November 9, 2004
Cross Country
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cardinals Conclude Season with Awards Banquet

UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University cross country teams held their annual season ending banquet on Monday (November 8). Head coach Jim Nesbitt was pleased to announce award winners for both the men's and women's teams. Following are all of the award winners:

First Year Award (Women): Lauren Gallagher (Shelby Twp., Mich./Utica), Kelli Kaiser (Lachine, Mich./Alpena), Courtney Kotewa (Essexville, Mich./Garber), Jenny Phelan (Horton, Mich./Hanover-Horton), Annette Pretzer (St. Charles, Mich./Michigan Lutheran Seminary), Becca Rudey (Wixom, Mich./Walled Lake Western), Ashton Strohkirch (Gladwin, Mich.) and Jessica Sweeney (Saginaw, Mich./Heritage).

First Year Award (Men): Ryan Clapp (Fenton, Mich./Lake Fenton), Andy Cojeen (Essexville, Mich./Garber), Mario Cornejo (Bay City, Mich./Central), Steve Czymbor (Hemlock, Mich.), Paul Jozwiak (Berkley, Mich.), Nick Krus (St. Clair Shores, Mich./Lakeview), Jacob Schultz (Frankenmuth, Mich.) and Len Weddell (East Tawas, Mich./Tawas Area) and redshirt Ben Gallagher (Essexville, Mich./Garber).

Second Year Award (Women): Jenny Bellsky (Frankenmuth, Mich.) and Melody Coates (Mt. Morris, Mich./Johnson Memorial).

Second Year Award (Men): James Gale (Westland, Mich./Livonia Churchill), Justin Grow (Hanover, Mich./Hanover-Horton), Greg Schmit (Leslie, Mich.) and redshirt Bryan Mullins (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester).

Third Year Award (Women): Redshirt Kelly Meucci (St. Charles, Ill./East).

Third Year Award (Men): Doug McGaw (Freeland, Mich.), Adam Roach (Port Huron, Mich.) and redshirt Brandon Johnson (Owosso, Mich.).

Senior Award (Women): Diane Johnston (Grand Blanc, Mich.) and Meagan Strohkirch (Gladwin, Mich.).

Senior Award (Men): Pedro Ortega (Saginaw, Mich./Swan Valley) and redshirt Jerome Recker (Kimball, Mich./Port Huron).

Team Captain Award: Meagan Strohkirch, Pedro Ortega, Jerome Recker, Adam Roach.

Team MVP (Women): Becca Rudey
Team MVP (Men): Adam Roach

Most Dedicated: Meagan Strohkirch and James Gale

Most Improved: Jenny Bellsky and Len Weddell

Most Outstanding Freshman: Becca Rudey and Steve Czymbor

The Cardinals ended their season on Saturday (November 6) at the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional in Edwardsville, Ill. The men came home with a fourth-place showing, while the women finished eleventh out of sixteen total teams.

Contact: Jeff Bacholzky (989) 964-4933

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