ROHNERT PARK, Calif- Ross Middlemiss and Kristy Sather took home top honors as Sonoma State University's Male and Female Student-Athletes of the Year at the 12th Annual Student-Athlete Awards Night, presented by Outback Steakhouse. Their selections highlighted a night in which the best and brightest from the 2008-09 campaign were honored.
Middlemiss was named First Team All-American and First Team Academic All-American after leading Sonoma to the 2008 CCAA Men's Soccer Championship. Sather was instrumental in leading the volleyball squad to their first NCAA Regional since 1993. In the process, she became the first All-American in the team's history.
Samantha Mullins of women's water polo won the Ralph Barkey Most Inspirational Student-Athlete Award. A four-year member of the squad, Mullins and the Seawolves had their best-ever finish in the WWPA Tournament this season.
The Dr. William K. Crowley Student-Athlete Academic Achievement Award went to two athletes, Kris Haycock of baseball and Rikki Buckshnis of volleyball. Both were named ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VIII selections this year.
The Dr. Rand Link Student-Athlete Leadership Award was handed to Andrew Bailey, a four-year member of the men's soccer squad. Bailey will graduate as the school's all-time leader in goals scored.
Male and Female Freshman of the Year honors went to Cam Vickers and Taylor Edmonds, respectively. Both soccer players earned CCAA honors as well with Vickers named Newcomer of the Year and Edmonds named Freshman of the Year.
A pair of golfers were honored with the Newcomer of the Year Award, Brittany Carrera and Ryan Carter. Carrera became the first women's golf All-American in 2009 and Carter was a key member of the national champion men's golf squad.
Jennifer Russo of women's basketball earned the Seawolf Spirit Award. She was honored alongside the men's tennis team.
The 110% Awards were given to Brittany Williams of softball and Joe Slater of baseball.
The Sonoma State Athletic Training Office handed out the Determined Student-Athlete Awards to Andrew Bailey and Kristy Sather. They were recognized for their hard work in overcoming injuries.
The Sonoma State Alumni-Association Most Outstanding Student-Athlete Awards went to Morgan Rodriguez of baseball and Lindsay Brown of volleyball.
For their academic achievements, Heidi Mertle of women's basketball and Ross Middlemiss of men's soccer were picked for the CCAA's Dr. Hal Charnofsky Awards.
Director's Awards for athletic excellence were awarded to Katie Bolce (cross country), Lindsay Brown (volleyball), Lindsay Catton (soccer), Scott Preckwinkle (soccer), Doug Carr (soccer), Eric Lafon (soccer), Brook Johnson (soccer), Ben Washington (basketball), Lauren Redfield (basketball), Chelsa Helget (golf), Jarin Todd (golf), Patrick Bauer (golf), Stephanie Luk (tennis), Connor Olson (tennis), Lysa Lombard (water polo), Laurel Stricklin (water polo), Nicole Cordova (softball), Lindsay Emmel (softball), Gary Moran (baseball), and Ian Bridges (baseball).