Warnke, VanDamme named UWS athletes of the year

The University of Wisconsin-Superior athletic department announced its 2011-12 departmental and team awards. Winners of the departmental awards were chosen by a vote of the Yellowjacket athletic staff, while coaches and team members voted for the individual team awards.

“The 2011-12 year was a successful one for us across the board, and that is all because of the hard work that our student-athletes and coaches put in,” athletics director Steve Nelson said. “From our academic performance to the job we did on the field, on the court, on the track and in the arena, everyone associated with our department can be proud of the job we did throughout the year.”

Men’s soccer defender Dan Warnke (Burnsville, Minn.) and softball outfielder Taylor VanDamme (Superior) were named the Yellowjacket Athletes of the Year, which recognize the male and female athletes who have displayed distinctive, unique or exceptional athletic accomplishments at UWS.

Women’s soccer standout Mandee Akason (Pine Island, Minn.) won the Lydia Thering Award, which recognizes a female student-athlete who has demonstrated the most dedication to her team.

Senior baseball pitcher Nick Bursik (Stillwater, Minn.) and women’s basketball senior Bri Davis (Hermantown, Minn.) were named the 2011-12 Scholar-Athlete Award winners, which honor a male and female student-athlete who have displayed distinctive, unique or exceptional scholastic accomplishment at UWS.

Men’s basketball senior Dustin Ritchie (Superior) and volleyball senior Sarah Gruber (Belgrade, Minn.) won the Yellowjacket Award, which recognizes a male and a female student-athlete who assisted the athletic department during his or her time as a Yellowjacket.

“I’m sincerely grateful to these people for all that they have done as Yellowjackets,” Nelson said. “They raised the bar with their performance athletically and in the classroom in 2011-12 and I look forward to seeing our group in 2012-13 continue the work that was started this year.”

Award winners will be honored at the 2012 UWS Hall of Fame banquet, to be held on Saturday, Sept. 29 at Barkers Island Inn in Superior.

In addition, the individual teams have also announced their award winners for 2011-12. The Yellowjacket baseball team will announce their award winners at their team banquet in September.

Men’s Cross Country

Runner of the Year: Andy Kast

Most Improved Runner — Male: Brandon Haling

Teammate of the Year — Male: Sam Paakkonen

Women’s Cross Country

Female Runner of the Year: Christina Micheletti

Most Improved Runner — Female: Samantha Anderson

Teammate of the Year — Female: Kristen Jasperson

Men’s Soccer

Most Improved: Alex Young

Offensive MVP: Eric Nilsen

Defensive MVP: Dan Warnke

Women’s Soccer

MVP: Mandee Akason

Rookies of the Year: Alexandra Paige, Katelyn Adams

Most Improved: McKenzie Krohn, Ana Morse

Golden Boot Award: Chelsea Cossin

Men’s Basketball

MVP: Ben Aalfs

Most Improved Player: Brendan Bauer

Newcomer of the Year: Adam Hjelter

Defensive Player of the Year: Dustin Ritchie

Yellowjacket Award: Dustin Ritchie

Volleyball

Rookie of the Year: Keely Deadrick

Hustle Award: Farrah Wirtz

Leadership Award: Sarah Gruber

Women’s Basketball

MVP: Connie Urmanski

Best Defensive Player: Sally Linzmeier

Most Improved Player: Mariah Marcol

Men’s Hockey

MVP: Pat Dalbec

Rookie of the Year: Cody Hotchkin

Best Defensive Player: Pat Dalbec

Most Dedicated: Ben Waalkens

Women’s Hockey

Co-MVP: Shanley Peters, Kaiti Graham

Most Dedicated: Ashlee Olson

Rookie of the Year: Dani Schultz

Men’s Track and Field

Track Athlete of the Year: Matt Reijo

Field Athlete of the Year: Nils Hansen

Teammate of the Year: Kevin Griepentrog

Women’s Track and Field

Track Athlete of the Year: Traelynn Lewis

Field Athlete of the Year: Katie Capriglione

Teammate of the Year: Christina Micheletti

Softball

MVP: Ashlee Olson

Offensive Player of the Year: Taylor VanDamme

Defensive Player of the Year: Chelsey Jarzin

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