Athletics department honors student-athletes at year-end banquet
Stephen Gatehouse and Claire Pierce were named the Pioneer Male and Female Athletes of the Year. (Photo: Kelly Hayes)
- June 16, 2010
The Cal State East Bay Athletics Department honored the achievements of its student-athletes on June 4 at the annual Student-Athlete Awards Banquet, held in the New Student Union. The event capped the 2009-10 school year that saw CSUEB complete its first season in Division II and the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Among the honorees were Pioneer Male and Female Athlete of the Year Stephen Gatehouse and Claire Pierce, and Pioneer Spirit Award winner Lauren Massa.
A senior outfielder on the Pioneer baseball team and a Pleasanton native, Gatehouse was one of the top hitters in the conference this season, ranking among the top 10 in six offensive categories and leading East Bay in runs and on-base percentage. Off the field, Gatehouse was a leader as well, succeeding in the classroom and completing 26 units during winter quarter alone.
A freshman utility out of Perth, Australia, Claire Pierce led the Pioneer water polo team to its best Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) Tournament showing as a rookie, scoring 90 goals to lead the team and the WWPA and rank second in the NCAA. Pierce also notched 73 steals to rank eighth in the nation and drew over 100 ejections on the season, which was nearly as many as the rest of the team combined. For her efforts, Pierce was named WWPA Newcomer of the Year and collected second-team All-Conference and WWPA All-Freshman Team honors.
Each of the other male female candidates for Pioneer Athlete of the Year had an outstanding season in their own right. On the men's side, cross country and track runner Francisco Pulido ran personal records in the half marathon and 5,000 meter distances, improving his 2009 best by almost a full minute. Meanwhile, men's basketball forward Jawaan Rubin played nearly every game for the Pioneers, finishing second in scoring and leading the team to a dramatic overtime win over Sonoma State on Senior Day.
For the women, softball outfielder Nikki Freiberg set the standard offensively and defensively for the Pioneers, starting every game and leading the team in batting average, hits, doubles and total bases, while making just two errors in center field. Women's basketball center Lauren Lucchesi was the only player to start every game and finished the season ranked sixth in the conference in rebounding and fourth on the team in scoring, earning CCAA Freshman of the Year and Division II Bulletin Freshman All-America honors for her efforts.
Women's basketball guard Claudia Nelson also had an impressive year, leading the CCAA in steals and the team in scoring, while ranking among the top 20 in the conference in scoring, assists, free throw percentage and minutes played. Women's cross country and track runner Nancy Velazquez recorded personal records in both the 3,000 and 1,500 meter runs, ranking in the top 15 in the CCAA in the latter, while leading the Pioneers to a second-place finish at the Bronco Invitational with her sixth-place showing among a field of 135 competitors.
The Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) honored junior women's volleyball player Lauren Massa with the Pioneer Spirit Award. Created and chosen by SAAC, the Pioneer Spirit Award is presented each year to the student-athlete who best exhibits Pioneer Pride and supports the ideals of the entire athletic program. A regular attendee at sporting events ranging from baseball, to basketball, to water polo, to soccer, Massa supported her fellow student-athletes all year and was also a key part of SAAC's fundraising efforts for Make-A-Wish, serving as the organization's Vice President.
Massa and Gatehouse were also honored as Cal State East Bay's winners of the CCAA Hal Charnofsky Memorial Award. The award recognizes two CCAA student-athletes from each member school who have distinguished themselves in the classroom and in their sport.
Other honorees on the night were the Scholar-Athlete Award winners and seniors. The Scholar-Athlete Award is presented to one member from each team, as well as the Athletic Training program, who has combined success in the classroom with significant contributions on the field of play. The 13 honorees in 2009-10 included: Tyler Andersen (men's soccer), Rachelle Boone (softball), Chelsie Bryan (water polo), Tenaya Davis (women's soccer), Adam Green (men's basketball), Tracy Harding (athletic training), Amanda Limeberger (volleyball), Nick McManus (baseball), Heidi Reddig (swimming), Emily Valenziano (women's basketball), Clarivel Vega (women's cross country/track), Andrew Walters (golf) and Andrew Welch (men's cross country).
Each of the 35 seniors were thanked with a Cal State East Bay fleece blanket, while four-year seniors James McShane, Scott Knox, Jun Uchida, Andrew Welch, Jordan Cimino, Carissa Martin, Brittanie Strei and Melissa Grottkau were all given special recognition for their contributions to the athletics department.
Along with student-athletes and coaches representing every Pioneer team, athletics department and university staff members were on hand to help celebrate a successful first season in Division II and the CCAA. Among those in attendance were Vice President of Administration and Finance Shawn Bibb, Director of Athletics Debby De Angelis and Associated Students, Inc., President Mohammed Shahid Beig, who each spoke to congratulate the student-athletes on their accomplishments this school year.