By Daily Forty-Niner sports awards of 2007-08
This school year was a year of sorts for Long Beach State athletics. There were many ups, downs, triumphs and tragedies. From men’s basketball’s nightmarish season to the softball team’s dream-like season, the athletic year was a roller coaster not suited for the average fan. But certain athletes and coaches hung along for the ride and kept LBSU in the mix. Here are our picks for the Daily Forty-Niner sports awards:
Male Athlete of the Year: Paul Lotman, senior, men’s volleyball
The rise to acclaimed fame around the nets makes the All-American outside hitter the unanimous winner. Lotman wasn’t a touted prospect when entering collegiate sports; he was a walk-on for the 49ers in 2004. He slowly but gradually grew from a raw talent to an outstanding player and fierce competitor, as he lead his team to a 23-7 record, Mountain Pacific Sports Federation regular season title and NCAA Tournament appearance. Add his 2008 American Volleyball Coaches Association National co-Player of the Year award and Lotman’s accolades surely give him the nod.
Female Athlete of the Year: Alexis Crimes, senior, women’s volleyball
The middle blocker from Rancho Cucamonga was the team’s most valuable player and probably LBSU women’s athletics’ most coveted athlete. She scored with power and led with intensity. In her final season, Crimes passed five other LBSU greats to finish third in career kills with 1,756, trailing only Tara Cross and Danielle Scott. She also threatened the LBSU career total blocks record, finishing six short from passing Scott. With all that in mind, the 49ers thrived off her well-rounded nature on the court and made the NCAA Tournament all four years, going 101-27 in those years.
Men’s Coach of the Year: Alan Knipe, men’s volleyball
Coming off an 11-17 season a year ago, the men’s volleyball team was put under the radar to begin the 2008 season, beginning the season ranked 10th nationally by the AVCA. This didn’t sit well with Knipe, who focused heavily on the team’s work ethic and training regimen in the offseason. The results showed, as the eight-year head coach guided the team to a 12-match improvement and a national ranking as high as No. 2. Knipe’s biggest coaching effect this season probably came when he got his team, coming off of two consecutive losses, back on the fundamentals of the game before a four-match road trip to end the season. LBSU regained its composure to win four straight and the conference regular season title.
Women’s Coach of the Year: Kim Sowder, softball
After the retirement of Pete Manarino, LBSU’s all-time leader in coaching victories, I thought the softball team would be in for some rebuilding years, especially since Sowder entered 2007 as a first-time head coach. I was wrong by a long shot. Sowder’s experience and understanding of her players helped ease the transition. She is a player’s coach and good personnel director, but wasn’t rewarded with an NCAA Tournament bid for keeping LBSU competitive at 28-25. So, she upped the ante by developing the pitching staff and providing the team with a defensive mentality to give the NCAA a reason why her coaching is underrated and the Big West Champions are a national power.
Men’s Team of the Year: Men’s volleyball team
The 49ers were ready for the 2008 season right after their 2007 season ended. Junior libero Dustin Watten spoke to me about how the team wanted to get back into form, practice and train in the offseason with hopes of improving the following season. Even with freshman setter Mike Klipsch and freshman outside hitter Josh Riley being added into the lineup, the communication was always there. The 49ers picked each other up when they were down, and had the support of countless LBSU fans to keep them going. They worked hard, played even harder and won together.
Women’s Team of the Year: Softball team
Any time I talked to softball players before and after games, they would always stress the importance of teamwork. Freshman pitcher Brooke Turner, even after breaking the LBSU strikeout record, began most of her responses with “we.” Seniors Jessica Beaver, Lacy Tyler and other players approached interviews the same way. Continuity and unity has pushed this team forward and over several top-25 opponents. Even through losses, the players remained one unit and one family.
Men’s Freshman of the Year: Mike Klipsch, men’s volleyball
Yes, I know it’s the men’s volleyball showcase, but the team was nowhere near as successful in 2007. LBSU deserves it and Klipsch deserves this award. He was the lone freshman to instantly make an impact as a first-year starter. He was the nation’s leader in assists with 1,493 and was the main setup man for Lotman, sophomore opposite Dean Bittner and sophomore middle blocker Dan Alexander, all of whom earned All-American honors. His giant beard gives him the appearance of a senior, but his efficient play gives him the talent of a future All-American.
Women’s Freshman of the Year: Brooke Turner, softball
This one didn’t require too much pondering. Any LBSU fan that doesn’t know this name is too far behind. Turner helped change the presence of the softball team with her dominance of hitters. She broke the LBSU strikeout record twice, with the first time being during her debut as a 49er. Turner stepped far out of the shadow of her sister Michelle by taking her single season wins record and breaking the single season shutout record. The 5-11 phenom, once a prom queen at Kennedy High School in La Palma, has won 26 games and has helped her team reach the Big Dance, also known as the NCAA Tournament.
Men’s Standout Senior: Chris Richardson, Brent Gray, track and field
Both ran hard and both ran fast. As seniors, Richardson and Gray both excelled in their respective events. Richardson has ran through the decathlon in Big West competition and reached the NCAA championships once again. Gray, a transfer from Long Beach City College, was an instant impact to the team in just two years. The charismatic senior has rose to the top of the conference as a sprinter, helping lead the men’s team to a Big West Championship over the weekend.
Women’s Standout Senior: Stephanie Bengson, women’s tennis, Jessica Beaver, softball
Junior Hannah Grady may have seized the glory as the team’s top player, but Bengson had the more memorable season. The “Banger” worked hard for four years and has four Big West Championships to look back at. It was a decorated career for a decorated player. Beaver, who I proclaimed to be LBSU’s “queen of RBIs,” finished a similarly decorated career that saw her improve every season. Her final year was the pinnacle of her LBSU career, as she set the career RBI record (115) and finished with 21 career homers, second all-time at The Beach. She probably has the record for best interviews as well.
Men’s Wild Card/Difference Maker: Jason Corder, baseball
Senior ace Andrew Liebel and juniors Shane Peterson and Danny Espinosa have stood out as the Dirtbags’ big names, but the impact of Corder can’t be ignored. The transfer from California is the team’s top slugger with 14 bombs and a .648 slugging percentage. He’s could land a big hit at any possible time, especially considering his team-high 49 RBIs.
Women’s Wild Card/Difference Maker: Talaya Whitfield, women’s volleyball, Lacy Tyler, softball
Head coach Brian Gimmillaro, who’s coached at LBSU for 24 years and notched three national championships, called Whitfield “one of the best liberos in the country.” Whitfield, injuries and all, played like it. The senior was usually at the right place at the right time during matches, reaching for digs when the 49ers needed a save. She did it 542 times last season in 27 matches. Tyler was one of the clutch hitters for the 49ers. Ask top-ranked Florida, which lost its first game of the season off a grounder by the junior in the eighth in
ning to give LBSU the win that put it on the nation’s watch.
Men’s Leadership Award: Donovan Morris, men’s basketball
Despite watching teams constantly swarm him with double-teams, Morris found a way to rank 22 nd in the nation with 21.2 points per game. He also learned to not force the issue, getting his teammates involved to lead the 49ers with 5.2 assists per game. A 6-25 record may not show it, but Morris kept his team competitive in games, including scoring a career-high 33 points and draining an off-balance, circus-like 3-pointer with nine seconds left to force overtime in the regular season finale.
Women’s Leadership Award: Brooke LeSage, softball
Men’s Most Competitive: Dustin Watten, men’s volleyball
Women’s Most Competitive: Hannah Grady, women’s tennis
Men’s Game/Match of the Year (of competitions I’ve covered): Men’s volleyball at CS Northridge, April 12, 2008
Women’s Game/Match of the Year (of competitions I’ve covered): Softball vs. Florida, Feb. 27, 2008
Overall Biggest Moment in 49er Sports So Far: Men’s basketball receives three years probation by NCAA
