April 22, 2008
Seniors Paul Stoll (Lansing, MI/ Lansing C.C.), Will Littleton (Cuero, TX/ Angelo State University), and Silke Buksik (Waiblingen, Germany/ Salier-Gymnasium Waiblingen) received the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics' highest honors at the 2008 UTPA Athletics Banquet held at the McAllen Country Club on Sunday (Apr. 20).
Stoll, a member of the men's basketball team, was chosen as the Co-Male Student-Athlete of the Year with men's track and field high jumper Littleton while Buksik, a member of the women's tennis program was selected as the Female Student-Athlete of the Year.
Stoll was cited as a first team All-Independent selection, as he led the Broncs to 18 victories. The floor general finished his senior season averaging a team-high 14.2 points and 7.2 assists per game.
As the all-around captain, Stoll picked up 224 helpers (second in the nation), an average of 7.2 per game (third in the nation). Stoll was featured on ESPN-Around the Rim, was cited as Independent Player of the Week, selected as the 12th Mid-Majority Baller of the Week and collected All-Tournament Team honors on two occasions.
For the third consecutive time, Littleton collected All-American accolades during the indoor track and field season as the Cuero, TX, native finished fifth overall at the NCAA Division I National Indoor Track and Field Championships with a height of 7-02.25 in the high jump.
Buksik recorded 25 wins for the year in singles action playing in the number-five spot in the lineup. Buksik set a new school record of 20 wins for the year in doubles competition in the number-two spot in the rotation with teammate Megan Bedeau, surpassing the previous school record of 18 victories. The tandem finished with the most singles and doubles wins in a season with 45.
The senior captain posted wins over nationally ranked teams from Rice (singles and doubles), Lamar (singles and doubles), New Mexico State (singles), UTEP (singles and doubles), Southeastern Louisiana (singles and doubles) and University of Arkansas Little Rock (singles). Buksik also collected 17 double-doubles for the year (winning both singles and doubles in same dual match).
Shane Pearce (Carrollton, TX/ Hebron H.S.), Ashwin Vijayaragavan (Andhrapradesh, India/ Kenedy Vidya Bhavan HS), Luis Nava (La Joya, TX/ La Joya H.S.), and Roly Gonzalez(Miami, FL/ UNC-Greensboro) were also nominated for Male Student-Athlete of the Year.
Chelsea Blakely (Houston, TX/ J. Frank Dobie H.S.), LeKeisha Gray (Muskogee, OK/ Butler County C.C.), Vanessa Brown (Houston, TX/ Elsik H.S.), and Mariale Camey (Ciudad, Guatemala/ Univ. of New Orleans) were nominated for Female Student-Athlete of the Year.
UTPA sophomore Nathan Hawkins and freshman Marci Logan were also honored as the Male and Female Newcomer of the Year award recipients at the UTPA Athletics Banquet.
San Antonio, TX product Hawkins represented the All-Newcomer Team where he finished fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 10.6 points per game and fourth in rebounding with 3.9 per game. Hawkins was second on the team in field goal percentage connecting on 52.5 percent (116-of-221) of his attempts.
The UTPA forward finished with 10 or more points in 16 of 31 contests and was selected to the Las Vegas Holiday Classic All-Tournament Team.
In her first season with the Lady Broncs volleyball program, Logan garnered honorable mention All-Independent honors. She finished third in kills and second in total attacks among the Lady Broncs.
The outside hitter recorded 12 matches of 10 or more kills - one match of 20 or more kills. Logan recorded 10 or more kills in the final four matches of the season. She finished her first season with 263 total kills - averaging 2.44 kills per game.
A.J. Gonzalez (Edcouch, TX/ Edcouch-Elsa H.S.), Angel Ramirez (McAllen, TX/ McAllen H.S.), Oscar Barrera (McAllen, TX/ McAllen H.S.), Gilroy Martinez (McAllen, TX/ Nikki Rowe H.S.), Jordan Rutenbar (Waxahachie, TX/ Tyler Junior College) and Ashwin Vijayaragavan (Andhrapradesh, India/ Kenedy Vidya Bhavan H.S.) were also nominated for Male Newcomer of the Year.
Haley Hocott (San Antonio, TX/ MacArthur H.S.), Diana Galloso (Edinburg, TX/ Edinburg High School), Sara Hernandez (Pharr, TX/ Valley View H.S.) and Cecilia Lott (McAllen, TX/ McAllen Memorial H.S.) were also nominated for Female Newcomer of the Year.
Michelle Elizondo (Laredo, TX/ Alexander H.S.), a member of the UTPA women's track and field team, was selected as the recipient of the Ann LaMantia Award, which is presented to a female student-athlete that has excelled in the classroom. Martinez, a member of the track and field team, was presented with the Lou Hassel Award for the senior male student-athlete who has achieved the highest grade point average.
Rebecca Toddy (McAllen, TX/ McAllen Memorial H.S.) and Dexter Shankle (Katy TX/ James E. Taylor H.S.) were honored with the Iron Bronc Award, the newest award at the banquet. It is presented to a female and male student-athlete that exceeds expectations with Strength and Conditioning Coach Matt Taylor.
The UTPA baseball team program was presented with the UTPA Image Award, which is given to a program that demonstrates a commitment to community service, athletic integrity and academic excellence.
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