The Gray Harbor College athletic department closed out its 2015-2016 school year by holding the inaugural “Charlie Awards.”
The awards ceremony was created to recognize the individual achievements, both athletically and academically, for each sports program. Awards included male and female athletes of the year, community service award winning athlete of the year and academic scholar athlete of the year.
“I’ve wanted to do this for about 15 years. We’ve always had a vision of what it would be. This year we were able to make it happen,” said Grays Harbor College athletic director Tom Sutera. “It really was an exciting night. We had about 100 people attend. Everyone dressed up. This is a great event where we honor our student-athletes. It’s something we want to continue to grow.”
Golfer Daniel Stamper took home three awards, including the Dr. O.R. Austin Memorial Awards for Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year.
Kennedy Wharton, who led the women’s basketball team with a 20.7 points per game scoring average, was selected as the P. Craig Wellington Award for the Most Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year.
Joel Brydon, a graduate of Hoquiam High School and first baseman of the Chokers’ baseball team, earned the Neal A. Eddy Memorial Award for the Most Outstanding Scholar Athlete of the Year, while Megan Lavoie, a dual athlete who plays both volleyball and women’s golf, was recognized with the George Caldwell Memorial Community Service Awards.
“Community service is something we really stress here,” Sutera said. “We’re members of this community and we want our student-athletes to be actively involved within it in a positive way.”
Stamper, who was also named the Ann Swanson Golfer of the Year and capped his GHC career with a 13th finish at the 2016 NWAC Championships, recently signed his letter of intent to attend Alcorn State University. He posted top 10 finishes in Northwest Athletic Conference tournaments at Highline, Centralia and Yakima this season.
“Grays Harbor College offers a lot of opportunities for students to get a great education while playing the sport they love,” Sutera said, “and then using what they accomplish here as a stepping stone towards whatever they deem the next step to be.”
In addition to being named the scholar athlete of the year, Brydon also received the baseball team’s most inspirational award. He appeared in 34 games this season, hitting a team-best .303 with 33 hits and 10 RBI.
“Joel just does everything you ask out of him on the field and in the classroom,” GHC baseball coach Tim Wahl said. “He was one of our leaders. He was a team captain. Joel is the type of person who will do great no matter what he decides to do in life.”
Local products captured plenty of hardware at the awards ceremony with Madi Studer (softball), Jensina Alvarenga (women’s soccer) and Brek McGaughey (wrestling) earning MVP honors for their respective sports.
Studer, a graduate of Montesano High School, paced the softball team by hitting .312 on the season, including .400 in 12 non-conference games. The outfielder also led the Chokers in plate appearances (93), runs (15) and hits (29).
Alvarenga, a 2014 Hoquiam graduate and one of just three sophomores on the Chokers’ young roster this past season, turned away a NWAC-high 176 shots – 19 more stops than the next goalkeeper – during the 2015 women’s soccer season. A pair of North Beach High School grads – Paola Robles (most improved) and Anya Marcisz (hustle award) – were also honored by the women’s soccer team.
McGaughey, a freshmen from Elma, helped GHC win the National Collegiate Wrestling Association Team state championship, while earning NCWA Academic All-American honors during the season. Competing at 235 pounds, McGaughey was the Northwest Conference champion and went 2-2 at the national tournament in Kissimmee, Florida. He finished the season with a 26-9 record.
Aberdeen graduate Riley Schrek was named the wrestling program’s most improved wrestler, while Harbor High School’s Jacob Black earned the same distinction on the men’s basketball team.
“We want to create a culture around here. We want this to be a special place for student-athletes. ,” Sutera said. “I believe events like this help make that happen.”
2015-2016 Grays Harbor College Charlie Awards winners include:
Womens Soccer: Most Improved-Paola Robles, Hustle Award-Anya Marcisz, Most Valuable-Jensina Alvarenga, Most Inspirational-Entire Team
Volleyball: Most Improved- Romey Begay, Most Inspirational-Bria Buchanan, Hustle Award- Tasha Lee, Most Valuable-Lexi Fetui
Wrestling: Most Improved-Riley Schrek, Most Inspirational- Ke’Vionne Robbins, Hustle Award- Andres Smiley, Most Valuable- Brek McGaughey
Men’s Basketball: Most Improved- Jacob Black, Most Inspirational- Bryce Demecelio, Hustle Award- Michael Sawin, Most Valuable- Malik Redmond
Women’s Basketball: Most Improved- Romey Begay, Most Inspirational- Cydni Long, Hustle Award- Samantha Wise, Most Valuable- Kennedy Wharton
Baseball: Most Improved- Daniel Peugh, Most Inspirational- Joel Brydon, Hustle Award- Nick Chaffin, Most Valuable- Nick Jensen
Golf: Most Improved- Nicholas Betrozoff, Most Inspirational- Megan Lavoie, Hustle Award- Frederic Hawes VI, Most Valuable and the Ann Swanson Golfer of the year Daniel Stamper
Softball: Most Improved- Nikki Manlow, Most Inspirational- Alyssa Satteson, Hustle Award- Reanna Fitzgerald, Most Valuable- Madi Studer
Choker Fan of the Year: Tony DeSalvo, will now be named the “Tony DeSalvo Fan of the Year”
George Caldwell Memorial Community Service Award: Megan Lavoie Volleyball & Golf
Dr. O.R. Austin Memorial Award for the Most Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year: Daniel Stamper Golf
P Craig Wellington Award for the Most Outstanding Female of the Year: Kennedy Wharton
Neal A Eddy Memorial Award for the Most Outstanding Scholar Athlete of the Year: Joel Brydon
