May 2, 2009
Fairbanks, AK – Senior goalie Chad Johnson and sophomore swimmer Mariya Pavlovskaya headline the Alaska Nanooks award winners at the 2009 all-sports banquet hosted at the Princess Hotel on Friday night. Johnson and Pavlovskaya were named the male and female Most Outstanding Athlete.
Johnson backstopped the Blue and Gold to the semifinals of the CCHA playoffs at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, the team’s third time there in program history. He was named the CCHA Player of the Year, a member of the CCHA First Team All-Conference, and was the CCHA Perani Cup Champion.
Pavlovskaya was Alaska’s first ever individual champion at the PCSC Championships, winning the 200 individual medley. At nationals, Pavlovskaya finished seventh in the 400 individual medley, earning First Team All-American accolades and becoming the first Alaska swimmer to earn those honors since the programs revival in 2005. While at nationals, she also achieved Honorable Mention All-American status in the 200IM and the 200 backstroke.
Trevor Hyatt of hockey and Elisabeth Habermann of cross country and skiing were named the Intercollegiate Athletics Council Scholar-Athlete of the Year. A senior, Hyatt holds a 4.0 GPA as a civil engineer, and appeared in 33 games for the Blue and Gold this season. Habermann, a duel sport athlete, was a solid contributor to both teams this season. In the classroom, the chemistry major has a 3.92 GPA.
Hyatt also took home the Humanitarian Award for his continued volunteer work in the community, which includes: referring youth hockey, conducting youth skating lessons, judging local science fairs, and participating in the Big Brother’s Big Sisters program.
The women’s basketball team won the Harris Shelton Spirit of Competition Award for their refusal to quit in what was an injury plagued season, leaving the team with three originals players to finish the season. Captain Sheena Brown received the honor to a standing ovation from the room.
Coach Dallas Ferguson of hockey was named Coach of the Year, while Kim Anderson, the Assistant Athletics Director for Finance and Business Operations was the inaugural winner of the Staff Member of the Year award.
Team MVP’s and Dr. William Wood Scholar Athletes are as follows:
Men’s Basketball:
Most Valuable Player – Emmanuel Jenkins
Scholar Athlete – Mike Anderson
Women’s Basketball:
Most Valuable Player – Ronisha Edwards
Scholar Athlete – Nicole Bozek
Men’s Cross Country:
Most Valuable Runner – Chris Eversman
Scholar Athlete – Chris Eversman
Women’s Cross Country:
Most Valuable Runner – Theresia Schnurr
Scholar Athlete – Jana Benedix
Hockey:
Most Valuable Player – Chad Johnson
Scholar Athlete – Trevor Hyatt
Rifle:
Most Valuable Shooter – Billy Galligan
Scholar Athlete – Taylor Beard
Men’s Skiing:
Most Valuable Skier – Oyvind Watterdal
Scholar Athlete – Alex Morris
Women’s Skiing:
Most Valuable Skier – Theresia Schnurr
Scholar Athlete – Julia Pierson
Swimming:
Most Valuable Swimmer – Mariya Pavlovskaya
Scholar Athlete – Sam Zinsli
Volleyball:
Most Valuable Player – Korlyn Bolster
Scholar Athlete – Hannah Armstrong
