Missouri State University

SPRINGFIELD -- The Missouri State women's soccer team took home the top prize of the night, and 25 individual student-athletes were recognized as part of ceremonies Monday (May 3) at the inaugural Bears' All-Sports Showcase at JQH Arena.

Coach Rob Brewer's women's soccer squad was the top point collector in the first Bear Cup team competition for student development, academic achievement, athletic excellence, career development, and community outreach.  The women's volleyball and women's swimming and diving programs were also finalists for the award.

MSU's Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) served as the presenters for the evening and also took the lead in the nomination and selection process for the event.

Women's basketball standout Casey Garrison (So., Bolivar, Mo.) was awarded the first-ever Mary Jo Wynn Female Student-Athlete of the Year Award, while men's soccer goal keeper Alex Riggs (Jr., St. Peters, Mo.) was selected as the first recipient of the Bill Rowe Male Student-Athlete of the Year. Both awards were selected by student-athlete peers among Missouri State's 16 intercollegiate athletic programs.

The Senior Student-Athletes of the Year were presented to Clay Harbor (Sr., Dwight, Ill.) from the football team, and women's soccer performer Samantha Aguilar (Sr., Lenexa, Kan.). The Junior Student-Athletes of the Year were volleyball sensation Cara Hackmann (Jr., Washington, Mo.) and football transfer Antoine Wilkinson (Jr., Magnolia, Miss.).

Sophomore Student-Athlete of the Year awards went to Kyle Weems (So., Topeka, Kan.) from men's basketball and Terry Phillips (So., Kansas City, Mo.) from women's cross country and track. The first recipients of the Freshman Student-Athlete of the Year awards were Francesco Capone (Fr., Vaughan, Ont., Canada) from men's soccer and Christiana Shorter (Fr., Tulsa, Okla.) from women's basketball.

The individual team most valuable players were also named, as voted on by team members. The men's team MVPs were awarded to: Brayden Drake (baseball, Webb City, Mo.), Kyle Weems (men's basketball, So., Topeka, Kan.), Clay Harbor (football., Sr., Dwight, Ill.), Jay McBride (golf, Sr., Lebanon, Mo.), Alex Riggs (soccer, Jr., St. Peters, Mo.), and Nick Carter (swimming, Fr., Rogers, Ark.).

Women's team MVPs were Casey Garrison (women's basketball, So., Bolivar, Mo.), Terry Phillips (cross country, So., Kansas City, Mo.), Melissa Lantz (field hockey, Sr., Wildwood, Mo.), Kelsey Welber (golf, So., Plano, Texas), Samantha Aguilar (soccer, Sr., Lenexa, Kan.), Jenna Schwark (Jr., Broken Arrow, Okla.), Chelsea Dirks-Ham (swimming, Jr., Lawrence, Kan.), Mareneika Goffe (indoor/outdoor track and field, Sr., Montego Bay, Jamaica), and Cara Hackmann (volleyball, Jr., Washington, Mo.). 

The Highest Team GPA Award went to Greg Hipp's women's cross country squad after it compiled a 3.81 grade point average for the fall 2009 semester.

The Best Team Upset Award was given to Melissa Stokes' volleyball squad for its Sept. 25, 2009 win over No. 20 Wichita State at Hammons Student Center. The five-set victory snapped a streak of 36 straight conference victories and 38 straight road conference victories for the Shockers.

Approximately 400 student-athletes, coaches, staff and athletics personnel attended the event which was preceded by a reception to honor the program's senior student-athletes.