Photo by: UCR Athletics Media Relations
UC Riverside Honors 2011-12 At The Highlanders Awards Celebration
5/29/2012 12:39:00 PM | Baseball, General, Men's Basketball, Men's Cross Country, Men's Golf, Men's Soccer, Men's Tennis, Men's Track and Field, Softball, Women's Basketball, Women's Cross Country, Women's Golf, Women's Soccer, Women's Tennis, Women's Track and Field, Women's Volleyball
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The UC Riverside Athletics Department hosted its 2011-12 Highlanders Awards Celebration on Tuesday evening at Hub 302 on UCR's campus, honoring the achievements of the 2011-12 Highlanders student-athletes.
This year, the UC Riverside Athletics Department handed out 10 awards to distinguished student-athletes for their accomplishments during the 2011-12 season.
The first award was presented to men's basketball freshman Austin Quick as the recipient of the Golden Ankle Wrap. The Golden Ankle Wrap award is given annually to the UCR student athlete who went above and beyond the expectations of his or her peers, coaches, and the sports medicine team with regards to their committment to rehabilitating an injury.
According to the sports medicine staff, Quick has shown both maturity and diligence as he worked hard to rehabilitate a chronic injury this season ultimately playing in 27 of 31 games for the Highlanders.
By committing to an aggressive daily regimen Quick was able to continue playing at the highest level while setting a good example for his teammates.
Even when his symptoms were under control he continued to work hard to prevent a flare up. His pleasant and positive disposition made him a pleasure to work with.
The second award was the Iron Highlander Award, given to a male and female student-athlete for their dedication in the weight room. Men's Track and Field athlete Sean Ferrera won the award on the men's side, while Women's Soccer player Shelley Brumbaugh was the recipient on the women's side.
Ferrera’s efforts first caught the eyes of the judges panel last summer, and he came into the school year in tremendous shape. He maintained his blue-collar approach to his workouts throughout the fall and winter, but unfortunately suffered an injury midway through his track season.
As soon as he was able, however, he went right back to work in the weight room doing as much as he can to get ready for the 2012-13 season.
According to the judging panel, Brumbaugh is the Highlanders most enthusiastic lifter by a proverbial landslide. She comes in for extra workouts more than any other student-athlete and brings a level of enthusiasm and dedication that is unmatched at UC Riverside.
She is a joy to be around, and it has been a pleasure to watch her work with her team as they have transitioned to a new coaching staff and a new system.
With all of that change, Brumbaugh has continued to be a constant force improving both herself and her teammates.
Men's Track and Field thrower Travis Smith was the recipient of the Hueston M. & Margaret W. Harper Award Scholarship, presented annually to the UCR varsity athlete—a freshman, sophomore or junior—whose athletic and scholarly achievements are deemed most outstanding. The recipient must have a GPA of at least 3.20.
Senior Track and Field athlete Kevin Fashola was a two-time winner of the evening's next award, the Lindy-Citizenship Award, given annually to the student-athlete who has demonstrated exceptional dedication and service to the university and the community at large during the current school year.
Program and Community Service Coordaintors at UCR's Well have described Fashola’s work as being instrumental in the success of the Golden Arches Peer Health Education Program as he volunteered countless hours attending membership meetings and program planning sessions.
Fashola was a co-chair of SAMs this year and helped spearhead the oganization’s community service outreach event in late February involving Highgrove Elementary School. The sixth grade class came to UC Riverside for a day, touring the campus and attending presentations on proper nutrition and exercise.
He is currently involved in fundraising for the UC Riverside Medical Brigade, which provides quality health initiatives to communities that otherwise have limited access to health care
This summer Fashola is heading to South Africa where he will volunteer for a week having just recently won the ProWorld South Africa Video Contest.
Men's Soccer won the SAAC Sports Moment of the Year Award for its 3-1 upset victory over #7 UC Santa Barbara on September 28.
Other nominees for the Sports Moment of the Year were Chad Hall winning the Big West Cross Country Championship, and Ryan Swafford breaking UCR's triple jump record.
The sixth award of the evening was the SAAC Freshman of the Year Award, given to Women's Basketball forward Jamila Williams and Men's Basketball guard Austin Quick.
The SAAC Freshman of the Year award is presented to the true freshman student-athlete or student athletes who have ditsringuished themselves in the areas of Scholastics, Athletics, Attitude and Connection to the Community.
Williams, a pre-business major, led the Highlanders in blocks this season despite playing most of the year as a reserve. She also led all rookies in points and rebounds per minute.
Every team goes through trying times during the course of a season, and Williams quiet presence and positive attitude helped her navigate those waters with a maturity beyond her years.
She takes part in a number of service projects through her church, and those who know Williams best attest to her leadership qualities both on and off the court.
As noted earlier, Quick suffered through a series of back problems during the season, but you wouldn’t have known it based on the effort he gave on the floor.
He finished fourth on the team in made three pointers and second on the squad in assists per minute. His 17-point outburst against Pacific, which included a five for seven shooting night from three-point range, was one of the highlights of the Highlanders season.
Like Williams, Quik also carries himself with a maturity that belies his age, handling the adversity that comes with making the transition to Division I athletics by remaining positive and supporting his teammates.
Quick was a fixture at the home events of other sports, participated in a number of community service events throughout the year, and is slated to serve as the men’s basketball team’s SAAC representative next season.
Men's Tennis freshman Luis Gastao and Women's Soccer athlete Shelley Brumbaugh were the recipients of the Stan Morrison Best Teammate Award presented annually to the UCR student and varsity athlete whose actions both on and off the field exemplify the concepts and ideals of team and teamwork.
According to UCR's Academic Counselor Kisha Calbert, who oversaw the various SAAC nominations, Brumbaugh was “a hands down favorite for this award.”
Regardless of how she may be doing personally, Brumbaugh brings a positive attitude to everything she does, cheering on and encouraging her teammates regardless of the activity.
If she is the first to finish in the weight room, she is the first to lend support to others to make sure they get the most out of their work outs. That support even extends to her encouragement of members of the morning and afternoon Fit Clubs.
Her coaching staff has sited her as being a positive influence on the rest of the squad, including in her interaction with future Highlanders, as Brumbaugh was the first member of the team to reach out to and welcome the team’s eight incoming recruits on their official visit.
Her smile and laugther are infectious, and she embodies what a Highlander should be.
When Head Men's Tennis Coach York Strother filled out his nomination for Gastao this year, he took a unique approach. Unique, but rather obvious once you think about it. He had members of the men’s tennis team, Gastao’s actual teammates, lend their support to his nomination, and here are some of those comments.
From junior Kevin Griffin: “Luis looked to me, as a former engineering major, for advice on managing his schedule and maintaining a calm, stress-free attitude. Ironically, Luis taught me more about being calm and stress-free than I did him. Whenever I felt I wasn’t playing well, he was always there with a positive vibe that made you want to smile. He always reminded me that life could be worse, and that we ought to see the good in every situation rather than the negatives. Luis has been like a little brother to me, but more importanly, a teacher.”
From freshman Kelly Dickson “Even though Luis is a freshman, he motivates everyone by being an encourager. As an engineer major, he is always studying and stressed out, but when he comes on the tennis court, he is all tennis, and gives 100 percent effort when he plays. His energy and hard work rubbed off on the rest of us. When he was on the court next to me, he would always yell my name and encourage me to keep fighting. When I would get angry on the court, he would hold me accountable.
I am fortunate to have a teammate and a friend like Luis, as he provides a great example of what a UC Riverside tennis player should be."
The winner of the Female Student-Athlete of the Year was Women's Track & Field athlete Ashley Gatewood.
The seeds for this awards presentation were sewn a year ago, when at the Big West Track & Field Championship Gatewood was named the Conference Field Athlete of the Year.
For an encore this year, she won the conference title in the javelin, took third in the hammer throw and finished fifth in the shot put, accounting for 20 of UC Riverside’s 82 points.
This past weekend, Gatewood was one of eight members of the Highlanders to travel to Austin, TX for the NCAA West Prelims where she participated in the javelin and the hammer.
The top 12 finishers in each event advance to the NCAA Championships in June, and Gatewood missed out on a ticket for that trip in the javelin by the slimest of margins - 1 inch.
The Male Student-Athlete of the Year award went to Chad Hall from Cross Country and Track & Field, and Cesar Diaz-Pizarro from Men's Soccer.
Hall began the cross country campaign by winning the 2011 Nevada Chase Race and never looked back posting three additional top five finishes in the regular season including a first-place finish at the Bronco Invitational.
On October 29, he became the first member of the Highlanders to win the Big West Cross Country Championship earning Big West Cross Country Athlete of the Year honors in the process.
He would go on to finish eighth overall at NCAA Regionals and 44th at nationals.
When the track & field season rolled around, Hall didn’t let up, winning the Big West Championship in the 10,000m with his trademark late kick, and taking second place in the 5,000m.
Diaz-Pizarro served as the offensive catalyst for the greatest season in the Division I history of the men's soccer program as the Highlanders advanced to the Big West Tournament for the first time in their 11-year history.
His nine goals, three assists and 21 points all paced the squad, while tying the Division I-era record for goals in a season and finishing second in the single-season points charts.
Four of Diaz-Pizarro’s goals were game-winners including ones that clinched road victories at #15 UC Santa Barbara and #9 UC Irvine.
UCR's Women's Track & Field team won the Scotty Cup trophy. The Scotty Cup was an inter squad competition encouraging positive competition through the support of other UC Riverside teams.
The goal was to get as many different student athletes out to games and events with the incentive of winning the grand prize.
Throughout the evening, the Highlanders also celebrated their Big West All-Conference award winners, Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) members, graduating seniors, and Big West Scholar Athletes.
View the photo gallery
The UC Riverside Athletics Department hosted its 2011-12 Highlanders Awards Celebration on Tuesday evening at Hub 302 on UCR's campus, honoring the achievements of the 2011-12 Highlanders student-athletes.
This year, the UC Riverside Athletics Department handed out 10 awards to distinguished student-athletes for their accomplishments during the 2011-12 season.
The first award was presented to men's basketball freshman Austin Quick as the recipient of the Golden Ankle Wrap. The Golden Ankle Wrap award is given annually to the UCR student athlete who went above and beyond the expectations of his or her peers, coaches, and the sports medicine team with regards to their committment to rehabilitating an injury.
According to the sports medicine staff, Quick has shown both maturity and diligence as he worked hard to rehabilitate a chronic injury this season ultimately playing in 27 of 31 games for the Highlanders.
By committing to an aggressive daily regimen Quick was able to continue playing at the highest level while setting a good example for his teammates.
Even when his symptoms were under control he continued to work hard to prevent a flare up. His pleasant and positive disposition made him a pleasure to work with.
The second award was the Iron Highlander Award, given to a male and female student-athlete for their dedication in the weight room. Men's Track and Field athlete Sean Ferrera won the award on the men's side, while Women's Soccer player Shelley Brumbaugh was the recipient on the women's side.
Ferrera’s efforts first caught the eyes of the judges panel last summer, and he came into the school year in tremendous shape. He maintained his blue-collar approach to his workouts throughout the fall and winter, but unfortunately suffered an injury midway through his track season.
As soon as he was able, however, he went right back to work in the weight room doing as much as he can to get ready for the 2012-13 season.
According to the judging panel, Brumbaugh is the Highlanders most enthusiastic lifter by a proverbial landslide. She comes in for extra workouts more than any other student-athlete and brings a level of enthusiasm and dedication that is unmatched at UC Riverside.
She is a joy to be around, and it has been a pleasure to watch her work with her team as they have transitioned to a new coaching staff and a new system.
With all of that change, Brumbaugh has continued to be a constant force improving both herself and her teammates.
Men's Track and Field thrower Travis Smith was the recipient of the Hueston M. & Margaret W. Harper Award Scholarship, presented annually to the UCR varsity athlete—a freshman, sophomore or junior—whose athletic and scholarly achievements are deemed most outstanding. The recipient must have a GPA of at least 3.20.
Senior Track and Field athlete Kevin Fashola was a two-time winner of the evening's next award, the Lindy-Citizenship Award, given annually to the student-athlete who has demonstrated exceptional dedication and service to the university and the community at large during the current school year.
Program and Community Service Coordaintors at UCR's Well have described Fashola’s work as being instrumental in the success of the Golden Arches Peer Health Education Program as he volunteered countless hours attending membership meetings and program planning sessions.
Fashola was a co-chair of SAMs this year and helped spearhead the oganization’s community service outreach event in late February involving Highgrove Elementary School. The sixth grade class came to UC Riverside for a day, touring the campus and attending presentations on proper nutrition and exercise.
He is currently involved in fundraising for the UC Riverside Medical Brigade, which provides quality health initiatives to communities that otherwise have limited access to health care
This summer Fashola is heading to South Africa where he will volunteer for a week having just recently won the ProWorld South Africa Video Contest.
Men's Soccer won the SAAC Sports Moment of the Year Award for its 3-1 upset victory over #7 UC Santa Barbara on September 28.
Other nominees for the Sports Moment of the Year were Chad Hall winning the Big West Cross Country Championship, and Ryan Swafford breaking UCR's triple jump record.
The sixth award of the evening was the SAAC Freshman of the Year Award, given to Women's Basketball forward Jamila Williams and Men's Basketball guard Austin Quick.
The SAAC Freshman of the Year award is presented to the true freshman student-athlete or student athletes who have ditsringuished themselves in the areas of Scholastics, Athletics, Attitude and Connection to the Community.
Williams, a pre-business major, led the Highlanders in blocks this season despite playing most of the year as a reserve. She also led all rookies in points and rebounds per minute.
Every team goes through trying times during the course of a season, and Williams quiet presence and positive attitude helped her navigate those waters with a maturity beyond her years.
She takes part in a number of service projects through her church, and those who know Williams best attest to her leadership qualities both on and off the court.
As noted earlier, Quick suffered through a series of back problems during the season, but you wouldn’t have known it based on the effort he gave on the floor.
He finished fourth on the team in made three pointers and second on the squad in assists per minute. His 17-point outburst against Pacific, which included a five for seven shooting night from three-point range, was one of the highlights of the Highlanders season.
Like Williams, Quik also carries himself with a maturity that belies his age, handling the adversity that comes with making the transition to Division I athletics by remaining positive and supporting his teammates.
Quick was a fixture at the home events of other sports, participated in a number of community service events throughout the year, and is slated to serve as the men’s basketball team’s SAAC representative next season.
Men's Tennis freshman Luis Gastao and Women's Soccer athlete Shelley Brumbaugh were the recipients of the Stan Morrison Best Teammate Award presented annually to the UCR student and varsity athlete whose actions both on and off the field exemplify the concepts and ideals of team and teamwork.
According to UCR's Academic Counselor Kisha Calbert, who oversaw the various SAAC nominations, Brumbaugh was “a hands down favorite for this award.”
Regardless of how she may be doing personally, Brumbaugh brings a positive attitude to everything she does, cheering on and encouraging her teammates regardless of the activity.
If she is the first to finish in the weight room, she is the first to lend support to others to make sure they get the most out of their work outs. That support even extends to her encouragement of members of the morning and afternoon Fit Clubs.
Her coaching staff has sited her as being a positive influence on the rest of the squad, including in her interaction with future Highlanders, as Brumbaugh was the first member of the team to reach out to and welcome the team’s eight incoming recruits on their official visit.
Her smile and laugther are infectious, and she embodies what a Highlander should be.
When Head Men's Tennis Coach York Strother filled out his nomination for Gastao this year, he took a unique approach. Unique, but rather obvious once you think about it. He had members of the men’s tennis team, Gastao’s actual teammates, lend their support to his nomination, and here are some of those comments.
From junior Kevin Griffin: “Luis looked to me, as a former engineering major, for advice on managing his schedule and maintaining a calm, stress-free attitude. Ironically, Luis taught me more about being calm and stress-free than I did him. Whenever I felt I wasn’t playing well, he was always there with a positive vibe that made you want to smile. He always reminded me that life could be worse, and that we ought to see the good in every situation rather than the negatives. Luis has been like a little brother to me, but more importanly, a teacher.”
From freshman Kelly Dickson “Even though Luis is a freshman, he motivates everyone by being an encourager. As an engineer major, he is always studying and stressed out, but when he comes on the tennis court, he is all tennis, and gives 100 percent effort when he plays. His energy and hard work rubbed off on the rest of us. When he was on the court next to me, he would always yell my name and encourage me to keep fighting. When I would get angry on the court, he would hold me accountable.
I am fortunate to have a teammate and a friend like Luis, as he provides a great example of what a UC Riverside tennis player should be."
The winner of the Female Student-Athlete of the Year was Women's Track & Field athlete Ashley Gatewood.
The seeds for this awards presentation were sewn a year ago, when at the Big West Track & Field Championship Gatewood was named the Conference Field Athlete of the Year.
For an encore this year, she won the conference title in the javelin, took third in the hammer throw and finished fifth in the shot put, accounting for 20 of UC Riverside’s 82 points.
This past weekend, Gatewood was one of eight members of the Highlanders to travel to Austin, TX for the NCAA West Prelims where she participated in the javelin and the hammer.
The top 12 finishers in each event advance to the NCAA Championships in June, and Gatewood missed out on a ticket for that trip in the javelin by the slimest of margins - 1 inch.
The Male Student-Athlete of the Year award went to Chad Hall from Cross Country and Track & Field, and Cesar Diaz-Pizarro from Men's Soccer.
Hall began the cross country campaign by winning the 2011 Nevada Chase Race and never looked back posting three additional top five finishes in the regular season including a first-place finish at the Bronco Invitational.
On October 29, he became the first member of the Highlanders to win the Big West Cross Country Championship earning Big West Cross Country Athlete of the Year honors in the process.
He would go on to finish eighth overall at NCAA Regionals and 44th at nationals.
When the track & field season rolled around, Hall didn’t let up, winning the Big West Championship in the 10,000m with his trademark late kick, and taking second place in the 5,000m.
Diaz-Pizarro served as the offensive catalyst for the greatest season in the Division I history of the men's soccer program as the Highlanders advanced to the Big West Tournament for the first time in their 11-year history.
His nine goals, three assists and 21 points all paced the squad, while tying the Division I-era record for goals in a season and finishing second in the single-season points charts.
Four of Diaz-Pizarro’s goals were game-winners including ones that clinched road victories at #15 UC Santa Barbara and #9 UC Irvine.
UCR's Women's Track & Field team won the Scotty Cup trophy. The Scotty Cup was an inter squad competition encouraging positive competition through the support of other UC Riverside teams.
The goal was to get as many different student athletes out to games and events with the incentive of winning the grand prize.
Throughout the evening, the Highlanders also celebrated their Big West All-Conference award winners, Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) members, graduating seniors, and Big West Scholar Athletes.
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