Willamette Announces Winners at the 2022 Bearcat Awards
By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- The 2022 Bearcat Awards were presented on Monday, May 2 at Hudson Concert Hall in the Rogers Music Center. The event honored achievements by the Willamette University Bearcats during the 2021-22 athletic year. Awards were presented to the top athletes and rising starts, as well as to those with outstanding individual performances, exceptional community service, and academic success.
Winners of the J.H. Booth Award and the Jean Williams Award, which honor the top graduating seniors for their leadership, scholarship, and athletic sucess, were announced. Other top honors included the Julie Abendroth, Ed.D. Professor of the Year Award, Alumnus of the Year Award, and Sue J. Rauch Distinguished Service to Athletics Award. Members of Willamette's Student-Athlete Advisory Committe and the 2022 induction class into the Chi Alpha Sigma honorary society also were recognized.
Bearcat Awards Show Replay
J.H. Booth Award
Presented annually to the senior men's student-athlete who most excelled in all areas of their career at Willamette by exemplifying and demonstrating outstanding leadership, scholarship and athleticism.
Mack van der Velde
Sr., D, Voorhout, Neth./Summit HS, Bend, OR
Men's Soccer
Other Finalists: Max Berner-Hays, soccer; Austin Davis, golf; Alex Matteson, track and field/cross country
Jean Williams Award
The Jean Williams Award is presented annually to the senior women's student-athlete who most excelled in all areas of their career at Willamette by exemplifying and demonstrating outstanding leadership, scholarship and athleticism.
Emma Canchola
Sr., DEF, Oregon City OR/Oregon City HS
Lacrosse
Other Finalists: Amanda Carpenter, basketball; Natalie Kotz, volleyball; Sydney Wilson, soccer
Men's Athlete of the Year
Awarded to a men's student-athlete based on the culmination of their yearly stats and athletic accolades this season.
Austin Davis
Sr., Culver City, CA/Culver City HS
Golf
Other Finalists: Max Berner-Hays, soccer; Cedric Coward, basketball; Luke Werkmeister-Martin
Women's Athlete of the Year
Awarded to a women's student-athlete based on the culmination of the their yearly stats and athletic accolades this season.
Maddie Garcia
Jr., MID, Encinitas, CA/San Dieguito Academy
Lacrosse
Other Finalists: Emma Canchola, lacrosse; Amanda Carpenter, basketball; Mia Lund, softball
Men's Individual Performance of the Year
Awarded to a men's student-athlete for their exceptional performance that made the most impact on the competition, regardless of the outcome.
Cedric Coward
Fy., F, Fresno, CA/Central HS
Basketball
Other Finalists: Austin Davis, golf, at NWC Fall Classic (Oct. 9-10); Cole Lindberg, swimming, at NWC Championships (Feb. 10-13); alex Matteson, track and field, at NWC Championships (April 22-23)
Women's Individual Performance of the Year
Awarded to a women's student-athlete for their exceptional performance that made the most impact on the competition, regardless of the outcome.
Amanda Carpenter
Grad., G, Beaverton, OR/Sunset HS
Basketball
Other Finalists: Veronica Castille, triathlon, at Collegiate Triathlon Championships (Nov. 13); Anna Hornbek, swimming, at NWC Championships (Feb. 10-13); Jordyn Johnson, softball, versus Puget Sound (March 5)
Men's Individual Service Award
Awarded to a men's student-athlete who has embodied the Willamette University motto "Non nobis solum nati sumus -- Not unto ourselves are we born." They have exhibited selflessness in their service to others on campus and in the community.
Andrew Kibbee
Sr., Kenmore, WA/Bothell HS
Golf
Joshua Perez
Jr., W, Los Angeles, CA/John Marshall HS
Basketball
Other Men's Finalists: Ryan Johns, football; Mack van der Velde, soccer
Women's Individual Service Award
Awarded to a women's student-athlete who has embodied the Willamette University motto "Non nobis solum nati sumus -- Not unto ourselves are we born." They have exhibited selflessness in their service to others on campus and in the community.
Molly Murphy-Brown
Sr., Sandy, OR/Sandy HS
Cross Country, Track & Field
Kelsey Wong
Sr., UT, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School
Softball
Other Women's Finalist: Catie Kawmaura, lacrosse; Jasmine Shigeno, basketball
Men's Bearcat Spirit
Awarded to a men's student-athlete who has embodied the experience of being a Willamette Bearcat. They display Bearcat pride and support for their own team, other programs and the Athletics Department.
Ryan Johns
So., OL, Las Vegas, NV/Liberty HS
Football
Other Finalists: Andres Huante, track and field; Andrew Kibbee, golf; Conor Mullany, football
Women's Bearcat Spirit
Awarded to a women's student-athlete who has embodied the experience of being a Willamette Bearcat. They display Bearcat pride and support for their own team, other programs and the Athletics Department.
Avery Mickelsen
Sr., Ephrata, WA/Ephrata HS
Track & Field
Other Finalists: Ruby Blake, tennis; Danielle Groff, cheerleading; Laila Pickett, cheerleading
Men's Rising Star
Awarded to a men's first year student-athlete who excelled and showed exceptional potential for their upcoming years as a Bearcat.
Cedric Coward
Fy., F, Fresno, CA/Central HS
Basketball
Other Finalists: Sean Kim, soccer; Trey Topping, baseball; Julius Wilhelmi, swimming
Women's Rising Star
Awarded to a womens' first year student-athlete who excelled and showed exceptional potential for their upcoming years as a Bearcat.
Anna Hornbeck
Fy., Bend, OR/Bend HS
Swimming
Other Finalists: Lily Bachiochi, lacrosse; Olivia Cadien, volleyball; Ella Isaacson, triathlon
Men's Academic Team of the Year
Awarded to the men's teams who attained the highest cumulative grade point average through the fall semester.
Cross Country
Other Men's Finalists: Golf, Soccer, Track and Field
Women's Academic Team of the Year
Awarded to the women's teams who attained the highest cumulative grade point average through the fall semester.
Cross Country
Triathlon
Other Women's Finalists: Soccer, Track and Field
Men's Senior Scholar-Athlete Awards
Awarded to a men's student-athlete who excels through the rigors of academics and athletics at Willamette. The men's and women's senior student-athletes who have achieved the highest cumulative grade point average through the fall semester receive this award.
Gabriel Regimbal
Sr., Bellingham, WA/Squalicum HS
Cross Country, Track & Field
Women's Senior Scholar-Athlete Awards
Awarded to a women's student-athlete who excels through the rigors of academics and athletics at Willamette. The men's and women's senior student-athletes who have achieved the highest cumulative grade point average through the fall semester receive this award.
Sydney Wilson
Sr., M, Olympia, WA/Capital HS
Soccer
SAAC Bearcat Cup
Competition for the Bearcat Cup is designed to increase school spirit by Willamette student-athletes and to encourage participation on campus and in Salem. Points are awarded to teams for attending home and away games, participating in community service, attending non-athletics campus events, and attending Athletic Department events. The team with the highest point total wins the Bearcat Cup.
Women's Basketball
Julie Abendroth, Ed.D., Professor of the Year
In memory of Professor Julie Abendroth, whose dedication to Willamette student-athletes was not limited to the classroom. She was a mentor and a friend of our student-athletes.
Presented by the Willamette Student-Athlete Advisory Committee to a Willamette University professor demonstrating devotion to the pursuit of excellence by our student-athletes in both academics and athletics.
Dr. Debra Ringold
JELD-WEN professor of free enteprise at the Atkinson Graduate School of Management
Alumnus of the Year
Presented by the Willamette University coaches in honor of an alumnus who demonstrates a lifelong connection and commitment to Bearcat Athletics, its coaches and its student-athletes.
Jim Booth '64
Sue J. Rauch Distinguished Service to Athletics Award
Presented by the Willamette University coaches in memory of Sue Rauch, a dedicated member of the Willamette community, whose continuous support and commitment served a vital role in the success of the Bearcat Athletics Department, its coaches and it's student-athletes.
Leslie Shevlin
Associate Athletics Director, Senior Woman Administrator