Athletes of the Year - Cuesta College 2008
Athletes of the Year | Warren
Hansen Scholar Athletes |George
Silveria Career Award
Cate Named State Player of the Year and Big Stick Winner
SAN LUIS OBISPO (May 27, 2008)— The accolades continue to accumulate for 2008 Cuesta College Athlete of the Year Quentin Cate (Cambria: SLO HS). Cate played third base, first base and catcher for the Cougars and led the team in almost every offensive category. In the Triple Crown categories he led the team with 14 home runs, 64 RBI and a .422 batting average. He also slugged 16 doubles and scored a team leading 63 times, while maintaining a .498 on-base percentage. This week the 2008 Western State Confernece Player of the Year became the fourth Cuesta Baseball player to also be named the State Player of the Year. Cate joined Patrick Dobson in 2002, Chris Miller in 2001 and Aaron Davidson in 1999 as the only players in Cuesta history to be named State Player of the Year. Cate’s 2008 campaign was so dominant that he also earned the 2008 Big Stick Award winner as the State’s best hitter. The Cuesta Cougars won the 2008 Western State Conference title and were seeded #2 in the 2008 Southern California Regional Playoffs. The Cougars were eliminated in the second round and ended the season with a 33-15-1 record.
Cate may have been alone on the 2008 All State team, but a pair of his teammates were selected to the 2008 All Southern California Team. First Baseman Brian McConkey (Santa Maria: St Joseph) and Outfielder Chad Gross (Claremont HS) were both named to the 2008 All Southern California team. McConkey was second on the team with a .376 batting average and drove in 37 runs and scored 54 runs. He led the team with 39 walks this year and posted a .494 on-base percentage. McConkey was an all-WSC First Team choice this year and was named to the second team as a freshman. His 126 career hits rank tenth all time at Cuesta and his 97 games represent the second most of any player to were the green and black. McConkey will play his next collegiate game for UC Riverside in 2009. Gross came to Cuesta with tremendous potential, but with the exception of a few spurts it took him a season and half to reach that potential. Gross hit .238 during his freshman season and twenty-one games into this campaign he was hitting .240, but that is when things began to turn around for him and the Cougars. Gross exploded during the last half of the season slugging nine home runs driving in 32 RBI and hitting .391 over the final 26 games. The Cougars also went from 11-9-1 to 33-15-1 on their way to a conference title and the playoffs. Over his two seasons at Cuesta, Gross developed into a consistent power hitter and an excellent right-fielder with a cannon of an arm. His 18-career home runs rank third all time at Cuesta behind All Americans Aaron Davidson (33 home runs in 1998-99) and Yaron Peters (24 home runs in 1999-00).
Cate and Coelho Named Cuesta’s
2008 Outstanding Athletes of the Year
SAN LUIS OBISPO (May 13, 2008)– In 2003 the Cuesta Athletic Department, under the leadership of Athletic Director Bob Mariucci, instituted its first true Athlete of the Year Award. He encouraged his coaching staff to nominate their best athlete of the year and created a committee that would weigh performance as the highestcriteria. Today we have acknowledged our Athletes of the Year for the fifth time. This year’s winners are volleyball player Julie Coelho (Lemoore HS) and baseball player Quentin Cate (Cambria: SLO HS).
Julie Coelho led the Cuesta Women’s Volleyball team to the Western State Conference title and into the second round of the playoffs, where they lost to eventual State Champion El Camino. Julie was named 2007 All State First Team and the Most Valuable Player of the Western State Conference as she developed into an unstoppable force on offense. She led the Cougars high-powered offense with 300 kills and pulled out 302 digs and put down 65 blocks. Coach Roche Nystrom said, “Julie is Cuesta's leading outside hitter with a career 577 kills. She is also fourth in serving aces, seventh in total blocks, and seventh for digs in a season. All these statistics show what a well-rounded athlete Julie is in volleyball. She is exciting to watch and a joy to coach. Her teammates respect her and it is great to work with her. What a joy to coach!” Julie has also been an All State selection and Most ValuablePlayer of the Western State Conference as a freshman in 2006. She is the All Time Kill Leader at Cuesta with 577 and ranks third all time with 546 digs and fourth all time with 47 career service aces. Julie is still considering where to go next season. According to her coach, University of San Diego and Sacramento State are on the top of her list.
2008 All State selection and Western State Conference Player of the Year Quentin Cate has found a home in the middle of the Cuesta batting order and has constructed one of the best offensive seasons in Cuesta history. Cate won the Western State Conference Triple Crown and leads the Cougars with 14 home runs on the season, which included blasting six clouts in his first six Western State Conference games. He is the first Cuesta player to reach double-digits in home runs since 2002. Cate also leads the team with 62 RBI and 62 runs scored, while hitting a scorching .421. Cate has provided the middle of the order power that the Cougars had hoped for, but has been moved around the infield. He has played catcher, first base and third base, yet he has committed only one error on the season. Coach Bob Miller says, “Quentin has a very good work ethic. He is coachable and makes adjustments very well. He is a team leader and loves to compete at the plate.” Cate led the Cougars to the 2008 Western State Conference title and to the #2 seed in the 2008 Southern California Regional Playoffs. Cate and his teammates will host the 2008 Southern California Super Regional as Cuesta tries to reach the State Finals for the first time since 2002.Outstanding Athlete of the Year Award
| Year | Male Athletes of the Year | Female Athletes of the Year |
| 2003 | David Lamar (Baseball) | Shanna DeMichelle (Swimming) |
| 2004 | Kevin Bradley (Water Polo, Swimming) | Christina Reyes (Cross Country, Track) |
| 2005 | Mike Brown (Baseball) | Jessie Ritchie (Tennis) |
| 2006 | Jeff Chaney (Water Polo) | Lindsay Campana (Softball) |
| 2007 | Michael Williams (Wrestling) | Whitney Levicki (Water Polo) |
| 2008 | Quentin Cate (Baseball) | Julie Coelho (Volleyball) |
FAZAL AND CLAIR WIN
WARREN HANSEN SCHOLAR ATHLETE AWARD
SAN LUIS OBISPO (May 13, 2008) – Cuesta College is the #1 ranked community college in the state based on the UCand Cal State transfer ratios, but it has also shown commitment to academics in the scholar/athletes it has produced. In an extension of its commitment to academic excellence, the Cuesta Athletic Department has endeavored to recognize its top scholar/athletes with one award rather than just listing their achievements. This award has been named the Warren Hansen Scholar-Athlete Award in recognition of former Cuesta Athletic Director Warren Hansen’s 36-year commitment to academic excellence. A student must maintain a 3.5 GPA and be nominated on the basis of their citizenship and athletic performance. This year’s winners are Harrier Majida Fazal (Dubai, UAE) and Infielder Quinn Clair (Bend, OR) from baseball. Both of these athletes will represent Cuesta at the State and National Levels with the COA Peps
i Scholar Award and the National Alliance of Two-Year Athletic Administrators Scholarship Award.
This year’s Warren Hansen Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award winner is Majida Fazal is originally from Dubai, near the Persian Gulf. Over the past two years, Majida competed on the women’s cross country team and the track and field team. In cross country, she was an All-Western State Conference Honorable Mention selection and qualified for the Southern California Regional Championships. Majida decided to leave Dubai and move to Canada before she moved to San Luis Obispo. She married her husband Renee and enrolled at Cuesta in the Spring of 2005 and is working toward a degree in fine arts and physical education. Many of pieces of Majida’s art can be found in art galleries around the county. Majida has a busy life, but she has also managed to maintain a 3.99 gpa. Majida has been a true inspiration to her teammates for her dedication and perseverance both on and off the field. She will be returning next fall to continue her studies and compete another year in cross country.
This year’s Warren Hansen Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award winner is Quinn Clair. Quinn is originally from Bend, Oregon and graduated from Bend Senior High School. Quinn has competed on the baseball team for the past two years. He has been very instrumental in the success of the program over that time. He plays middle infield and is always willing to take one for the team. He leads the team in hit-by-pitch with 11 and is hitting a solid .250 in a reserve role. Quinn has maintained a 3.51 gpa at Cuesta College and has helped lead the Cougars into the Southern California Super Regional the past two seasons. Quinn is a team leader both on the field and in the classroom.
Warren E. Hansen Scholar-Athlete Award |
||
| Year | Male | Female |
| 2002 | Savio Gomes (Water Polo) | Virlena Bascos (Basketball) |
| 2003 | Jeremy Waldram (Wrestling) | Leilani Greene (Track & Field) |
| 2004 | Kevin Bradley (Water Polo) | Chelsea Tallcott (Soccer) |
| 2005 | Jared Hollows (Track & Field) | Lauren Villa (Basketball) |
| 2006 | Jon Jordan (Track & Field) | Clare Nowel (Cross Country) |
| 2007 | Mark Stephen (Water Polo) | Haley Woeste (Basketball) |
| 2008 | Quinn Clair (Baseball) | Majida Fazal (Cross Country) |
Starkie Wins George Silveria Career Award
SAN LUIS OBISPO (May 15, 2007) - The George Silveria Student/Athlete Career Award was established in 1966 by the Booster Club Board of Directors. The award was to honor and serve as a memorial for George Silveria. George was a graduate of San Luis Obispo District Junior College in 1948. He was the captain of the Championship football team in
1947, he was an executive member of the student body, and he was a very good student and was extensively involved in the community. He was well respected by his teammates, coaches, teachers and fellow peers. He truly exemplified the meaning of student/athlete. George served in World War II and died of Leukemia in 1961.
The award takes into consideration the student/athletes’ career as an athlete, their involvement in the college and community, sportsmanship, citizenship, coachabilty and leadership on and off the field. In a sense, this award exemplifies type of athlete we strive to mold here at Cuesta. Today you will recognize that all of the athletes in this room are both high quality people and athletes. Past winners have gone on to be lawyers, doctors, teachers, coaches, pro athletes, national team members and they have also been the siblings of this year’s winner.
And this year’s George Silveria Athletic Career Award winner is Aquatic Star Ian Starkie (Arroyo Grande HS)!
In the fall of his freshman Starkie led the Cougars’ water polo team to a Western State Conference title and to third place at the State Championships. He was a major factor on both ends of the pool. He scored 55 goals and added 50 steals on the defensive end. He was named to the 2006 All American Second Team and was selected to the 2006 All Western State Conference First Team.
That spring Starkie won a Western State Conference title in the 100 backstroke and qualified for the 2007 State Swimming Championships. He was named the 2007 Cuesta Swimming and Diving Team MVP.
This past fall Starkie led the Cougars to another WSC Water Polo title and back to the State Championships, where the Cougars finished fourth. He was named to both the All American and Western State Conference First Teams. He also added 52 goals and a team-high 60 steals. He ended his career ranked 20th in career goals with 107 and 8th all time in steals with 110. He is also one of only 14 players in 29 years of Cuesta water polo to be a two-time All American.
And this spring Starkie returned to the State Swimming Championships in both the 100 and 200 backstrokes, as well as the 200 butterfly. He ends his career as one of Cuesta most versatile and honored aquatics athletes.
Starkie has worked as lifeguard at Cuesta and also began officiating local high school water polo games. His professionalism in both endeavors is evident in the respect he garners from both college and high school coaches alike.
Starkie maintained a 3.0 grade-point average at Cuesta College and was named to the All Western State Conference Academic Team. He will transfer and play water polo at the Redlands University next fall.
George Silveria Career Award
The George Silveria Student/Athlete Career Award was established in 1966 by the Booster Club Board of Directors. The award was to honor and serve as a memorial for George Silveria. George was a graduate of San Luis Obispo District Junior College in 1948. He was the captain of the Championship football team in 1947, he was an executive member of the student body, and he was a very good student and was extensively involved in the community. He was well respected by his teammates, coaches, teachers and fellow peers. He truly exemplified the meaning of student/athlete. George served in World War II and died of Leukemia in 1961. The award takes into consideration the student/athletes’ career as an athlete, their involvement in the college and community, sportsmanship, citizenship, coachability and leadership on and off the field. In a sense, this award exemplifies type of athlete we strive to mold here at Cuesta.
| 1966 | Ray Sayler (FB, MBB, BB) | |
| 1967 | Mark Anderson (MXC, MTF) | |
| 1968 | Jim Sunderland (Wrest) | |
| 1969 | Richard Abney (FB, Wrest) | |
| 1970 | Steve Mowrey (Golf) | |
| 1971 | Larry Ramos (FB, Wrest) | |
| 1972 | George Palmer (Wrest) | |
| 1973 | Camillo Alarcio (FB, Wrest) | |
| 1974 | Paul Kinne (FB, BB) | |
| 1975 | Rusty Kuntz (FB, MBB, BB) & Dave Rusco (MBB, BB) | |
| 1976 | Kevin Hunstad (FB, Wrest) | |
| 1977 | Randy Roeder (FB, BB) | |
| Male | Female | |
| 1978 | Edmund Alarcio (FB, MTF) | Laura McCarthy (WXC, WTF) |
| 1979 | Shawn Kuhn (MBB, Golf) | Celeste Martyn (WXC, WTF) |
| 1980 | Steve Mitchell (MBB, MTF) | Catherine Belcher (WXC, WTF, SB) |
| 1981 | Gregg Fambrough (MWP, MSD) | Joanne Cooper (VB) |
| 1982 | Tom McKeown (MXC, MTF) | Heidi Hausner (VB, WSD) |
| 1983 | Matt Armbruster (MXC, MTF) | Karen Canfield (SB) |
| 1984 | Bill Lucia (MWP, MSD) | Toni Venturini (VB) |
| 1985 | Sean Chambers (MBB, MTF) | Kelly Buzza (WXC, WTF) |
| 1986 | Hank Peterson (MWP, MSD) | Tracey Ross (WXC, WTF) |
| 1987 | Karl Blum (MWP, MSD) | Cathy Jones (WXC, WTF) |
| 1988 | Todd Bates (MWP, MSD) | Jennifer Bland (WSD) & Kelly Porter (MWP, MSD) |
| 1989 | Brad Dodge (MT) | Vanessa Hornbuckle (VB, WBB) & Kathryn Krieger (WXC, WTF) |
| 1990 | Steve Long (MWP, MSD) | Monica Castro (WT) |
| 1991 | Dean Jefferis (MWP, MSD) | Melissa McCormick (WSD) & Cee Cee Yancy (WBB) |
| 1992 | Geoff Bradshaw (MTF) | Alyssa Van Schmus (WTF) |
| 1993 | Kipp Ortenberger (MXC, MTF) | Erin Breeze (VB, WBB) |
| 1994 | Kipp Ortenberger (MXC, MTF) | Wendy Ward (VB, WBB) |
| 1995 | Mike Barrow (MWP, MSD) | Courtney Peters (WT) |
| 1996 | Shannon Lamb (MWP, MSD) | Carrie Musolff (VB, WBB, WT) |
| 1997 | Marco Hanlon (BB) | Anicia Bonds (WBB, WTF) |
| 1998 | Mark Merlo (MWP, MSD) | Ashley Messer (VB, WBB) |
| 1999 | Chris Lund (MWP, MSD) | Ashley Messer (VB, WBB) |
| 2000 | Sergio Reyes (MXC, MTF) | Mary Benson (WWP, WSD) |
| 2001 | Patrick Furelos (MWP, MSD) | Melinda Flores (WXC, WTF) |
| 2002 | Doug Leach (MWP, MSD) | Courtney Christy (WWP, WSD) |
| 2003 | Katie Dacus (WWP, WSD) | |
| 2004 | Christina Reyes (WXC, WTF) | |
| 2005 | Bryan Etnrye (MWP, MSD) | |
| 2006 | Chris Stehula (MXC, MTF, MSD) | |
| 2007 | Becca Reyes (WXC, WTF) | |
| 2008 | Ian Starkie (MWP, MSD) | |
| >>top | ||