Skrifvars, Carse and Robertson Earn Top Awards at MSU Billings (Apr. 16, 2004)

BILLINGS, MT – Men’s basketball players Jerett Skrifvars and Dave Carse along with women’s soccer player Heidi Robertson were awarded the Yellowjacket Student-Athlete of the Year awards at the annual Montana State University-Billings student-athlete award ceremony Friday night. 

Skrifvars and Carse shared the Male Athlete of the Year award after finishing in a tie in voting by coaches and staff.  Skrifvars, a senior from Brea, Calif., was an Academic All-American and All-Pacific West Conference first team selection.  He led the conference in rebounding and finished tenth in school history for points scored.  Carse, a senior from Billings, Mont., earned second team all-conference honors.  He led the PacWest in assists, 3-point field goals and assist-turnover ratio.  Both Skrifvars and Carse were also Academic All-Conference selections.

Robertson, a senior from Great Falls, Mont., was named the Female Athlete of the Year after captaining the women’s soccer team for two years.  She received a majority of votes from Yellowjacket coaches and staff.  Robertson carries a 3.91 cumulative GPA and is second in the Lady Jacket soccer program’s history for games played.

Following are the individual awards for each Yellowjacket team:

Volleyball
Most Valuable Player – Olivia Munro
Outstanding Newcomer – Alberta Letoa
Best Offensive Player – Olivia Munro
Best Blocker – Katrina Dahlgren

Men’s Cross-Country
Most Valuable Runner – Scott Brown
Scholar Athlete of the Year – Brendon Murray

Women’s Cross-Country
Most Valuable Runner – Chelsea Lynnes
Scholar Athlete of the Year – Tiffany Piplica

Men’s Soccer
Outstanding Senior Award – Damian Wandler and Andres Calabro
Most Valuable Offensive Player – Thomas Pertuit
Most Valuable Defensive Player – Billy Dess

Women’s Soccer
Newcomer of the Year – Megan Plank
Scholar Athlete of the Year – Margot Merrill-Johnson
Most Valuable Player – Megan Plank
”Quest for Excellence” – Sara Otis
Academic Recognition (3.50-3.99) – Jenni Furman, Margot Merrill-Johnson, Heidi Robertson, Kelsey Vinnedge, Alyssa Wolfer
Academic Recognition (3.00-3.49) – Megan Beckstead, Candy Cherry, Stephanie Clark, Stacie Dix, Michelle Kinzer, Sara Otis, Megan Plank, Mandy Reed, Ally Taylor, Laura Trinkle

Men’s Basketball
Academic Excellence (4.00) – Dave Carse, Jerett Skrifvars, Jonathan Wiley
Outstanding Academics (3.60-3.99) – Buddy Windy Boy
Academic Achievement (3:00-3.59) – Matt Desin, Jason Dembek
Senior Award – Dave Carse, Bill Day, Jerett Skrifvars
NCAA Stats Leaders – Trae Fortier (13^th for scoring average), Dave Carse (14^th for 3-point FGs, 49^th for 3-point FG percentage, 28^th for assists average), Buddy Windy Boy (45^th for 3-point FGs), Jerett Skrifvars (47^th for rebounding average)
PacWest Stats Champions – Jerett Skrifvars (rebounding average and offensive rebounding average), Dave Carse (assists average, 3-point FGs, assist-turnover ratio)

Women’s Basketball
Most Valuable Player – Robyn Milne
Defensive MVP – Robyn Milne
Yellowjacket Award – Robyn Milne and Jenny Langford
Coach’s Award – Jennifer Skrifvars
Most Improved – Shannon Harvey
Leading Scorer – Tanya Petersen
Hustle Award – Lisa Jellum

Softball
The softball season is still in progress and awards will be announced after the season.

Men’s Tennis
Scholar Athlete of the Year – Andres Calabro

Women’s Tennis
Scholar Athlete of the Year – Margot Merrill-Johnson, Lee Sowada, Amanda Schlosser

Men’s Golf
Most Valuable Golfer – Chris Haas
Jacket Award – Eric Staab, Judd Norman, Andy Eames
Best Scoring Average – To be announced after season

Women’s Golf
Most Valuable Golfer – Julie Clifford
Jacket Award – Elizabeth Marshall
Best Scoring Average – To be announced after season

Cheerleading
Most Inspirational – Brooke Henderson
Most Improved Male Stunter – Tanner Reinhart
Most Improved Female Stunter – Lynsey Parish
Most Reliable Spotter – Nic Talmark
Most Valuable Cheerleader – Brandi Hallgren