May 2, 2008
FAIRBANKS, AK - The University of Alaska Fairbanks Department of Athletics held its annual end of the season All-Sports Banquet, dishing out awards to each of the teams Most Valuable Players and Dr. Wood Scholar Athletes, as well as recognizing the Intercollegiate Athletics Advisory Council Male and Female Student-Athletes of the Year, the Harris Shelton Spirit of Competition, the Humanitarian of the Year, and the Athletic Director's Coach of the Year winners.
Skiing and cross country senior Marius Korthauer of Bonndorf, Germany, was elected as the IAC Male Student-Athlete of the Year, while senior outside hitter Jenna Jones was the IAC's choice for the top female student-athlete.
Director of Athletics and Campus Recreation, Forrest Karr, named Cross Country and Skiing Head Coach Scott Jerome, the Athletic Director's Coach of the Year. Jerome's cross country squads earned team All-American honors in addition to seeing nine of his runners named to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference All-Academic Team. In the snow, the Nanook skiers had a phenomenal season, with four individuals earning All-American status, and senior Marius Korthauer taking the individual NCAA crown in the 20K classic race and silver in the 10k freestyle race.
Sophomores Layne Lewis and Einar Often were named the Humanitarian of the Year and Haris Shelton Spirit of Competition honorees, respectively. Lewis helped to promote the sport of rifle in the community by volunteering his time as a coach at Fairbanks area high schools with shooting programs and also for helping salvage the remains of Fairbanks shooting landmark that was burnt in a fire earlier this year. Often sacrificed his chances at an NCAA Skiing Championships berth, by lending his teammate Ray Sabo, who was also on the bubble, his ski pole when Sabo's broke during a qualifying race earlier this year. Often's good sportsmanship went a long way, as Sabo finished one of his best races en route to qualifying for the Nanooks' last open spot.
Below is a complete list of the 2008 All-Sports Banquet award winners:
Intercollegiate Athletics Committee Scholar-Athletes of the Year
Marius Korthauer
Jenna Jones
Most Valuable Players
MBB: Mike Titus
WBB: Kari Reabold
MCC: Jani Tulppo
WCC: Anna Coulter
HKY: Wylie Rogers
RIF: Patrik Sartz
MSK: Marius Korthauer
WSK: Aurelia Korthauer
SWI: Mariya Pavlovskaya
VBL: Megan Thigpen
Dr. Wood Scholar-athletes
MBB: Mladen Begojevic
WBB: Joscelyn Shumate
WCC: Nikkol Sipes
MCC: Chris Eversman
HKY: Trevor Hyatt
RIF: Christofer Olofsson
MSK: Vahur Teppan
WSK: Elisabeth Habermann
SWI: Erin Widby
VBL: Jenna Jones
Harris Shelton Spirit of Competition Award
M Ski/Run: Einar Often
Humanitarian Award
Rif: Layne Lewis
2007-2008 Athletic Director's Coach of the Year Award
Scott Jerome - Cross Country and Skiing
