SMU honors top athletes
Posted: Mon Apr 29, 2013 5:42 pmFrom SMUMustangs.com:
Filmore, Sadauskas Named SMU Student-Athletes Of The Year
SMU student-athletes were honored at the annual awards banquet
April 29, 2013
DALLAS (SMU) - SMU women's basketball senior Alisha Filmore and men's swimming senior Mindaugas Sadauskas were named Student-Athletes of the Year, highlighting a banquet to honor the athletic and academic achievements of the 17 sports programs at SMU.
Sadauskas recovered from a twice-broken hand to become an NCAA All-America and Conference USA Swimmer of the Year. He is the three-time school record holder and four-time Conference USA record holder all achieved this year. He earned the Men's Swimmer of the Meet at the conference championships and was the team high point scorer by 81 points. He had three top 20 finishes at the NCAA Championships, finishing 13th in the 400 free relay, 17th in the 200 free relay and posting a personal best in the 100-yard freestyle earning him 18th place. Sadauskas maintains a 3.052 majoring in markets and cultures and minoring in applied physiology.
Filmore, the women's basketball team captain, averaged 12.5 points per game and became the 20th player in program history to score 1,000 points, finishing her career with 1,070. The lone senior led her team to a Conference USA regular-season championship and into postseason play. She was also named to the All-Conference USA Second Team. Serving as the SAAC President, Filmore was honored at the Women's Basketball banquet with the M Award for exemplifying leadership, sportsmanship and effort both on and off the court. A two-time recipient of the C-USA Spirit of Service award, she also serves as a mentor for Promise House and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Women's basketball's Keena Mays and men's golf's Bryson Dechambeau were recognized as the top newcomers on the Hilltop. Mays, who became eligible after the fall semester, was named C-USA Player of the Year, earned four C-USA Player of the Week awards, and was selected first team All-C-USA, as well as C-USA Newcomer of the Year. She averaged 19.3 points per game and shot a league-leading 41 percent from 3-point range. Dechambeau is rank No. 4 in the country among freshman, and is in the top 40 overall. He earned two consecutive Conference USA golfer of the week honors during the regular season. Dechambeau just placed second in the individual title at the Conference USA Championships finishing his 3 day run at 6 under.
The women's cross country team (3.59) and the men's tennis team (3.33) had the highest team GPAs, while the women's basketball team was recognized for having the most improved GPA. Courtney Manning, a senior on the volleyball team, and Der'rick Thompson, a sophomore on the football team, were honored with the Scholar Baller Academic Momentum Award, who persevered and overcame adversity on the quest for academic success.
Rowing's Emily Carstens and men's soccer's Will Smith were awarded the Meyer Brothers Award, which honors the male and female student-athletes who most exemplify SMU through athletics, academics, and service to the community. Carstens, the team captain, has earned 2 invites to the US National Rowing Team Identification Camp. She has rowed in the 1st Varsity 8 since her freshman season and holds the second-fastest erg time in SMU history. She has a 3.527 in business Administration, and is the Vice President of Community Service for SAAC. Smith has a 3.914 in business finance, and serves as the Executive Assistant for SAAC. The sophomore forward has one assist, and was awarded the C-USA Commissioner's Medal.
Lauryn Bodden, a junior on the women's soccer team, and Fernando Lara, a senior on the men's swimming team, were honored with the Spirit Award, and Kenzie Scovill, also on the women's soccer team, and men's soccer's Ben Hill were recognized with the Sportsmanship Award. Courtney Smith, who started all 21 games this season for the women's soccer team and led the league with 10 assists while playing on a broken foot, and Nicolai Hansen, who returned from a broken right elbow and left wrist to win five C-USA Championship event and earn All-America accolades in swimming, were honored with the Perseverance Award.
Courtney Line, a sophomore on the equestrian team, and Stephon Sanders, a sophomore on the football team, earned the Mustang Character Award. Mary Alenbratt was recognized for being one of just three SMU students to receive the Presidential Award of Excellence, which is given to a graduating senior student-athlete who has demonstrated outstanding ability on the field and in the classroom. The native of Bohus, Sweden has preserved a 3.586 GPA and will graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management with a minor in Chinese. Alenbratt has been named to the Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll each of her academic years at SMU. She has been a vital member of SMU's well-decorated cross country squads, winning three Conference USA Championships (2009, 2011 and 2012) during her four years.
Rachelle Schelhass and Blake McJunkin earned the FCA Faithful Service Award in the first year it was given. The award is given to the male and female student-athletes who best represent the mission and vision of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes through dedicated service to the FCA huddle at SMU. Award recipients are selected based on their personal spiritual growth, dedication and commitment to SMU FCA. The women's swimming and diving team won the 2012-13 Mustang Cup, earning points throughout the fall and spring semesters through various Life Skills programs, academic and athletic recognitions and SAAC events. SMU established the Mustang Cup to recognize the team who earned the most points which reflect the Mustang Way.
Filmore, Sadauskas Named SMU Student-Athletes Of The Year
SMU student-athletes were honored at the annual awards banquet
April 29, 2013
DALLAS (SMU) - SMU women's basketball senior Alisha Filmore and men's swimming senior Mindaugas Sadauskas were named Student-Athletes of the Year, highlighting a banquet to honor the athletic and academic achievements of the 17 sports programs at SMU.
Sadauskas recovered from a twice-broken hand to become an NCAA All-America and Conference USA Swimmer of the Year. He is the three-time school record holder and four-time Conference USA record holder all achieved this year. He earned the Men's Swimmer of the Meet at the conference championships and was the team high point scorer by 81 points. He had three top 20 finishes at the NCAA Championships, finishing 13th in the 400 free relay, 17th in the 200 free relay and posting a personal best in the 100-yard freestyle earning him 18th place. Sadauskas maintains a 3.052 majoring in markets and cultures and minoring in applied physiology.
Filmore, the women's basketball team captain, averaged 12.5 points per game and became the 20th player in program history to score 1,000 points, finishing her career with 1,070. The lone senior led her team to a Conference USA regular-season championship and into postseason play. She was also named to the All-Conference USA Second Team. Serving as the SAAC President, Filmore was honored at the Women's Basketball banquet with the M Award for exemplifying leadership, sportsmanship and effort both on and off the court. A two-time recipient of the C-USA Spirit of Service award, she also serves as a mentor for Promise House and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Women's basketball's Keena Mays and men's golf's Bryson Dechambeau were recognized as the top newcomers on the Hilltop. Mays, who became eligible after the fall semester, was named C-USA Player of the Year, earned four C-USA Player of the Week awards, and was selected first team All-C-USA, as well as C-USA Newcomer of the Year. She averaged 19.3 points per game and shot a league-leading 41 percent from 3-point range. Dechambeau is rank No. 4 in the country among freshman, and is in the top 40 overall. He earned two consecutive Conference USA golfer of the week honors during the regular season. Dechambeau just placed second in the individual title at the Conference USA Championships finishing his 3 day run at 6 under.
The women's cross country team (3.59) and the men's tennis team (3.33) had the highest team GPAs, while the women's basketball team was recognized for having the most improved GPA. Courtney Manning, a senior on the volleyball team, and Der'rick Thompson, a sophomore on the football team, were honored with the Scholar Baller Academic Momentum Award, who persevered and overcame adversity on the quest for academic success.
Rowing's Emily Carstens and men's soccer's Will Smith were awarded the Meyer Brothers Award, which honors the male and female student-athletes who most exemplify SMU through athletics, academics, and service to the community. Carstens, the team captain, has earned 2 invites to the US National Rowing Team Identification Camp. She has rowed in the 1st Varsity 8 since her freshman season and holds the second-fastest erg time in SMU history. She has a 3.527 in business Administration, and is the Vice President of Community Service for SAAC. Smith has a 3.914 in business finance, and serves as the Executive Assistant for SAAC. The sophomore forward has one assist, and was awarded the C-USA Commissioner's Medal.
Lauryn Bodden, a junior on the women's soccer team, and Fernando Lara, a senior on the men's swimming team, were honored with the Spirit Award, and Kenzie Scovill, also on the women's soccer team, and men's soccer's Ben Hill were recognized with the Sportsmanship Award. Courtney Smith, who started all 21 games this season for the women's soccer team and led the league with 10 assists while playing on a broken foot, and Nicolai Hansen, who returned from a broken right elbow and left wrist to win five C-USA Championship event and earn All-America accolades in swimming, were honored with the Perseverance Award.
Courtney Line, a sophomore on the equestrian team, and Stephon Sanders, a sophomore on the football team, earned the Mustang Character Award. Mary Alenbratt was recognized for being one of just three SMU students to receive the Presidential Award of Excellence, which is given to a graduating senior student-athlete who has demonstrated outstanding ability on the field and in the classroom. The native of Bohus, Sweden has preserved a 3.586 GPA and will graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management with a minor in Chinese. Alenbratt has been named to the Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll each of her academic years at SMU. She has been a vital member of SMU's well-decorated cross country squads, winning three Conference USA Championships (2009, 2011 and 2012) during her four years.
Rachelle Schelhass and Blake McJunkin earned the FCA Faithful Service Award in the first year it was given. The award is given to the male and female student-athletes who best represent the mission and vision of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes through dedicated service to the FCA huddle at SMU. Award recipients are selected based on their personal spiritual growth, dedication and commitment to SMU FCA. The women's swimming and diving team won the 2012-13 Mustang Cup, earning points throughout the fall and spring semesters through various Life Skills programs, academic and athletic recognitions and SAAC events. SMU established the Mustang Cup to recognize the team who earned the most points which reflect the Mustang Way.