Athletic Department Hosts 12th Annual Bennys Award Show
June 2, 2010
CORVALLIS, Ore. - Oregon State University's men's golf and women's soccer teams took the top honors at the 12th Annual The Bennys Awards ceremony Wednesday evening at Reser Stadium on the OSU campus. The Bennys is an end-of-the-year celebration commemorating the achievements of student-athletes at OSU.
The men's golf team, under the direction of Brian Watts, enjoyed one its finest season in history. The Beavers reached the NCAA Championships for the first time since the 2000-01 season. OSU finished fifth at the Pac-10 Championships for the second straight year in a conference that boasts eight teams in the 30-team field at the NCAA Championships. Watts also picked up Male Sport Coach of the Year honors.
Linus Rhode's women's soccer team was honored advancing to the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship for only the second time in school history. The ride didn't end there as the un-seeded Beavers swept through the Columbus regional bracket, defeating Ohio State and nationally-seeded Florida and into the Sweet 16. The team finished the year with a mark of 14-8-1 and ranked as high as No. 19 in the nation. Rhode also earned Female Sport Coach of the Year honors.
Men's Soccer senior Danny Mwanga took home the hardware as the Male Athlete of the Year. Mwanga became the first player in program history to be named the Men's Soccer Pac-10 Player of the Year and was taken No. 1 overall in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft by the expansion Philadelphia Union. Mwanga led the team and the conference in goals in 2009 and was named College Soccer News All-American First Team and to the NSCAA All-American Second Team.
Volleyball's Rachel Rourke captured Female Athlete of the Year honors. Near the top of the program record books in a number of statistical categories, Rourke took over sole possession of the 15-year-old career kills record, ending the season with 1,920 as she became the first All-American in volleyball in school history, being named to the AVCA second team.
Michael Philipp of the football team captured the Joe Zaher Male Newcomer of the Year award. Philipp was forced to step in on the offensive line as he was the first true freshman to start on the line at Oregon State in 12 years. Philipp excelled at his challenge and following the season earned Freshman All-America honors.
On the women's side, Makayla Stambaugh of the gymnastics team was honored as Female Newcomer of the year. Her outstanding performance throughout the year earned her Pac-10 Freshman of the Year and was first team All-Pac-10 selection on the floor exercise. She finished the season by earning first team All-America honors on the floor and finished 12th at the NCAA Championships while helping to lead the Beavers to their best finish at nationals since 1996.
The Male Performance of the Year was presented to Jacquizz Rodgers as he scored four touchdowns in a victory against Stanford while amassing 189 yards rushing and 82 yards receiving. Meanwhile, Melinda Ingalls was honored with the Female Performance of the Year as her golden goal against Florida propelled the women's soccer team into the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Championships.
The Robert Byers Spirit Award was presented to senior Oregon State student Eric Robbins (better known as "The `O' Guy"); the Glenn Klein Community Service Award winners were Gregg Peat (football), Ashley Wood and Sophie Clough (women's soccer); and, Helen Hansen (BASF Fund Drive volunteer) was presented the Martin Chaves Lifetime Achievement Award winner.
Bennys were also presented to All-Americans: Laura-Ann Chong (gymnastics), Danny Mwanga (men's soccer), Michael Phillip (football), James and Jacquizz Rodgers (football), Mandi Rodriguez (gymnastics), Rachel Rourke (volleyball) and Makayla Stambaugh (gymnastics).
Scholar Athletes were also recognized with Bennys: Rachael Axon (women's soccer), Elizabeth Dunfield (cross country), Emily Henshaw (women's soccer), Katie Humm (women's rowing), Brittney Iverson (women's swimming), Casy Kjos (football), Bree Knitter (volleyball), Michael Miller (men's soccer), Michael Parker (men's soccer), Kayla Rawlings (swimming), Tyler Simpson (men's golf), Jeremy Sugden (men's rowing), Ashley Wood (women's soccer) and Lorene Young (cross country).
The 2009-2010 BENNYS AWARDS
Male Athlete of the Year: Danny Mwanga (men's soccer)
Female Athlete of the Year: Rachel Rourke (volleyball)
Male Newcomer of the Year: Michael Philipp (football)
Female Newcomer of the Year: Makayla Stambaugh (gymnastics)
Male Performance of the Year: Jacquizz Rodgers (football) vs. Stanford
Female Performance of the Year: Melinda Ingalls (women's soccer) vs. Florida
Male Sport Coach of the Year: Brian Watts (men's golf)
Female Sport Coach of the Year: Linus Rhode (women's soccer)
Male Team of the Year: Men's Golf
Female Team of the Year: Women's Soccer
Robert Byers Spirit Award: Eric Robbins - The `O' Guy
Glenn Klein Community Service Awards: Gregg Peat (footbal), Ashley Wood and Sophie Clough (women's soccer)
Martin Chaves Lifetime Achievement Award: Helen Hansen
All-Americans: Laura-Ann Chong (gymnastics), Danny Mwanga (men's soccer), Michael Phillip (football), James and Jacquizz Rodgers (football), Mandi Rodriguez (gymnastics), Rachel Rourke (volleyball) and Makayla Stambaugh (gymnastics).
Scholar Athletes of the Year: Rachael Axon (women's soccer), Elizabeth Dunfield (cross country), Emily Henshaw (women's soccer), Katie Humm (women's rowing), Brittney Iverson (women's swimming), Casy Kjos (football), Bree Knitter (volleyball), Michael Miller (men's soccer), Michael Parker (men's soccer), Kayla Rawlings (swimming), Tyler Simpson (men's golf), Jeremy Sugden (men's rowing), Ashley Wood (women's soccer) and Lorene Young (cross country)
