DURANGO, Colo. – December 4, 2017 – The first of two Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) awards banquets were held Monday night in the Ballroom of the Student Union Building.  Tonight's banquet, emceed by Mark Jastorff (Vice President for Advancement), featured award winners for the Jan Wilson-Hetzler Outstanding Female Senior Athlete Award, the Don Whalen Outstanding Male Senior Athlete Award, and the Most Valuable Player's in the sports of volleyball, men's and women's soccer, football, men's and women's cross country, and cycling.
 
The Jan Wilson Hetzler Outstanding Senior Female Athlete of the Year award is presented each year to the most outstanding senior female student-athlete(s) at Fort Lewis College. It is named after Jan Wilson Hetzler, who was the women's tennis coach and exercise science instructor at Fort Lewis College in the mid-1970s.  The 2017 fall honoree is senior cross country runner Erin Renner.

A senior from Lakewood, Colo., Erin Renner qualified for the NCAA Division II Women's Cross Country Championship race last month as an individual.  A first team All-RMAC and All-South Central Region performer, Renner recorded the fourth and sixth fastest 6K times in school history.  Her time of 21:46 at the NCAA South Central Regional race earned her all-region accolades and the fourth fastest 6K time. 
  
The Don Whalen Outstanding Senior Male Athlete of the Year award is presented each year to the most outstanding senior male student-athlete(s) at Fort Lewis College. It is named after Dr. Don Whalen, a longtime coach, administrator and supporter of Skyhawk Athletics.  During his career at Fort Lewis College from 1959 to 1988, he served as men's basketball coach, golf coach, director of athletics, and dean of education, vice president of academic affairs and, ultimately, two stints as interim president.  This year's honoree is men's soccer student-athlete Nathan Roberts.
 
A midfielder from Southlake, Texas and a three-year member of the men's soccer program, Nathan Roberts competed in 19 games and played more than 800 minutes. A dedicated leader on and off the field, Roberts recorded a goal against UCCS on Sept. 17.
 
Volleyball – Megan Graefe
A junior libero from Greeley, Colo., Megan Graefe led the RMAC and ranked 49^th in NCAA Division II with 5.25 digs per set.  She saw action in all 96 sets for the Skyhawks. In 26 matches, the Greeley Central High School product recorded at least 20 digs in 10 matches.  She recorded a career high 44 digs in a five set win at CSU-Pueblo on Oct. 28.  Graefe finished the season with 504 digs, 58 set assists and 12 service aces.
 
Women's Soccer – Jessica Singleton
A forward/midfielder from Hobbs, N.M., Jessica Singleton saw action in 10 games.  She scored the game-winning goal on Sept. 17 against New Mexico Highlands University.  A four-year member of the program, Singleton, who saw action in more than 250 minutes, attempted three shots and landed one on goal.
 
Men's Soccer – Peter Byrne
A redshirt-freshman and transfer from Carroll College, Peter Byrne played every minute in goal this season for the Skyhawks. A RMAC Honorable Mention performer, he led the RMAC in saves (108) and saves percentage (.857), and he ranked second in saves per game (5.40), and third in goals against average (0.85) and shutouts (6).  In 20 games this season, he played more than 1,900 minutes and earned a 10-6-4 record.  He was named the RMAC Goalkeeper of the Week three times.
 
Men's Cross Country – Hosava Kretzmann
A second team All-RMAC performer, Hosava Krtezmann ran the seventh fastest 8K race in program history on Sept. 16 at the California-Riverside Invitational.  Kretzman placed 25^th overall with a time of 25:10.8.  He crossed the finish line 16^th overall at the RMAC championship meet, posting a time of 25:54.1 in Chadron, Neb.  Kretzmann's final race of the season, the NCAA South Central Region race, ended in 31:58.4, the 10^th fastest time at FLC in a 10K race.  He finished 25^th overall.
 
Women's Cross Country – Erin Renner (see above)
 
Football – AJ Shaw (offense) and Donell Pleasant III (defense)
 
Tight end AJ Shaw capped his senior season starting all 11 games.  From Parker, Colo., Shaw caught 17 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns.  He averaged 11.5 yards per pass and 20.8 receiving yards per game.
 
Junior Donell Pleasant III (San Diego, Calif.) ranked third in the league in interceptions, and 11^th in passes defended.  An All-RMAC first team performer as a safety, Pleasant intercepted four passes and returned them for a total of 73 yards, two of which went for touchdowns.  His first pick six of the season occurred at Black Hills State (37-yard touchdown return), and his second pick six was a 25-yard return against South Dakota Mines on Oct. 28.  He added 65 tackles in 11 games, 42 solo stops and four tackles for a loss of 13 yards.
 
Cycling
Track – Tristen Musselman and James Hilyer
Mountain Bike – McCauley Smith and Stephan Davoust
"Stephan is the true all around cyclist and his silky smooth style on the bike is the standard set," said Mountain Bike coach Chad Cheeny. 
"A dream come true winning the downhill title at Nationals, it is the outcome of hard work and determination, along with having a ton of fun," said Cheeney.
 
The winter/spring awards banquet will be held on Wednesday, April 18.