Stephen F. Austin

April 30, 2003

NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- Thirty-one student-athletes were honored Wednesday night by the Stephen F. Austin athletic department as part of the annual awards ceremony held in the William R. Johnson Coliseum on the SFA campus.

Student-athletes from every varsity sport were honored for achievements on the playing fields and in the classroom.

Greg Barnum, a senior football player from Killeen, was named the 2003 recipient of the Dick Wright Award, awarded annually to the university's top male athlete. Barnum earned All-Southland Conference honors each of the past two seasons while starring for the Lumberjack football team. He spent the 2001 season as a defensive tackle, then moved to the offensive line prior to the 2002 campaign. After only one season as the team's center, Barnum became a consensus All-American this past year.

Ana Rodriguez, a junior distance runner with the SFA track program was named the June Irwin Female Athlete of the Year. Rodriguez helped the Ladyjacks to the 2002 Southland Conference cross country championship, claiming the individual title as well. She was also the Southland Conference champion in both the 3000 and 5000-meter runs at the 2003 SLC Indoor Championships, as well.

Percy Green, a senior on the Lumberjack basketball team, earned the Dick Wright Award for 2003 after helping the 'Jacks to a 21-8 season this past year. Green led the team in scoring for the second straight year and became only the second Lumberjack ever to earn First Team All-Southland Conference honors.

Blake Gordon, a junior on the SFA track team from Gladewater, was named the 2003 Kathy McGough Academic Athlete of the Year. Gordon competes in the throwing events for the Ladyjacks and is a past SLC champion. A three-time All-Southland Conference performer, Gordon also holds the school record in the discus.

Another member of the SFA track teams, Nathan Flores, a junior from Kingwood, earned the R.H. "Bob" Shleton Award for 2003 after leading the men's cross country team to its second straight SLC title. Flores was also named the SLC Male Cross Country Athlete of the Year following the season.

The complete list of winners follows:

2003 SFA AWARD RECIPIENTS

Dick Wright Award	Percy Green
Ralph Todd Award	Greg Barnum
Bob Shleton Award	Nathan Flores
June Irwin Award	Ana Rodriguez
Kathy McGough Academic Award	Blake Gordon
Mart Crawford Award	Will Bowers
Cally Belcher Award	Lawrence Hamilton
Jene Carter Award	Blake Gordon
Scotty Bailess Volleyball Award	Sunni Williams
Michelle Reid Volleyball Award	Sunni Williams
Lucille Norton Basketball Award	Amy Collins
Football - Team MVP	Aubrey Brisendine
Football - Defensive MVP	Brent Hafford
Football - Offensive MVP	Greg Barnum
Football - Special Teams MVP	Tony Tompkins
George Johnson Basketball Award	Percy Green
Buddy Lowery Basketball Award	B.J. Banks
Lumberjack Basketball Hustle Award	B.J. Banks
Lumberjack Basketball Leadership Award	Ben Hunt
Gwen Cole Cross Country Award	Ana Rodriguez
Robert Maluski Cross Country Award	Nathan Flores
Dianne Baker Tennis Award	Robin Houston
Sadie Allison Softball Award	Devin Cobb
George Reese Golf Award	Brian Grossman
Pam Thorstenson Soccer Award	Natascia Michalezki
Murray Shaw Academic Awards
        	Football- Matt Hoelscher
        	Basketball - Danny Russell
	Women's Basketball - Kirby Killingsworth
	Volleyball - Marlo Nordt
	Soccer - Allison Lawrence
	Track - Katie Lonergan
	Golf - Chris Vadner
	Softball - Crista Hargrove
	Tennis - Melissa Bass