School News
Austin College student athletes earn awards
By Austin College
May 21, 2005
Austin College coaches and team members recognized more than 30 student athletes with athletic honors, including male and female Athletes of the Year during the Athletic Honors Convocation held Thursday, May 5.
By virtue of head coaches’ selections, sophomores Clint Rushing of Spring, Texas, and Veronica Stephens of San Antonio, Texas, were named male and female athletes of the year. Rushing is a two-year letter-winner and starter for both the football and baseball teams. Stephens, the starting setter for the Kangaroo volleyball team, helped the ’Roos to American Southwest Conference East Division titles the past two years.
Swimmer Marjory Gibson and baseball player Austin Mitchell were named Freshman Athletes of the Year. Gibson led the women’s swim team to an eighth-place finish at the Liberal Arts Championship meet, while capturing two Austin College records. She now holds the Austin College record in both the 500 and 1650 freestyle. Mitchell, a catcher for the ’Roos, was the ASC leader in pick-offs for the 2005 season in helping Austin College to its best season since 2001.
Stephens becomes the first volleyball player to earn the Gene Day Award for Most Outstanding Female Athlete since 1994. The award is named in honor of long-time Austin College coach Imogene Grinnell Day. One of the most talented setters in the conference, Stephens claimed the title of ASC East Division Most Valuable Player for the 2004 season, as well as being named First-Team All-Conference and All-East Division. She was also named to the Sports Information Directors Academic All-District VI team, and earned South Region honorable mention recognition from the American Volleyball Coaches Association. After only two years with the ’Roos she is second on the all-time lists for career assists with 2,496.
Rushing, a two-sport standout for the ’Roos earned the Pete Cawthon Award for Outstanding Male Athlete. The award is named for the late Austin College head football coach Pete Cawthon, who coached the team in the 1920s. The ASC’s leading punter, Rushing earned First-Team All-Conference Honors in the fall. He held the best per-punt average in the ASC as well as the longest punt of the season in the conference. His 40.5 yards-per-punt average was the seventh best in the country among Division III athletes. As a baseball player, Rushing held down one of the best ERAs on the team.
Award recipients, local high school from which they graduated, parents’ names, sport, and awards receive are listed below.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Gregory Henderson, Jesuit College Preparatory School, son of Jon Henderson of Albuquerque and Kathleen Burk of Irving, Texas, Hannah Award (outstanding men's swimmer).
Campbell, Texas
Clay Payne, Lone Oak Public School, son of Linda Payne, William B. Traylor Award (for hard work and dedication/ football).
Carrollton, Texas
Nancy Alfonso, Newman Smith High School, daughter of Enedina and Jesus Alfonso, Outstanding Cheerleader.
Dallas, Texas
Rebecca Harpham, Richardson High School, daughter of Wendy and Edward Harpham, Sig Lawson Award (dedication and commitment to Austin College athletics/volleyball);
Gregory Henderson, Jesuit College Preparatory School, son of Kathleen Burk of Irving and Jon Henderson of Alburquerque, New Mexico, Hannah Award (outstanding men's swimmer);
Kyle May, Bishop Lynch High School, son of Stephanie May and Paul May, Hustle Award (men's basketball); Sig Lawson Award (dedication and commitment to Austin College athletics);
Eddie Newton, Townview Science and Engineering Magnet, son of Kathy and Carey Newton, Most Improved (swimming);
Joe Wunderlick, Jesuit High School, son of Sue and George Wunderlick, Sig Lawson Award (dedication and commitment to Austin College athletics/swimming).
Denton, Texas
Alyssa Condon, Denton High School, daughter of Nancy and Phillip Condon, Most Outstanding Player (women's soccer).
Fort Worth, Texas
Erin Light, All Saints Episcopal School, daughter of Lou and Russell Light, Sig Lawson Award (dedication and commitment to Austin College athletics/tennis).
Gatesville, Texas
Lauren Whittle, Gatesville High School, daughter of Rosemary and Gene Whittle, Sig Lawson Award (dedication and commitment to Austin College athletics/basketball).
Houston, Texas
Velencia Johnson, Chinquapin School, daughter of Marion and Victor Johnson, Pat E. Hooks Award (most outstanding basketball player); Slats McCord Award (senior perseverance and improvement).
Lewisville, Texas
Dennis Kelly, Jesuit College Preparatory School, son of Jean and Dennis Kelly, Cecil Grigg Award (outstanding baseball player).
Lone Oak, Texas
Artie Cook, Lone Oak High School, son of Mona and Robert Cook, Slats McCord Award (senior perseverance and improvement/football).
McAllen, Texas
Nicolas Garcia, McAllen High School, son of Julie and Jose Garcia, Carroll Pickett Award (most outstanding tennis player, men's tennis); Bo Miller Award (highest GPA among senior athletes).
Midland, Texas
Polly Hyde (O'Byrne), Midland High School, daughter of Bridget and Matthew Hyde, Sig Lawson Award (dedication and commitment to Austin College athletics/swimming).
Midlothian, Texas
Valerie Emmett, Midlothian High School, daughter of Kay and Charlie Emmett, Carroll Pickett Award (outstanding women's tennis player).
Muenster, Texas
Andrea Bauer, Sacred Heart High School, daughter of Kathy and Bob Bauer, Hustle Award (women's basketball).
New Boston, Texas
Alison Rolf, New Boston High School, daughter of Jill and David Rolf, Bo Miller Award (highest GPA among senior athletes/volleyball).
Norman, Oklahoma
Mary Carrier, Norman High School, daughter of Debi and Mike Carrier, Robert T. Mason Award (sportsmanship award/soccer).
Odessa, Texas
Marjory Gibson*, Odessa High School, daughter of Mia and Dan Gibson, Hannah Award (outstanding women's swimmer); Tim Jubela Award (outstanding freshman athlete).
Plano, Texas
Austin Mitchell*, Plano Senior High School, son of Becky and Jim Mitchell, Tim Jubela Award (outstanding male freshman athlete/football and baseball);
Matthew Reed, Plano Senior High School, son of Lisa Hayman and David Reed, Gene "Duke" Babb Award (outstanding football player).
Richardson, Texas
Nicole Michalec, L.V. Berkner High School, daughter of Penny and Steven Michalec, Aussie of the Year (dance team).
Rowlett, Texas
Alisa Marshall, Rowlett High School, daughter of Carol and Philip Marshall, Sig Lawson Award (dedication and commitment to Austin College athletics/soccer).
San Angelo, Texas
Jimmy Garrett, Central High School, son of Judee and John Garrett, Most Outstanding Player (men's soccer);
Joseph Johnson, San Angelo Central High School, son of Katie and Gary Johnson, Pat E. Hooks Award (most outstanding basketball player).
San Antonio, Texas
Nicolas deVoogd, Lutheran High School, son of Katherine and Stanley deVoogd, Clayton Hustle Award (soccer);
Veronica Stephens*, Tom C. Clark High School, daughter of Jane and Ron Stephens, Most Outstanding Player (volleyball); Gene Day Award (outstanding female athlete).
San Augustine, Texas
Christopher Moore, San Augustine High School, son of Dorothy and Robert Moore, Robert T. Mason Award (sportsmanship award/football).
Sherman, Texas
Bradley Thompson, Howe High School, son of Bobbie and Billy Thompson, Sig Lawson Award (dedication and commitment to Austin College athletics/football).
Spring, Texas
Clint Rushing*, Klein High School, son of Kathleen and Byron Rushing, Pete Cawthon Award (most outstanding male athlete/football and baseball).
Temple, Texas
Linnea Burke, Temple High School, daughter of Bonnie and Robert Burke, Most Outstanding (athletic training).
Tiki Island, Texas
Nathan Long, Alvin High School, son of Susan and Timothy Long, Sig Lawson Award (dedication and commitment to Austin College athletics/soccer).
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Jessica Adelman, Memorial Senior High School, daughter of Vicki and James Adelman, Most Improved (athletic training).
Austin College, affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA), is an independent, liberal arts college located 60 miles north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas. Chartered in November 1849, it is the oldest college in Texas under original charter and name as recognized by the State Historical Survey Committee.
U.S. News & World Report ranked Austin College among the top 100 colleges in the category of “Best Liberal Arts Colleges” for 2005. Austin College also was ranked among the “Best 357 Colleges” in the 2005 Princeton Review, was included in Loren Pope’s Colleges That Change Lives, and was profiled in the 2005 edition of Kaplan’s Insiders Guide to the 331 Most Interesting Colleges.