clint; Offensive Player of the Year, Art Gonzalez, El Paso; Defensive Player of the Year, Moises Morales, Fort Hancock; Newcomer of the Year, Roderick Gunter, Houston; Most Improved Player, Karl Barnes, Houston; Most Important Rebounder, Jermaine Packer, Midland; and Senior Awards, Gonzalez, Packer.
>> Softball: Defensive Player of the Year, Valerie Olivares, San Antonio; Offensive Player of the Year, Vanadie Carpio, Houston; Most Improved Player, Kara Lick, Gatesville; Newcomer of the Year, Bianca Espinoza, San Antonion; and Lobo Award, Chelsea Rios, Marfa. 
>> Baseball: Golden Glove Award, Javier Arrieta, El Paso; Most Valuable Player, Arrieta; Offensive Player Award, Arrieta; Defensive Player Award, Chris Rodriguez, San Angelo; Pitcher Award, Michael Otero, Houston; Jaime Rojo, Alpine; Cody Kemmerling, Hitchcock; Team Leader Award, Monte Piper, Houston; Lobo Award, James Johnson, Killeen; Senior Award, Kemmerling, Rojo, Otero, Will Montano, El Paso; Harvey Cardiel, Tornillo; Richard Fraire, El Paso; John Kinsey, Lockhart. 
>> Tennis: Most Improved Player, April Arelleno, Fabens; James Aldridge, El Paso; Fighting Heart Award, Sandra Torres, Castroville; Most Dedicated Player, J.T. Taylor, Godley; Christie Gallardo, El Paso; and Senior Awards, Fernanda Busch, Sanderson.
>> Track: Outstanding Male Track Athlete, Larry Lovato, Lubbock; Outstanding Male Field Events Award, Josh Popham, Strawn; Outstanding Male Freshman, Morris Williams, Victoria; and Senior Awards, Austin Davidson, Hallsville; Ben Ahrens, Cuero; Popham.