Alan Hoskins
Monday, May 11, 2009
College Advancement
Two international stars are among three Athletes of the Year at Kansas City Kansas Community College for 2008-09.
All-American softball nominee Stephanie Fisher of Shawnee Mission North was joined by Australian basketball standout Ashleigh Gallio and record setting soccer star Reon Thomas of London, England, in winning KCKCC’s most prestigious honors.
Special recognition was also given to Rodney Christensen, the veteran head trainer who was named recipient of the first Blue Devil Athletic Service award. In his 12 years as head trainer, Christensen has treated more than 1,500 student athletes. Nationally certified, he teaches multiple Allied Health classes and also serves as clinical instructor for Park University. Widely recognized, he was the host athletic trainer for the Big 12 men’s basketball tournament in 2008 and the first and second round NCAA men’s tournament this spring.
Fisher earned Co-Female Athlete of the Year honors with Gallio by turning in arguably the finest offensive year in KCKCC softball history. A second baseman, Gallio ranked 11th nationally in hitting with a .514 average and was 24th in the nation in on-base percentage at .554. She also drove in 31 runs from her leadoff position, batted .609 with runners in scoring position and had a .721 slugging percentage. First team All-Region VI, she has been nominated to the All-American team.
A two-year starter from Millicent, Australia, Gallio finished third in assists in both the Jayhawk East and Region VI and 12th nationally with 5.86 per game to rank No. 3 in KCKCC history. She also led the Lady Blue Devils in blocked shots while averaging 6.8 points and 3.9 rebounds. Selected to Who’s Who, she will graduate May 21 with a 3.67 grade point average and then continue her basketball and academic career at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo.
A freshman, Thomas re-wrote the KCKCC record book with 23 goals, 10 assists and 56 points to finish 11th in the nation in scoring, the highest finish ever by a Blue Devil. Five times, Thomas scored the game winning goal as KCKCC won 10 more games over the previous season. First team All-Jayhawk and All-Region VI, he earned honorable mention on the NSCAA All-American team. The team’s MVP, Thomas carries a 4.0 grade point average and will captain the 2009 Blue Devil team.
Richard T. Lee, KCKCC Dean of Student Services, delivered the keynote address at the annual athletic dinner held Wednesday, May 6, which also featured the announcement of most valuable players and other award winners. The recipients:
SOCCER – Francisco Hernandez, a walk-on who finished second in assists, received the Midfielder Award while Shemiah Davis, a second team All-Jayhawk and All Region VI selection, was named most improved.
VOLLEYBALL – Angela LeDesma, who led the teams in digs (3.075 per game), digging efficiency (2.31) and passing (2.27), was named MVP while Vanessa Brown, who was second on the team in hitting efficiency and blocks per game, was named most improved.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL – Cameron Roland, who will continue her career at Baker University, earned MVP honors after leading the team in scoring (10.9) and finishing second in rebounding (4.8) while Gallio won the Coaches Award.
MEN’S BASKETBALL – The Jayhawk leader in 3-point goals (108) and 3-point shooting percentage (.483), freshman Derrick Denny finished fifth in the nation in 3-pointers to earn MVP honors while assist and steal leader Derrick Howard won the Keith Lindsey Award.
SOFTBALL – Stephanie Fisher added the MVP award to her Athlete of the Year honors.
TRACK – Romel Lewis, who won the 100-meter dash at the Kansas Relays, was selected men’s MVP while Trichelle Heard, who lowered her time in the 400 meters by four seconds, was named women’s MVP.
BASEBALL – Sophomore Kyle Koch was voted the Mike Haen Hustle Award by team members while freshman Nate Wilder, who led the Blue Devils in hitting at .359, was named most improved.
GOLF – Sophomore Brice Quinlan, a second team All-Jayhawk selection, was named most valuable on the golf team which will be competing in the NJCAA national tournament.