Watch an Interview with MC's Hannah Langley
RICHARDSON, Texas –– Concordia University Texas baseball student-athlete Collin Janssen and Mississippi College soccer student-athlete Hannah Langley – both seniors – have been named winners of the 2011-12 American Southwest Conference Fred Jacoby Sportsmanship Award, the ASC office announced on Thursday (May 24) after a vote of the league’s athletic directors.
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 13th year the ASC has presented its Sportsmanship Award and the seventh year the award is being presented after being renamed in honor of the Conference’s first commissioner, Fred Jacoby.
Janssen (Bryan, TX / Temple College), a kinesiology major, transferred to Concordia Texas last year as a junior and has been a two-year captain and letter-winner for the Tornado baseball team and held arguably the biggest leadership position on the team as the starting catcher. His efforts both on and off the field are major reasons why the team won the ASC championship each year he has been on the roster, which includes earning a top seed at the 2012 NCAA Division III McMinnville, Ore., Regional.
Janssen, who has won outright or shared the ASC West Division Player of the Year award twice and was a 2012 D3Baseball.com All-American Second Team selection, had a 3.76 GPA this past semester while the team was in season. His leadership has also helped the squad be ranked as high as fourth in the nation. The coaching staff awarded him one of the team’s two intangible MVP awards for everything he brings to the ballclub. In addition to complimenting him for what he has brought on the field, the coaching staff praised him by describing the senior as a truly unselfish player and one of the best players with the highest character that they have ever had at Concordia Texas.
“Collin is and forever will be one of the finest young men that I have had the pleasure of coaching,” said Concordia Texas baseball head coach Tommy Boggs, a former Major League pitcher. “Aside from the things that he did for our team on the field, he has been exceptional off the field. Collin has always been a guy that we could go to for anything, and we cannot measure his level of importance to our program. He was our team captain for the past two years, and he exceeded in that role both as a player and member of our community.”
Langley (Madison, MS / Madison Central HS), a psychology major, has always demonstrated sportsmanship since she arrived at Mississippi College. As a freshman, Langley on several occasions told her teammates to “act towards the other team the way we would want them to act towards us” – win or lose. The team elected Langley as their team captain as a sophomore. Then during her junior year the defender approached longtime Mississippi College women’s soccer head coach Darryl Longabaugh about getting the other team to join after the game to say the Lord’s Prayer – no matter the outcome of the game. This past season, Langley made sure that when the other team joined for the Lord’s Prayer, they would intermingle. Even in a couple of hard-fought games, she was the first one asking the other team to join at midfield.
Langley, despite losing her final game as a senior, set the disappointment aside and reached out to the opponent and asked them to join at midfield, arm in arm, to say a prayer –one of her many great acts of sportsmanship throughout her collegiate career.
“Hannah has been a leader on our team from the day she stepped on campus,” Longabaugh said. “That makes it easy for her teammates to follow her lead. She stepped up day in and day out to embody the spirit of sportsmanship. As competitive as she is on the field, she shows a Christ-like attitude, and that translates to a high level of sportsmanship.”
Janssen and Langley will now represent the ASC on the NCAA Student-Athlete Sportsmanship Award ballot.
2011-12 ASC FRED JACOBY SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD WINNERSMale: Collin Janssen, C, Sr., Concordia University Texas (Baseball)
Female: Hannah Langley, D, Sr., Mississippi College (Soccer)
ALL-TIME ASC FRED JACOBY SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD WINNERS
Year Male Female
2011-2012 Collin Janssen, Concordia Texas Hannah Langley, Mississippi College
2010-2011 Ryan Yezak, East Texas Baptist Whitney Wyly, Texas-Tyler
2009-2010 (co) David Ashlock, Texas-Tyler
(co) Sam Walker, Hardin-Simmons Kristen Chapman, LeTourneau
2008-2009 Ty Palmer, Texas Lutheran Krissy Seaman, Texas-Dallas
2007-2008 Tyler Winford, Mississippi College Lindsey Peters, Texas-Tyler
2006-2007 Ryan Potter, LeTourneau Michelle Heckmann, Concordia-Austin
2005-2006 Kyle Shipp, Mary Hardin-Baylor Bethany Harris, Mississippi College
2004-2005 Drew McMaster, Howard Payne Katie DeDeaux, Mississippi College
2003-2004 Cody Brotherton, McMurry Lyndsay Llewellyn, McMurry
2002-2003 Preston Meyer, Mary Hardin-Baylor Julie Richardson, Ozarks
2001-2002 Phil Kaiser, Ozarks Lindsey Brotherton, Schreiner
2000-2001 Michael Kawazoe, Austin College Sarah Birge, Austin College
1999-2000 Joe Fox, Austin College Courtney Shires, Mississippi College
2011-12 ASC FRED JACOBY SPORTSMANSHIP ATHLETE OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
Each student-athlete won Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year in their respective sport during 2011-12.
MALE
Collin Janssen, C, Sr., Concordia Texas (Baseball)
J’Marcus Brooks, OF, Sr., Mississippi College (Baseball)
James Allen, G, So., Mary Hardin-Baylor (Basketball)
Jaden Isler, PG, Sr., McMurry (Basketball)
Korey Salmon, P, Sr., Louisiana College (Basketball)
Zach Doty, Sr., Ozarks (Cross Country)
Matt Tarver, DL, Sr., East Texas Baptist (Football)
Tyler Milegar, Jr., Hardin-Simmons (Golf)
Jacob Clay, Sr., LeTourneau (Golf)
Tanner Holman, MF, Sr., Ozarks (Soccer)
Chase Michalak, D, Jr., Concordia Texas (Soccer)
Anthony Williamson, No. 1/1, Sr., East Texas Baptist (Tennis)
Kevin Wright, No. 3/2, Sr., Texas-Tyler (Tennis)
Josh Pownall, So. 2/1, Sr., Mary Hardin-Baylor (Tennis)
Will Clingon, Sr., Mississippi College (Track and Field)
FEMALE
Coco Cartwright, PG, Jr., Hardin-Simmons (Basketball)
Olivia Burns, G, Jr., Texas-Tyler (Basketball)
Ashley Teague, F, Sr., Ozarks (Basketball)
Alyssa Fields, Sr., McMurry (Cross Country)
Ginny Murphy, Sr., Texas-Tyler (Cross Country)
Candice Nishimura, Sr., LeTourneau (Golf)
Hannah Langley, D, Sr., Mississippi College (Soccer)
Rebecca Roth, GK, Sr., Hardin-Simmons (Soccer)
Kristina Cordova, 3B, So., East Texas Baptist (Softball)
Kelsey Evans, OF, Sr., Hardin-Simmons (Softball)
Sydni Hermsdorf, No. 2/1, Sr., Texas-Tyler (Tennis)
Morgan Rainer, No. 2/3, Sr., Hardin-Simmons (Tennis)
Megan Wangenaar, So., Concordia Texas (Track and Field)
Kalynn White, OH, Sr., Concordia Texas (Volleyball)
OTHER 2011-12 ASC FRED JACOBY SPORTSMANSHIP ATHLETE OF THE YEAR NOMINEE BIOS
Biographical information provided by each student-athletes’ sports information director or head coach.
-MALE-
J’Marcus Brooks, OF, Sr., Mississippi College (Baseball)
Brooks has been an amazing influence on our team since he stepped on campus four years ago. Even in his freshman season, he stepped up to lead the prayers for the team before and after games. His encouraging spirit always lifted the spirits of our players even when we were in the down times.
James Allen, G, So., Mary Hardin-Baylor (Basketball)
Allen is one of the most conscientious and thoughtful young men in our athletic department. He is one of the fiercest competitors on the team but never lets that affect the way he treats his opponents, fans or teammates. James shows respect for the players and the game every time he steps on the court. He is also active in the campus community and volunteers his time with numerous community service projects throughout the school year.
Jaden Isler, PG, Sr., McMurry (Basketball)
As a point guard, Isler is the emotional leader of the team. In a system that relies on tough, tight defense, McMurry’s team would routinely acquire many more fouls than its opponenet due to its defensive style. One of Isler’s strong suits is that – even as a “high-octane” player, he did not receive a technical foul. That stands as a testament to how he keeps things in perspective. He would often beat his opponent and then, just as easily, lend a hand to help them up when a play was done. That is his make-up: compete hard; respect all. While there is no single act which comes to the forefront – other than Jaden’s overall demeanor – but also that he was able to keep his cool with fans if harassed because he was the head coach’s son.
Korey Salmon, P, Sr., Louisiana College (Basketball)
Salmon was the unquestioned leader of the LC men's basketball team in a year in which this commodity was in high demand. A vocal and lead-by-example player, Salmon had a reputation for fair play and respect for both officials and opponents. His leadership was most on display at the end of the year, when longtime coach Gene Rushing was sidelined. Salmon, under the guidance of interim coach Darrell Payne and interim assistant Billy Brooks, was one of the players who organized practices and led LC to a 3-0 finish and the team's first berth in the ASC Championship Tournament in four years.
Zach Doty, Sr., Ozarks (Cross Country)
Doty didn't let an injury-riddled junior and senior season slow him down during his collegiate career. Doty was a four-year member of the cross country team despite injury setbacks. Doty remained positive throughout each year and remained a good teammate in the wake of adversity. His hard working mentality helped the Eagles to a runner-up finish at the ASC championships in 2011. Doty served as the Sports Information Office's chief photographer the last four years. He was named to the ASC All-Academic team for cross country and sports information during his collegiate career. Doty's positive display of sportsmanship resulted in him earning the American Southwest Conference Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year for men's cross country in 2011.
Matt Tarver, DL, Sr., East Texas Baptist (Football)
Tarver completed his four-year ETBU career this past season and has been described as the model student-athlete for Division III at ETBU. Not only was he extremely productive on the field as a pass-rushing defensive end, but Matt displayed a Christian example both on and off the field by leading Bible studies and worship both on campus and around the area. He has both a heart for God and a heart for people around him that has him set for a bright future in his career.
Tyler Milegar, Jr., Hardin-Simmons (Golf)
True sport man of the game, Milegar really enjoys watching others succeed on and off the course. Top motivator on the team. Really embraced the idea of staying around for the award ceremony for tournaments even when it is obvious that HSU would not be getting an award, just to show respect to the other teams (this is not a common practice).
Jacob Clay, Sr., LeTourneau (Golf)
Clay is one of the most calm and friendly players on the golf course at any tournament. He doesn't show any negative emotions on the course. He tries to have fun and is friendly and encouraging to other players in his group. At 25 years old, Clay also shows a maturity and class to his teammates, competitors and coaches. He also served his own team as a captain and even provided coaching and leadership to his team and his school's women's golf team.
Tanner Holman, MF, Sr., Ozarks (Soccer)
Holman's positive attitude while playing soccer throughout his four-year career culminated with him earning the American Southwest Conference Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year for men's soccer in 2011. Holman was a leader by example on the field, always playing within the rules and never displaying a negative attitude toward opposing players or referees. Holman was the first player to congratulate opponents and teammates for success. According to his head coach, Holman was level-headed in competitive moments on the field. He earned ASC All-Academic status three seasons.
Chase Michalak, D, Jr., Concordia Texas (Soccer)
Michalak is a two-year team captain for a program that recently put together its two winningest seasons in school history. He began serving as a team captain during his sophomore season. Chase was named the American Southwest Conference Co-Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year as well as the school's Male Tornado of Character Award winner at the school's annual athletics banquet. Head coach Tatenda Chieza described Chase as someone who always puts the team before himself and as one of the hardest-working individuals he has met both on and off the field. Chase is heavily involved with the local community, as he has helped out with youth groups at a local church in Austin and assisted with coaching the U-8 boys soccer group at the nearby Lone Star Academy. In addition, he was among the Concordia students who volunteered for the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" reality television show set in Bastrop to aid with fire relief in the area. Chase is also a strong student with a 3.20 cumulative GPA.
Anthony Williamson, No. 1/1, Sr., East Texas Baptist (Tennis)
Williamson was the perfect example of sportsmanship and leadership for ETBU's first-year men's tennis program in 2011-2012. He had not played competitive tennis at a varsity level since high school yet stepped into the difficult role of No. 1 singles and led the Tigers into the new era of tennis on campus. His example of leadership and competitiveness has set the tone for future Tiger tennis teams.
Kevin Wright, No. 3/2, Sr., Texas-Tyler (Tennis)
Wright has been team captain for 2 years. He has been an exceptional leader on and off the court. He has won the ASC sportsmanship award the last two years. He has been a SAAC officer and representative during his time at UT Tyler. He also was a founding father of Kappa Sigma fraternity and maintained a 3.8 GPA. Finally he was named the 2012 west region Arthur Ashe award for tennis. This is a service, sportsmanship, and leadership award that is considered the most prestigious award in college tennis.
Josh Pownall, So. 2/1, Sr., Mary Hardin-Baylor (Tennis)
Pownall is always the first player to compliment a player for a good shot and he means it every time. He has a healthy respect for his opponent and the game of tennis. Josh is also a certified USTA official and understands the importance of correct calls during the course of a match. He consistently displays good sportsmanship and treats teammates, opponents, fans and officials with the utmost courtesy at all times. Josh has also served as the men's tennis representative to the UMHB Student-Athlete Advisory Council for the past two years and plays an active role in campus and community service. He is also a three-time Academic All-Conference selection as he continues to define the true meaning of the "student-athlete".
Will Clingon, Sr., Mississippi College (Track and Field)
Clingon has been a vital part of the MC men's cross country and track and field teams over his four years. He served as the team captain this season and was the leader on and off the track this season. He always lifted the spirits of the teams and was a very encouraging member. Will was also an active member of FCA at MC.
-FEMALE-
Coco Cartwright, PG, Jr., Hardin-Simmons (Basketball)
One of the top leaders on and off the court, Cartwright is one of the most respected player on the court because of her fairness and ability to stay under control. Despite a very tough upbringing she brings a sense of calm to her teammates and opponents alike and always has a huge smile on her face win or lose. She also does not let her 4-11 frame be a deterrent on the court.
Olivia Burns, G, Jr., Texas-Tyler (Basketball)
Burns is the personification of sportsmanship. Her respectful character has been displayed on and off the court throughout her career at UT Tyler. Olivia's genuine personality has been appreciated and admired by her teammates as well as members of opposing teams.
Ashley Teague, F, Sr., Ozarks (Basketball)
Teague's competitive spirit on the court was never overshadowed by her gamesmanship and disposition. Teague was always quick to congratulate her opponents, even in defeat. Teague served as a team leader throughout the season and was held in high regard for her "team-first" attitude. Teague' leadership ability was evident by participating in a number of extracurricular campus activities, including the Student Government Association and SAAC. Teague, who has been accepted into Law School at Southern Methodist University, played three sports her senior season all while earning American Southwest Conference All-Academic honors in each. Teague's positive display of sportsmanship resulted in her earning the American Southwest Conference Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year for women's basketball for the 2011-12 season.
Alyssa Fields, Sr., McMurry (Cross Country)
Fields is a very supportive and optimistic person that is extremely dependable. She is an honors student at McMurry and handles her school work very well without any complaints. She expects a lot out of herself and does it with class. In competition she works hard, and appreciates the effort others around her give, whether they are on her team or not. You will always get a smile from Alyssa even after a hard race.
Ginny Murphy, Sr., Texas-Tyler (Cross Country)
Murphy was the senior leader for the Patriots. She always displayed great sportsmanship by encouraging her teammates as well as competitors.
Candice Nishimura, Sr., LeTourneau (Golf)
Nishimura is one of the most positive and uplifting players on the course at any golf event. She never has a bad attitude and is very respectful of other players and coaches. She never gets down on herself for poor play, and her ability to remain in good spirits makes for a pleasant and enjoyable group. One of the most well-liked and well respected players in the conference, she is always encouraging players in her group and is very friendly with her competitors.
Rebecca Roth, GK, Sr., Hardin-Simmons (Soccer)
One of the most sincere players that has ever played at Hardin-Simmons. She is a great leader on and off the field, and she always encourages and demonstrates the qualities of sportsmanship and fair play. Even when a 50-50 call didn't go her way in the NCAA Tournament that led to a free kick just outside the box she was the first to congratulate the other team on a great goal. She has been a leader since the day she arrived on campus and encompasses all of the qualities one would want in a college student-athlete.
Kristina Cordova, 3B, So., East Texas Baptist (Softball)
Cordova fought through a personal tragedy to finish her redshirt sophomore season as the Tigers' starting third baseman in 2012. Midway through the season Kristina lost her father, Henry Cordova, to a sudden illness and she was forced to miss over a week of school and softball. She returned with a heavy heart but continued to lead the Tigers as ETBU made its record 15th straight appearance at the ASC Tournament. Her example of courage through adversity and tragedy was an inspiration for the entire ETBU family.
Kelsey Evans, OF, Sr., Hardin-Simmons (Softball)
Evans was a leader on and off the court she plays the game with the utmost respect to her teammates, opponents and officials.
Sydni Hermsdorf, No. 2/1, Sr., Texas-Tyler (Tennis)
Hermsdorf has been our team captain for the last 2 years. She has excelled both on and off the court. She is our all time leader in combined victories in UT Tyler history. She also is very involved in her church and has a passion for children. She has maintained a 3.4 GPA and has accomplished all this despite two wrist surgeries.
Morgan Rainer, No. 2/3, Sr., Hardin-Simmons (Tennis)
Rainer has demonstrated a high amount of character and sportsmanship on and off the court. She is a motivated individual that has a great amount of respect for the game and her competition.
Megan Wangenaar, So., Concordia Texas (Track and Field)
Wagenaar has arguably been the most decorated student-athlete in the three-year history of Concordia University Texas' women's track & field program. She garnered all-conference laurels after winning the 800- and 1,500-meter runs at the 2012 ASC Track & Field Championships. Her winning performances in both middle distance events helped Concordia place fourth with 58 points, its highest finish and point total in school history, at the 2012 ASC Championships. Megan broke school records this spring in the 400-meter dash, 800- and 1,500-meter runs and as a member of the 4x400-meter relay. She was also a top three finalist for the school's Female Athlete of the Year award at the annual sports banquet. In addition to her track & field accomplishments, Megan led the women's cross country program to its first ASC championship crown by placing third overall individually and first on the team this past fall. Head coach Alex Aldaco describes Megan as someone who is one of the hardest-working individuals on the team who is also very supportive of her teammates. He also said she is someone who raises the level of her teammates due to her intensity and outstanding work ethic. Furthermore, Megan is an outstanding student who boasts a 3.95 cumulative GPA through the 2012 Spring Semester.
Kalynn White, OH, Sr., Concordia Texas (Volleyball)
White is a two-year captain who was named the American Southwest Conference Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year. She was also a member of the ASC All-West Division Second Team. Head coach April Birdsong described Kalynn as someone who puts the needs of others before herself and as someone with a huge presence across campus because she has volunteered to help out at numerous activities. Kalynn has also been a Special Olympics volunteer over the past year, helping Concordia Texas Athletics be recognized with a Special Olympics Texas Area 13 award for "outstanding service from a civic or service organization." She played a leadership role as team captain when the squad raised money for Dig for a Cure to help fight breast cancer, and she also volunteered throughout the past year with Austin Stone. Her primary responsibility was helping a man with cerebral palsy go to church. She is also an outstanding student with a 3.66 cumulative GPA.