wyly yezak
East Texas Baptist's Ryan Yezak (left) and Texas-Tyler's Whitney Wyly.
Yezak, Wyly Named ASC Fred Jacoby Sportsmanship Winners
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RICHARDSON, Texas –– East Texas Baptist University baseball student-athlete Ryan Yezak and University of Texas at Tyler softball student-athlete Whitney Wyly – both seniors – have been named winners of the 2010-11 American Southwest Conference Fred Jacoby Sportsmanship Award, the ASC office announced on Thursday (June 2) 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 12th year the ASC has presented its Sportsmanship Award and the sixth year the award is being presented after being renamed in honor of the Conference’s first commissioner, Fred Jacoby.

Yezak (Snook, TX / Brazos Christian HS), a first baseman and psychology major, exemplifies the image of team leader, both on and off the field. Ryan started four years with the ETBU baseball team and was an active member in various campus activities. Yezak lost his father, Leslie “Zak” Yezak, early in his freshman season yet overcame the tragedy through his commitment to his faith and his college endeavors. Yezak has been a member of the ASC All-Sportsmanship team the last two years as well as being named All-ASC East Division and All-Academic three times. This season, he posted career highs in average (.373), hits (57), home runs (7) and RBIs (36), and was voted the Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year on the All-ASC East team.

In the offseason, Yezak worked with several other Tiger baseball players with voluntary activities at the Marshall Boys and Girls Club of Harrison County. Ryan was ETBU’s 2010 winner of the M. L. Dubach Scholarship Award, which is given annually to returning student-athletes and based on academic achievement, character, leadership, athletic ability, campus involvement and spiritual commitment.

“Ryan Yezak is an awesome young man who represents everything that is good and wholesome about college athletics,” ETBU baseball head coach Sam Blackmon said. “It has been an honor to have had the opportunity to not only coach him, but watch him mature into the man he is. He has displayed not only leadership on our team, but goes out of his way to make anyone around him feel value and confidence.”

Wyly (Hardin, TX / Texas-San Antonio), a second baseman and math and science major, is a two-time NFCA First Team All-America and three-time ASC East Division First Team selection who finished her three-year playing career for the Patriots with a .375 combined batting average and school career-records with 40 home runs and 193 RBIs across 148 games played. On the career records list for UT Tyler, Wyly finished second in runs scored (121), third in hits (187), fifth in slugging percentage (.711). Wyly also set the single-season records for the Patriots with 18 home runs, 76 RBIs and 136 total bases in 2009. She helped lead the Patriots to two regional championships in three years, capped by a national semifinal appearance for UT Tyler in 2011.

A 2011 UT Tyler graduate with a degree in mathematics, Wyly spent this past spring semester as a student-teacher in Whitehouse ISD near Tyler. She was a three-time ASC All-Academic honoree.  Wyly was named the ASC East Division’s Co-Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year in 2011 for her commitment to the principles of sporting behavior. When two players from an opposing team were injured after colliding during a game, Wyly lead both teams in a group prayer on the field while the players were being treated. After the game, Wyly also send a get-well card to the two players involved.

“Whitney Wyly encompasses what is great about college athletics,” UT Tyler softball head coach Mike Reed said. “She is a true a competitor in every sense of the word, that possesses a deep passion and concern for her teammates and her competitors. Having known Mr. Jacoby, I am confident he would have been very proud of Whitney and her example of what's great about ASC athletics.”

Yezak and Wyly will now represent the ASC on the NCAA Student-Athlete Sportsmanship Award ballot.

2010-11 ASC FRED JACOBY SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD WINNERS

Male: Ryan Yezak, Sr., East Texas Baptist University (Baseball)

Female: Whitney Wyly, Sr., University of Texas at Tyler (Softball)

 

ALL-TIME ASC FRED JACOBY SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD WINNERS

 
Year
 
Male
 
Female
1999-2000
Joe Fox, Austin College
Courtney Shires, Mississippi College
2000-2001
Michael Kawazoe, Austin College
Sarah Birge, Austin College
2001-2002
Phil Kaiser, Ozarks

Lindsey Brotherton, Schreiner

2002-2003
Preston Meyer, Mary Hardin-Baylor
Julie Richardson, Ozarks
2003-2004
Cody Brotherton, McMurry
Lyndsay Llewellyn, McMurry
2004-2005
Drew McMaster, Howard Payne
Katie DeDeaux, Mississippi College
2005-2006

Kyle Shipp, Mary Hardin-Baylor

Bethany Harris, Mississippi College

2006-2007
Ryan Potter, LeTourneau

Michelle Heckmann, Concordia-Austin

2007-2008
Tyler Winford, Mississippi College
Lindsey Peters, Texas-Tyler
2008-2009

Ty Palmer, Texas Lutheran

Krissy Seaman, Texas-Dallas
2009-2010

(co) David Ashlock, Texas-Tyler

(co) Sam Walker, Hardin-Simmons

Kristen Chapman, LeTourneau
2010-2011
Ryan Yezak, East Texas Baptist
Whitney Wyly, Texas-Tyler
 

2010-11 ASC FRED JACOBY SPORTSMANSHIP ATHLETE OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

MALE

Josh Fredrick, 3B, Jr., Mary Hardin-Baylor (Baseball)

Ryan Yezak, 1B, Sr., East Texas Baptist (Baseball)

Malcom Dotson, G, Sr., Texas Lutheran (Basketball)

Andre Williams, G, Sr., Ozarks (Basketball)

David James, Jr., Ozarks (Cross Country)

Quincy Daniels, RB, Sr., Mary Hardin-Baylor (Football)
Cody Finch, DB, Sr., East Texas Baptist (Football)

Jack Moses, LB, Sr., Texas Lutheran (Football)

John Willie, Sr., Louisiana College (Golf)
Nic Philbot, D, Jr., Louisiana College (Soccer)

Kevin Wright, No. 4/3, Jr., Texas-Tyler (Tennis)

Edward Martinez, No. 1/1, Jr., Howard Payne (Tennis)

Terry Smith, Sr., McMurry (Track and Field)

FEMALE
Coco Cartwright, PG, So., Hardin-Simmons (Basketball)

LaQueda Davis, G, Jr., LeTourneau (Basketball)

Priscilla Galliguez, G, Sr., East Texas Baptist (Basketball)

Prachi Jain, Sr., Texas-Dallas (Cross Country)

Ivy Price, Sr., Mississippi College (Cross Country)

Candice Nishimura, So., LeTourneau (Golf)

Danica Saxon, MF, Jr., East Texas Baptist (Soccer)

Christin Mickelboro, UTL, Jr., LeTourneau (Softball)

Whitney Wyly, 2B, Sr., Texas-Tyler (Softball)

Ashley Silva, 1B, Sr., Howard Payne (Softball)

Mitzi Morgan, No. 2/1, So., Mississippi College (Tennis)

Lisa Mertz, No. 1/1, Sr., Hardin-Simmons (Tennis)

Jennifer Cooper, Sr., Mississippi College (Track and Field)

Gracen Harris, LIB, Sr., Hardin-Simmons (Volleyball)

Aubrey Bratcher, MB, Jr., Texas-Dallas (Volleyball)

 

2010-11 ASC FRED JACOBY SPORTSMANSHIP ATHLETE OF THE YEAR NOMINEE BIOS

Biographical information provided by each student-athletes’ sports information director or head coach.

MALE
 
Josh Fredrick, 3B, Jr., Mary Hardin-Baylor (Baseball)

Josh is a team captain and is a vocal leader who backs up his words with the way he carries himself. No matter the score, he respects the game of baseball and his opponents. Josh’s genuine character can be seen on the field, in the classroom, and in the community.

 
Malcom Dotson, G, Sr., Texas Lutheran (Basketball)

Malcom was TLU's Co-Male Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year. A constant team leader and four-year letterman, Dotson was the Bulldogs' spark plug, appearing in 97 career games and scoring 466 points. He was on the 2008-09 ASC West All-Defensive Team and on the 2008-09 ASC Academic All-Conference squad.

 
Andre Williams, G, Sr., Ozarks (Basketball)

Andre Williams was the clear team leader both on and off the court, and as a result won the men’s basketball ASC Sportsmanship Award for the second straight year. A team captain, Williams always displays sportsmanship to opposing players and coaches. His role model example has affected his teammates and opponents alike.

 
David James, Jr., Ozarks (Cross Country)

David James leads by example and uses his running abilities to help others within the Clarksville area. James assists two area High Schools by volunteering time with their cross country programs. An All-Region and All-Conference runner, James is a member of the ASC All-Academic Team.

 

Quincy Daniels, RB, Sr., Mary Hardin-Baylor (Football)

Quincy Daniels is one of the most unselfish athletes that I have ever coached.  He has received incredible accolades from his teammates, coaches, professors, and university administration, which truly exemplifies his unselfish leadership.  Words cannot express the quality and depth of the integrity and character of Quincy Daniels.

 

Cody Finch, DB, Sr., East Texas Baptist (Football)

Cody was a leader on and off the field for the ETBU football team the past four seasons. He is a dedicated Christian leader on campus who also took the reins of student leadership in the spring, spearheading an effort to increase student involvement in athletic events. He was this year's male winner of the Robert E. Craig Christian Athlete Award at ETBU, given annually to best exemplifies Christian leadership, morals and values.

 
Jack Moses, LB, Sr., Texas Lutheran (Football)

An All-ASC First Team selection, Moses was the team's leading tackler. He started every game he played as a Bulldog over a four-year career. A team leader and team captain as a senior, Jack always played hard and showed respect to opponents and officials.

 

John Willie, Sr., Louisiana College (Golf)

Not only known for consistently positive attitude on the links, also known for positive attitude in his work as a practicing minister at a local church and frequent contributor to both the campus and community theatre.

 

Nic Philbot, D, Jr., Louisiana College (Soccer)

One of just three returning players from 2009, maintained a positive attitude despite LC's men going through the aches of a rebuilding season in 2010.

 
Kevin Wright, No. 4/3, Jr., Texas-Tyler (Tennis)

Kevin Wright has been one of the most well mannered players that I have ever coached. In a self-officiated sport like tennis, he is always giving his opponents the benefit of the doubt and applauded good play.  He acts with the highest level of professionalism in the classroom, on the court, and in the community,  which is why he was selected as the UT Tyler Male Student-Athlete of the Year.

 
Edward Martinez, No. 1/1, Jr., Howard Payne (Tennis)

Edward is majoring in Exercise and Sport Management with a Business minor. He garnered Honorable Mention All-West Division honors in the number one singles spot in 2011. He was 5-1 overall in conference singles action this team season. Edward and number one doubles partner Raymond Borjas, were named Honorable Mention All-West Division.

 
Terry Smith, Sr., McMurry (Track and Field)

Terry is involved in community service through a McMurry social club and is active in the local chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He is also involved in McMurry’s chapel program and tutors high school athletes. He is a good, encouraging teammate on and off the track.

 

FEMALE

 

Coco Cartwright, PG, So., Hardin-Simmons (Basketball)

Leads by example on and off the court. Never lets her 4-11 frame be a hindrance, instead she uses it to bring people closer to her. She always has a big smile win or lose.

 
LaQueda Davis, G, Jr., LeTourneau (Basketball)

Has shown exemplary sportsmanlike conduct as a collegiate basketball player using past experiences to create a deep appreciation for the game in which she plays. She has overcome injuries and faced many obstacles and uses each of her past experiences to assist others in overcoming theirs.  She displays a great amount of passion for competition without losing sight of the fact that each person she competes against is someone that she can positively influence with her actions.

 

Priscilla Galliguez, G, Sr., East Texas Baptist (Basketball)

Priscilla ended her two-year career at ETBU this season and was one of the team’s top guards in the backcourt rotation. Her playing time as a senior was limited due to the fact she was also a student in ETBU’s Nursing program, and the responsibilities that go along with that major took her away from a great deal of practice time and even games. Still she managed to contribute and was named co-Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year this season on the All-ASC East women’s basketball team.

 
Prachi Jain, Sr., Texas-Dallas (Cross Country)

Prachi is on the chair for a number of volunteer organizations on campus. She often tells me that she has encouraging words to say to runners on the course. She is a true team player.

 

Ivy Price, Sr., Mississippi College (Cross Country)

Ivy helped MC to back-to-back ASC Championships in her freshman and sophomore seasons, and has been an integral part of the MC Track & Field Team, as well. Price has been a team captain and has been an encouragement to her teammates over her four years. Ivy and the Lady Choctaws shared the SAAC Team Sportsmanship Award with Hardin-Simmons.

 
Candice Nishimura, So., LeTourneau (Golf)

Is an exceptional athlete that has a great sportsmanship attitude toward her team and her competitors. She never allows a poor shot or a bad score get to her and she quickly moves on from the occurrence without showing any type of undesirable behavior. Candice allows her teammates and her competitors to see Christ through her in everyday actions in the classroom and on the course.

 

Danica Saxon, MF, Jr., East Texas Baptist (Soccer)

Danica is the team captain for ETBU's women's soccer team and has been a standout and team leader since her freshman season in 2008. She is an outstanding student, having been an ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete in the fall. He was this year's female winner of the Robert E. Craig Christian Athlete Award at ETBU, given annually to best exemplifies Christian leadership, morals and values.

 
Christin Mickelboro, UTL, Jr., LeTourneau (Softball)

Is an active member in her church and is also active in her community through service projects with the softball team and works with young players at softball camps. She has established herself as team leader by respecting her teammates, coaches, and opponents, all while being humble on the softball field.

 
Ashley Silva, 1B, Sr., Howard Payne (Softball)

Ashley graduated in May with a degree in Spanish Education and minor in Exercise and Sports Science/Coaching. She served as president of the HPU Student Athlete Advisory Committee, member of Delta Chi Rho and Kappa Delta Pi (Education Honors Society). She received the Tami Pattillo Memorial Award for the second time this year. Ashley is a four-time All-Conference player at first base and a three-time Academic All-Conference selection for the Lady Jacket softball team. She has also been a member of the ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete team.

 

Mitzi Morgan, No. 2/1, So., Mississippi College (Tennis)

Mitzi earned a First Team All-ASC East Division selection and was part of a team that earned the SAAC Spring Team Sportsmanship Award. Morgan was also selected as the ASC East Division Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year.

 
Lisa Mertz, No. 1/1, Sr., Hardin-Simmons (Tennis)

She has been named the ASC Women’s Tennis Sportsmanship athlete of the year twice and she has also been the ASC MVP twice. Her unassuming dominance of opponents is well respected around the league.

 

Jennifer Cooper, Sr., Mississippi College (Track and Field)

Jennifer finished third in the ASC Track and Field Championships in the 5,000m (20:03.66) and 10,000m (43:02.01) while being named ASC Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year. Cooper and the Lady Choctaws also took home the prize of the SAAC Team Sportsmanship Award.

 
Gracen Harris, LIB, Sr., Hardin-Simmons (Volleyball)

Team captain for the ASC Champion Cowgirls. Leader on and off the court. Always went out of her way to be courteous to opponents and officials.

 

Aubrey Bratcher, MB, Jr., Texas-Dallas (Volleyball)

Aubrey is a self-less player with regard to our team’s success. She has changed positions & roles for us each season with out complaint. She organized our team community service last semester with Habitat for Humanity. Last season, Aubrey found an opponent’s jersey at a crossover tournament, took it home, washed it and gave to our staff to return to the player. This is just how classy she is.