2014 Award Winners
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| UCI Scholar-Athlete of the Year |
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Hannah Croghan
(Water Polo)
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Hannah is a First Team All-Big West selection along with being named the Big West Tournament MVP. In an outstanding 2014 season, Hannah recorded 51 goals on the season, currently making her fifth all-time in career goals including a team leading 7 goals in the NCAA tournament games. Croghan was nominated to represent UCI as NCAA Woman of the Year. She is a three-time scholar-athlete, majoring in Public Health Policy. |
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Andrew Morales
(Baseball)
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Andrew, a RHP, holds a 9-1 record along with ranking third in the Big West with a 1.42 ERA. He is a Senior CLASS Award candidate and has been named a Dick Hauser Trophy semifinalist. Morales is majoring in Public Health Policy, is a 2013-14 scholar-athlete and will graduate in June. He is the second member of his family to graduate from college and the second among an extended family that includes 20 cousins. He also intends to continue his education by applying for the fire academy and EMT school and would like to get his paramedic’s license. He was named a 2014 Big West Scholar-Athlete and was also nominated for the Big West Sportsmanship award by his peers. |
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| Big West Scholar-Athlete of the Year |
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Itos Aikhionbare
(Track & Field)
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Aikhionbare is the school record-holder in the discus throw with a mark of 170-2 and in the shot put with a mark of 53-9. She finished third in the shot put and eighth in the discus throw at the 2013 USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships after placing second in the shot put and fourth in the discus throw at the Big West Championships. She was named Big West Athlete of the Week three times in a four-week period last spring. Aikhionbare has earned Dean’s List honors for two quarters at UCI. The biological sciences major is a member of the Phi Delta Epsilon International Pre-Medical Fraternity and aspires to be a pediatric surgeon. |
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Taylor Sparks
(Baseball)
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Sparks, UCI’s starting third baseman in baseball, was named first-team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association after being named the Big West Co-Player of the Year in 2013. Sparks is an American Baseball Coaches Association Gold Glove winner and was named to the Collegiate Baseball “Louisville Slugger” All-American third-team. The junior sociology major spent last summer playing with Team USA and was voted the top American player in the Japan series. Sparks has been named to the Dean’s Honor List five times and hopes to play professionally and coach high school or college baseball in the future. |
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| Lauds & Laurels Outstanding Student-Athlete |
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Mitch Wise
(Water Polo)
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Wise, a Senior, was selected as this year's Lauds & Laurels Outstanding Student-Athlete by the UCI Alumni Association. Academically, he carried a 3.23 GPA in the School of Physical Sciences and is a multiple year scholar-athlete. On the Men's Water Polo team, Mitch scored 80 goals this past season and was a 2013 All-America Honorable Mention. |
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| Leadership Award |
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Aly Squires
(Volleyball)
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The Leadership Award is traditionally given to a SAAC member. This award is presented to a student-athlete who possesses the qualities of a great leader; and has dedicated their time promoting the principles of community and tradition within the UCI Student-Athlete body. SAAC Rep and SAAC Executive Board Member for 4 years and has served as the Chair of the Athletic Development Subcommittee during the 2013-2014 Academic Year. Aly is a sociology major with a 3.676 GPA and has been a scholar-athlete for 4 years. |
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Michael Saeta
(Volleyball)
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The Leadership Award is traditionally given to a SAAC member. This award is presented to a student-athlete who possesses the qualities of a great leader; and has dedicated their time promoting the principles of community and tradition within the UCI Student-Athlete body. SAAC Rep for 2 years and has served as the Chair of the Community Service and the Career Development Subcommittees during the 2013-2014 Academic Year. Michael is majoring in sociology. |
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| Academic Achievement Award |
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Jordan Utvich
(Soccer)
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Jordan is a biological sciences major with a 3.095 GPA and has been a scholar-athlete for 2 years. As a midfielder on the Women's Soccer team, she played in 28 games, scoring 2 goals and one assist. |
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Chris McNealy
(Basketball)
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Chris is a sociology major and was a starting guard on the Men's Basketball team. He has scored 1,198 points in his career to rank 18th in UCI history. He has 514 career rebounds to become the 17th player in Anteater history to record 1,000 points and 500 rebounds. McNealy has scored in double figures 24 times this season. McNealy is tied for 10th all-time at UCI with 102 steals, is 11th with 130 career threes and 13th with 276 assists. |
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| Senior Class Performance Award |
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Camille Buckley
(Basketball)
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During and outstanding 2014 season, she was named First Team All-Big West along with being a Big West All-Tournament Team selection. Camille led the league in double-doubles with 19, averaged 18.5 points per game and 12.0 rebounds per game. |
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Enrique Cardenas
(Soccer)
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Enrique had an outstanding 2013 campaign where he was named NSCAA Second Team All-American, NSCAA All-West Region First Team along with being named Big West Midfielder of the Year. Enrique had a team-leading eight goals including four game-winners. He is currently playing professionally for the OC Blues. |
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| Junior Class Performance Award |
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Danielle Warde
(Water Polo)
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Danielle is a First Team All-Big West selection along with being named the Big West Player of the Year. During a great 2014 season, Danielle recorded a team leading 59 goals, making her sixth all-time in career goals at UC Irvine. |
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Sam Moore
(Baseball)
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Sam is currently having an outstanding baseball season with 23 saves. He broke the UCI and Big West Conference single season saves mark and is currently leading the country in saves. Sam has also been named a Dick Hauser Trophy semifinalist. |
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| Sophomore Class Performance Award |
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Kaulyn Lee-McNeill
(Track & Field)
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Kaulyn finished 4th in the Big West in the 400m hurdles this year with a time 60.74. She currently ranks seventh all-time in UCI History for the event. |
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Michael Breslin
(Soccer)
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Michael had a great 2013 season and was named All-Big West Honorable Mention. Michael started all 23 games for the Anteaters this season, while playing all 2,148 minutes in goal. Michael led the Big West with 10 shutouts and a 0.80 goals-against average. |
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| Freshman Class Performance Award |
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Megan George
(Track & Field)
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Megan finished 3rd in the Big West in the 100m hurdles this year with a time 13.76. She currently ranks third all-time in UCI History for the event. Megan also won the 100m hurdles in the Spring Break Invitational.
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Mamadou Ndiaye
(Basketball)
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Mamadou had an exceptional 2014 season and received the Big West Conference “Best Defensive” award. Mamadou also set a UCI and Big West record with 106 blocked shots along with setting a school record with 11 blocked shots in a win over Long Beach State.
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Luke Nelson
(Basketball)
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Luke had an outstanding 2014 season where he was awarded the Big West Conference Freshman of the Year award along with being a Second Team All-Big West Selection. During the 2014 season, Luke led UCI in scoring with 11.8 points/game, 3-points made with 74 and steals with 38.
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