The Barometer Online

Issue date: 6/4/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Alex Nguyen Beaver cornerback Brandon Hughes charismatically explains the Male Performance of the Year - given to the entire Beaver football defense for the goal-line stand against California - to Mike Parker.

"I feel under dressed," Keith Pankey said.

He was wearing black pants and a polo shirt as the 10th annual Bennys kicked off last night. Oregon State athletes were dressed in their Sunday best and got their pictures taken as they entered. The event was hosted by Mike Parker, voice of the Beavers - who was his usual, entertaining self - opened the ceremony with an anecdote about his trip to Dutch Bros.

The Bennys is an end-of-the-year celebration commemorating the achievements of student athletes at OSU. Last night, Beaver student athletes had reason to celebrate.

They have won three of the last four Civil War series, are in the top third for All-Academic honors and are in a conference that has 10 national championships in an academic year for the sixth time.

Pat Reser got the festivities started when she was given the Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to the Beaver athletics family. She got a minute-long standing ovation from the crowd.

"To see my name attached with Oregon State, I have to catch my breath," she said while holding back tears.

Oregon State's football and gymnastics teams took the top honors at the LaSells Stewart Center.

Mike Riley's football team was "well-coached," as Brandon Hughes put it, and posted a 9-4 record in 2007. They also finished third in the Pac-10 Conference for the second consecutive year and won the fourth consecutive bowl game - 21-14 over Maryland in the Emerald Bowl.

The Beavers ended the regular season with a 38-31 double overtime victory over Oregon at Autzen Stadium.

Tanya Chaplin's gymnastics team was honored with a Benny for a record-setting eighth time. The Beavers won the NCAA West Regional for the first time since 1992 and advanced to the NCAA Championships for the third straight year. Yuki Lamb, Jen Kesler, Jami Lanz, Tasha Smith and Mandi Rodriguez were also honored with Pac-10, Regional and National Championship accomplishments.

"This time here has proven to me what I am capable of," Lamb said. "[There isn't] a line I can't cross."

Continued...

Page 1 of 3 next >

Article Tools