ELON, N.C. – Senior All-American football player Chad Nkang and senior Southern Conference champion pole vaulter Jessica Clendenning took home Stein H. Basnight Outstanding Athlete of the Year honors to top all accolades bestowed at the 33rd Annual Elon University Athletics Awards Banquet Monday evening at Alumni Gym.
A two-time SoCon Defensive Player of the Year, Nkang led the league in tackles the past three seasons en route to landing on the first team all-conference all three of those campaigns. The Phoenix linebacker was named to nine All-America squads – six first team and three second team – the last two years.
Nkang was dubbed the 2005 and 2006 Football Gazette South Region and National Linebacker of the Year as well as the 2006 CollegeSportsReport.com National Defensive Player of the Year. The 2007 Hula Bowl All-Star Classic Kai Team MVP was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the seventh round of last week’s NFL Draft.
A three-time SoCon champion, Clendenning collected all-conference accolades on seven occasions – four times in indoor competition and three times in outdoor action. The two-year NCAA East Regional qualifier ranked as high as 19th in the country this spring. She holds the Elon indoor and outdoor pole vault records as well as the SoCon indoor meet milestone.
Senior men’s basketball player Chris Chalko and senior softball player Paige Goss were recognized as the recipients of the Robert C. Browne Memorial Sportsmanship Award. Junior men’s cross country runner Eric Garren and junior women’s cross country and track and field athlete Katelyn Ealer claimed A.L. Hook Scholar-Athlete accolades. Garren garners a 3.96 cumulative grade-point average as a double major in business administration and finance while Ealer maintains a 3.94 cumulative GPA in psychology.
Since 1958, the Basnight Award has been presented annually by the family of the late Stein H. Basnight of Chapel Hill, N.C. to the most outstanding Elon male and female athletes of the year. The Browne Award was established in 1972 in memory of Elon alumnus Robert C. Browne by his sister, Pretto Browne-Crumpton, and her husband, Dr. J.L. Crumpton, and presented annually to the Elon male and female athletes who have best displayed exemplary qualities of sportsmanship. The Hook Award has been presented annually since 1975 in honor of Dr. A.L. Hook to the Elon male and female junior or senior athletes who possess the highest cumulative grade-point average with a minimum of two years of playing time at Elon.
Coach Chris Webb’s women’s soccer team was crowned the champion of Elon’s third annual CHAMPS/Life Skills Team Challenge. All of Elon’s athletic teams competed throughout the 2006-07 academic year to earn points in seven categories – “community outreach,” “team enhancement,” “personal enhancement,” “athletes supporting athletes,” “Student-Athlete Advisory Council leadership,” “highest grade-point average” and “above and beyond.”
Most Valuable Performer recognition went to Nkang in football, Will Mason in men’s soccer, Monica Houseworth in women’s soccer, Emily Downing in volleyball, Garren in men’s cross country, Anna Mae Flynn in women’s cross country, Catherine Colvard in cheerleading, Liz Hacker in dance, LeVonn Jordan in men’s basketball, Tierra Bumbrey in women’s basketball, Ann Stuart Ray in athletic training, men’s basketball manager Gray Hunter in service, Damon Gooch in men’s tennis, Deanna Bailey in women’s tennis, Goss in softball, Drew Davis in baseball, Jimmy Lytle in men’s golf, Danielle Mills in women’s golf and Clendenning in women’s track and field.
Coach Bill Morningstar’s men’s golf team also honored Jayson Judy (Most Improved Player), Lytle (Leadership Award) and Justin Newton (Coach’s Award) while SoCon Coach of the Year Chris Dockrill’s women’s golf squad acknowledged Kelsey Johnson (Most Improved Player), Samantha Widmer (Leadership Award) and Frederique Bruell (Coach’s Award).
Coach Pete Lembo’s football team recognized Irvin Raglin (Most Outstanding Defensive Back), Michael Moody (Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman), Corey Weaver (Most Outstanding Linebacker), Travis Wetzel (Most Outstanding Defensive Lineman), Terrell Hudgins (Most Outstanding Wide Receiver), Reggie Hall (Most Outstanding Offensive Back), Brandon Lane (Most Outstanding Special Teams Player) and Marty Redden (Leadership Award).
Coach Mike Kennedy’s baseball squad honored Chris Dove (Newcomer of the Year), Kevin Pratt (Coach’s Award), Steven Hensley (Pitcher of the Year), Jordy Snyder (Golden Glove Award), Patrick Irvine (Most Improved Player) and Chris Vasami (Sportsmanship Award).
Coach Brenda Paul’s women’s basketball team acknowledged Tiffany Davis (Best Newcomer) and Nikko King (Coach’s Award) while coach Ernie Nestor’s men’s basketball program recognized Jordan (Best Rebounder and Expo Award), John Charlesworth (Coach’s Award), Brett James (Top Defensive Player) and Scott Grable (Most Improved Player).
SoCon Coach of the Year Michael Leonard’s men’s tennis squad honored Austin Fenn (Most Improved Player) and Anuwat Dalodom (Leadership Award) while coach Elizabeth Perry’s women’s tennis team recognized Paige Kensrue (Most Improved Player) and Jenn Tucci (Heart & Hustle Award).
Coach Patti Raduenz’s softball program acknowledged Debbie Zeigler (Golden Glove Award) and Tracey Dahlen (Coach’s Award) while coach Mary Tendler’s volleyball squad honored Britany Westphal (Coach’s Award), Brooke Pickard (Most Improved Player) and Mandy Wilson (Top Newcomer).
Webb’s women’s soccer team recognized Cheryl Sanchez (Coach’s Award), Megan Aho (Golden Guts) and Alisa Petitt (Offensive MVP) while coach Darren Powell’s men’s soccer program acknowledged Steven Kinney (Top Newcomer), Brett Paschall (Scholar-Athlete) and Alex Barake (Scholar-Athlete).
Coach Jackie Sgambati’s women’s cross country squad honored Caitlin Beeler (Coach’s Award), Ealer (Hustle Award) and Katie White (Ms. Consistency). Sgambati’s men’s cross country unit recognized Adam Lindsey (Coach’s Award), Rick Myers (Hustle Award) and Jason MacCollum (Mr. Consistency). Coach Mark Elliston’s track and field team acknowledged Dominique Price (Outstanding Track Athlete) and Monique Vines (Outstanding Field Athlete).
Coach Sandra Bays’ cheerleading squad honored Dan Ragna (Coach’s Award) while coach Amanda Anderson-Rainie’s dance team recognized Michelle Murphy (Coach’s Award). Martin Baker’s athletic trainers acknowledged Natalie Myers (Sports Medicine Award).
– ELON –
