Spring Break
Benny Awards showcase Beaver best
Oregon State student athletes earn awards, recognition for on-field, off-field performances
Nick Lilja
Issue date: 6/4/08 Section: Sports
Beaver gymnast D'Anna Piro, who was elected president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, was given the Glenn Klein Community Service Benny for her work with SAAC and ASOSU to raise student fees. After accepting her award, she was excited to begin her work.
"Next year we are going to have a great SAAC."
To which Mike responded with a grin, "You say you are going to have a great SAAC. What's that going to look like?"
Football's Yvenson Bernard took home the hardware as the Male Athlete of the Year. The Boca Raton, Fla., native was quick to shy away from the individual honor and wouldn't even look up at the screen of his highlights.
"It's a team sport," he said.
Bernard was one of the team captains in 2007 and concluded his career as the sixth all-time leading rusher in Pac-10 history with 3,862 yards and was named the Offensive Most Valuable Player of the Emerald Bowl.
Swimming's Saori Haruguchi captured the Female Athlete of the Year honor for the second straight year, but she was away in Japan training for the Olympics.
Haruguchi, from Fukuoka, Japan, earned All-American honors for the third consecutive season and was the Beavers' first-ever champion in the sport, capturing the 200-meter butterfly. She also captured the Female Performance of the Year honor.
Freshman receiver James Rodgers and relief pitcher Kevin Rhoderick shared the Male Newcomer of the Year award. Rodgers scored four touchdowns over the last three games of the season, including the game winner in double overtime at Oregon. Rhoderick led the conference for saves during the regular season with 12 and was a candidate for the national relief pitcher of the year award.
Jen Kesler from the gymnastics team received the Female Newcomer of the Year award. The Kenmore, Wash., native earned an NCAA West Regional title and All-American honors in the uneven bars.
Riley captured his first Male Sports Coach of the Year. Before the interview on stage with Parker could even begin, he jumped in and mentioned that James Rodgers stole his suit.
"Next year we are going to have a great SAAC."
To which Mike responded with a grin, "You say you are going to have a great SAAC. What's that going to look like?"
Football's Yvenson Bernard took home the hardware as the Male Athlete of the Year. The Boca Raton, Fla., native was quick to shy away from the individual honor and wouldn't even look up at the screen of his highlights.
"It's a team sport," he said.
Bernard was one of the team captains in 2007 and concluded his career as the sixth all-time leading rusher in Pac-10 history with 3,862 yards and was named the Offensive Most Valuable Player of the Emerald Bowl.
Swimming's Saori Haruguchi captured the Female Athlete of the Year honor for the second straight year, but she was away in Japan training for the Olympics.
Haruguchi, from Fukuoka, Japan, earned All-American honors for the third consecutive season and was the Beavers' first-ever champion in the sport, capturing the 200-meter butterfly. She also captured the Female Performance of the Year honor.
Freshman receiver James Rodgers and relief pitcher Kevin Rhoderick shared the Male Newcomer of the Year award. Rodgers scored four touchdowns over the last three games of the season, including the game winner in double overtime at Oregon. Rhoderick led the conference for saves during the regular season with 12 and was a candidate for the national relief pitcher of the year award.
Jen Kesler from the gymnastics team received the Female Newcomer of the Year award. The Kenmore, Wash., native earned an NCAA West Regional title and All-American honors in the uneven bars.
Riley captured his first Male Sports Coach of the Year. Before the interview on stage with Parker could even begin, he jumped in and mentioned that James Rodgers stole his suit.
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