UAA’s Walker captures GNAC Sportsmanship Award
SPOKANE, Wash. – Alaska Anchorage men’s basketball standout Brandon Walker and Montana State Billings women’s basketball player Rachel Hansen have been selected the winners of the seventh annual Great Northwest Athletic Conference NCAA Sportsmanship awards.
Walker and Hansen are now finalists for the 2010 NCAA Division II National Sportsmanship award, which honors one male and one female athlete (or team) from each of the three NCAA divisions who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. Those awards will be announced later this summer.
Walker, a junior from Hayward, Calif., has been a two-year starter for Alaska Anchorage. This past season he led the Seawolves in scoring (15.4) and ranked second in assists in earning first-team all-league honors. He also averaged 5.3 rebounds per game.
In his sophomore season, Walker averaged 11.4 points per game and 5.7 rebounds. In two seasons, he has scored 747 points and also has 310 rebounds and 101 assists.
“Brandon has been the consummate student-athlete in his two years,” UAA head coach Rusty Osborne said. “Brandon just plays the game and does not argue with officials. He is a model citizen on and off the court and represents UAA with class, character and dignity wherever he goes.”
Walker received the 2009-10 Bob Zundel Memorial Trophy, which goes annually to the UAA men’s basketball player who displays the best sportsmanship and integrity.
“Brandon has been a great role model for both his teammates and young fans alike,” Osborne said. “He has done an especially good job working with young people during camps and clinics and he has participated in UAA’s annual ‘Reading with the Seawolves’ Day.”
Walker becomes the third Seawolf in the past five years to win the GNAC’s male sportsmanship honor, joining fellow basketball players Eric Draper (2006-07) and Adam Fitt-Chappell (2005-06). Former Seawolves Rebecca Kielpinski (2006-07), Mindy Lindquist (2004-05) and Kamie Jo Massey (2003-04) are former honorees on the women’s side.
Hansen, who was a part-time starter for Montana State Billings last winter, spearheaded the “Threes for Susan” fundraiser that helped raise money to pay for medical costs incurred by local resident Susan Costello in her battle with breast cancer.
Hansen sought out donations from local business and MSUB fans for every three-pointer made during MSUB’s non-conference schedule. A total of $3,500 was raised in the fundraiser that coincided with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association “Think Pink” program.
GNAC Sportsmanship Award Winners
Men
2003-04 Robert Day, Western Oregon
2004-05 Nathan Carlson, Saint Martin’s
2005-06 Adam Fitt-Chappell, Alaska Anchorage
2006-07 Eric Draper, Alaska Anchorage
2007-08 *Einar Often, Alaska Fairbanks
2008-09 Travis Bunker, Montana State Billings
2009-10 Brandon Walker, Alaska Anchorage
Women
2003-04 Kamie Jo Massey, Alaska Anchorage
2004-05 Mindy Lindquist, Alaska Anchorage
2005-06 Meghan Salveson, Seattle
2006-07 Rebecca Kielpinski, Alaska Anchorage
2007-08 *Mallory Holtman, Central Washington
2008-09 Alaska Fairbanks Basketball Team
2009-10 Rachel Hansen, MSU Billings
*National winners
--GoSeawolves.com--
Nate Sagan
Sports Information Director
University of Alaska Anchorage
3211 Providence Dr. / Anchorage, AK 99508
(907) 786-1295 / Fax: (907) 563-4565
GoSeawolves.com
Nate Sagan
Sports Information Director
University of Alaska Anchorage
3211 Providence Dr. / Anchorage, AK 99508
(907) 786-1295 / Fax: (907) 563-4565
GoSeawolves.com
