SPRINGFIELD -- For the second straight year, the Missouri State women's soccer team took home the top prize of the night, and 25 individual student-athletes were recognized as part of ceremonies Monday (May 2) at the second annual Bears' All-Sports Showcase at JQH Arena.
Coach Rob Brewer's squad was the top point collector in the Bear Cup team competition for student development, academic achievement, athletic excellence, career development, and community outreach. The men's soccer and women's swimming programs were also finalists for the award, which women's soccer won at the inaugural awards presentation in 2010.
MSU's Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) served as the presenters for the evening and also took the lead in the nomination and selection process for the event and the awards presented.
Track and cross country standout Terry Phillips (Jr., Kansas City, Mo.) was awarded the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Female Student-Athlete of the Year Award, while men's basketball senior Jermaine Mallett (Jackson, Miss.) was selected as the recipient of the Bill Rowe Male Student-Athlete of the Year. Both awards were voted on by student-athlete peers among Missouri State's 16 intercollegiate athletic programs.
The Senior Student-Athletes of the Year were presented to a pair of soccer sensations in Alex Riggs (St. Peter's Mo.) and Jordan Reppell (St. Louis, Mo.). The top basketball tandem in the Missouri Valley Conference, Kyle Weems (Topeka, Kan.) and Casey Garrison (Bolivar, Mo.) were awarded the Junior Student-Athletes of the Year.
Sophomore Student-Athlete of the Year awards went to Kimsue Grant (Arlington, Va.) from the track and field team, and baseball standout Kevin Medrano (Lee's Summit, Mo.). The recipients of the Freshman Student-Athlete of the Year awards were Nathan Scheer (Washington, Mo.) from men's basketball and Christine McCartney (Arlinton, Texas) from volleyball.
The individual team most valuable players were also named, as voted on by team members. The men's team MVPs were awarded to: David Arkin (football, Wichita, Kan.), Will Hogan (golf, Ozark, Mo.), Kevin Medrano (baseball, Lee's Summit, Mo.), Alex Riggs (soccer, St. Peter's, Mo.), Jared Roberts swimming and diving, Maize, Kan.) and Kyle Weems (basketball, Topeka, Kan.).
Women's team MVPs were: Casey Garrison (basketball, Bolivar, Mo.), Kimsue Grant (track and field, Arlington, va.), Amber Green (swimming and diving, St. Louis, Mo.), Kelley Michnowicz (volleyball, Belleville, Ill.), Terry Phillips (cross country, Kansas City, Mo.), Jordan Reppell (soccer, St. Louis, Mo.), Jenna Schwark (softball, Broken Arrow, Okla.), Reiann Stoute (field hockey, Bridgetown, Barbados) and Kelsey Welber (golf, Plano, Texas).
The Highest Team GPA Award went to coach Kevin Kane's women's golf squad after it compiled a 3.49 grade point average for the fall 2010 semester.
The Best Sports Moment was given to the men's basketball team for its 69-64 win over Wichita State on Feb. 26, 2011 to clinch the program's first-ever Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championship.
Approximately 400 student-athletes, coaches, staff and athletics personnel attended the event which was preceded by a reception to honor the program's senior student-athletes.
