RICHARDSON, Texas –– Student-athletes David Ashlock of the University of Texas at Tyler, Sam Walker of Hardin-Simmons University and Kristen Chapman of LeTourneau University have been named winners of the 2009-10 American Southwest Conference Fred Jacoby Sportsmanship Award, the ASC office announced on Friday (June 4) after a vote of the league’s Directors of Athletics.

The ASC Fred Jacoby Sportsmanship Award honors a male and female student-athlete who best displays the attributes of sportsmanship, leadership, citizenship and academic integrity in their athletic, academic and life pursuits. To become a nominee on the conference-wide ballot, a student-athlete must win the ASC Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year award in their respective sport. This is the eleventh year the ASC has presented its Sportsmanship Award and the fifth year the award is being presented after being renamed in honor of the Conference’s first commissioner, Fred Jacoby.

Tennis player Ashlock, baseball player Walker and volleyball player Chapman are the first recipients of this ASC award from their respective institutions and are candidates to represent the ASC on the NCAA Student-Athlete Sportsmanship Award ballot.

Ashlock (Arlington, TX /Summit HS) is one of the most complete student-athletes to ever play tennis at Texas-Tyler, representing the school and the sport of tennis with the utmost respect. A four-time all-conference and all-East Division selection, three-time academic all-conference selection and a three-time selection to play in the NCAA Individual Championships in doubles, his numbers and accolades are truly a tribute to how he carries himself. He leaves UT Tyler as the career wins leader in doubles (70) and second all-time in singles wins (50), while the combined 120 wins is first all-time in school history for any male or female. Off the court, he maintained a 3.44 GPA in electrical engineering, was the SAAC representative for men’s tennis all four years, was an ITA Scholar Athlete in 2009 and was involved in numerous community service efforts all while fulfilling an internship with an engineering company and serving as a manager of a retail tennis shop.

Walker (Abilene, TX / AHS) has been named the baseball sportsmanship athlete of the year for two straight years in the ASC West. He is a member of the SAAC Committee, is heavily involved in the FCA and other campus organizations on top of being one of the top pitchers in the ASC West. He was named second-team all-ASC as a pitcher and he is pitching for the Victoria team in the Texas Collegiate League this summer. He was an academic all-ASC selection. He went 7-3 and led the Cowboys to the ASC Tournament this season. Walker, who is majoring in business administration with a 3.65 GPA, is also active in his church and other community service projects.

Chapman (Richland, MI /Gull Lake HS) is a junior majoring in Mechanical Engineering from Richland, Mich. She embodies the components of a sportsmanship athlete of the year as she possesses a 3.65 GPA in one of the most academically rigorous and challenging majors at Letourneau. She has tirelessly worked on mission projects in Utah and in her home state of Michigan and most importantly has managed to maintain a positive and uplifting attitude towards her teammates and her opposition during a tumultuous three years that includes three different coaching changes.

2009-10 ASC SPORTSMANSHIP ATHLETE OF THE YEAR HONOREES

ALL-TIME ASC FRED JACOBY SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD WINNERS