2017-18 PACWEST SCHOLAR-ATHLETES OF THE YEAR BIOS
IRVINE, Calif. – The 2017-18 PacWest Scholar Athletes of the Year are led by three repeat selections in
Darian Murdock from Dixie State,
Oliver Frank from Azusa Pacific and
Ryann Ferguson from Concordia. The honor recognizes a player in each of the 15 PacWest sports for their academic and athletic accomplishments.
The honorees were selected in a vote by the PacWest sports information directors. Each of the winners are now eligible for the PacWest Male and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards, which will be announced on Thursday.
Seven of the athletes were also selected as their sport's Athlete of the Year during the season. Dominican's
Natalie Diaz was the PacWest Co-Player of the Year in women's basketball, leading her squad to the PacWest semifinals.
Emeline Delanis helped California Baptist record the best women's cross country national result in conference history.
Wiktor Lasota was PacWest Co-Goalkeeper of the Year and a part of the Point Loma men's soccer team that earned the right to host regionals.
Murdock was the women's soccer Player of the Year for the second year in a row. Frank from Azusa Pacific and
Lena Lutzeier from Hawai`i Pacific were the men's and women's tennis Players of the Year and both led their teams to the national semifinals. California Baptist's
Lauren Hackett led her team to an undefeated PacWest title and a trip to the NCAA West Regional semifinals.
| 2017-18 PACWEST SCHOLAR-ATHLETES OF THE YEAR |
| Sport |
Name |
School |
GPA |
Major |
| Baseball |
Sean Aspinall |
Azusa Pacific |
3.87 |
Accounting |
| Men’s Basketball |
Brandon Simister |
Dixie State |
3.90 |
Biology |
| Women’s Basketball |
Natalie Diaz |
Dominican |
3.57 |
Business Administration |
| Men’s Cross Country |
Jeremy Porter |
Azusa Pacific |
3.86 |
Business Management |
| Women’s Cross Country |
Emeline Delanis |
California Baptist |
3.89 |
Business Administration |
| Men’s Golf |
Jayce Frampton
Kyle McLay |
Dixie State
Holy Names |
3.74
3.54
|
Finance
Business Management |
| Women’s Golf |
Samantha Martirez |
California Baptist |
3.94 |
Journalism & New Media |
| Men’s Soccer |
Wiktor Lasota |
Point Loma |
3.90 |
Business-Finance |
| Women’s Soccer |
Darian Murdock |
Dixie State |
3.98 |
Nursing |
| Softball |
Ryann Ferguson |
Concordia |
3.92 |
Exercise & Sport Science |
| Men’s Tennis |
Oliver Frank |
Azusa Pacific |
3.82 |
Business Administration |
| Women’s Tennis |
Lena Lutzeier |
Hawai`i Pacific |
3.90 |
Business Administration |
| Men’s Track & Field |
Scott Hickam
Gatien Airiau |
Fresno Pacific
Academy of Art |
3.75
3.58
|
Finance
Communications & Media Tech |
| Women’s Track & Field |
Marion Presigny |
Academy of Art |
3.84 |
Fashion Journalism |
| Volleyball |
Lauren Hackett |
California Baptist |
3.82 |
Graphic Design/Digital Media |