LONGIVEW - The LeTourneau YellowJacket athletic department honored their student-athletes on Thursday night at 2013 Spring Banquet. Many athletes from all the winter and spring sports earned awards for their accomplishments on the season as well as the announcement of the winners of the yearly awards.
Cross country swept the first major award as senior Brenden Palmer and senior Nicole Leman took home the LeTourneau Scholar-Athlete Medal of Honor Award for the 2012-13 season exemplfying an outstanding record in leadership, academics, and athletics.
Leman wasn't done yet, she also took home the LeTourneau Female Athlete of the Year for her qualification at the NCAA Championships as well as becoming the first cross country runner to win the ASC Individual Championship and only the second athlete in school history to compete in an NCAA Championship event (Leslie Lee, 2010).
Junior Curt Copeland of baseball won the Male Athlete of the Year for his outstanding performance with the baseball team this season. As the Jackets completed their first winning season since 1999, Copeland was a major player in that going 8-2 with a 1.53 ERA in 82.1 innings pitched, nine complete games, and 47 strikeouts to only 10 walks.
Finally, the R.G. LeTourneau Award (formerly the Roger Erickstad Award) was awarded to the man or woman who portrayed Christian leadership in the community, on campus, in the classroom, and on campus all traits that were shown by the founder of the school, R.G. LeTourneau. This was awarded to junior Jourdan Glover of the softball team after a great season on the field and the numerous activities and leadership she shows off the field.
Check out the other award winners from the individual sport at the banquet below.
Women's Tennis
Most Improved Player: Junior Kayla Bonina
Fighting Heart Award: Junior Shelby May
Team Captain: Junior Sarah Case
Men's Tennis
Freshman of the Year: Freshman Laird Beaty
Fighting Heart Award: Sophomore Sindre Johnsgaard
Most Improved Player: Freshman John Smith
Team Captain: Senior Carlos Cantu
Women's Basketball
Toughness Award: Junior Julencia Curtis
Newcomer of the Year: Freshman Ashley Stephens
Most Valuable Player: Junior Andrea Ashley
Men's Basketball
Sacrificial Warrior Award: Sophomore Zach Driver
Victorious Warrior Award: Senior Cristian Driver and Freshman Ladaria "Doogie" Brown
Most Valuable Player: Junior Justin Jones
Softball
Heart Award: Junior Sara Whitehead
Offensive MVP: Junior Anna Winter
Defensive MVP: Junior Jourdan Glover
Most Valuable Player: Freshman Shelby Borders
Men's Golf
YellowJacket Award: Senior Hayden Adams
Most Valuable Player: Sophomore Will Park
Women's Golf
Most Valuable Player: Senior Candice Nishimura
Baseball
YellowJacket Award: Senior Brent Sellers
Top Newcomer Award: Junior Curt Copeland
Most Valuable Player: Junior Curt Copeland
