Almudena Sanz earns WAC Player of the Week
Idaho junior Almudena Sanz has been awarded with her second WAC Women’s Tennis Player of the Week honor. Sanz won both of her matches against Utah State, the team’s only opponent during last week’s play. Sanz won at No. 2 singles against Utah State’s Jaci West in three sets winning the last two 6-3 after losing her initial set 6-2. Sanz paired up with Victoria Lozano to defeat the Aggies’ West and McKenzie Davis 8-6 at No. 1 doubles. A native of Oviedo, Spain, Sanz helped the Vandals finish just above .500 overall and in Western Athletic Conference play. The team went 12-11 overall and 5-4 in WAC play.
Idaho winter athletics earns 46 honors
A total of 46 University of Idaho athletes who competed in winter athletics (men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s indoor track and field, swimming and diving) have earned the academic all-Western Athletic Conference honors. In order to qualify for the honor the athlete mush have completed at least one academic year, must have at least a 3.00 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the team’s contests. The five University of Idaho athletes honored in women’s basketball and the four in men’s basketball ties the most of any team in the WAC. The men’s indoor track and field team garnered eight awards while their female counterparts earned a total of 16. The swimming and diving team accounted for 14 more.
Men’s basketball hands out postseason awards
Kyle Barone, the best post player in the history of the Idaho men’s basketball program, was the recipient of two separate awards, while fellow seniors Mike McChristian and Mansa Habeeb, along with sophomore Connor Hill, claimed the team’s other awards. Barone, who was named an AP All-American, took home the Ronald White Award, given to the team’s most outstanding player as voted by members of the team. Barone and Habeeb shared the Gus Johnson Award, given to the team’s best defensive player. McChristian was awarded the Oz Thompson Award, given to the player who best inspires sportsmanship, scholarship and leadership. He also won the George Greene Award, given to the team’s most unselfish player. Habeeb was voted the team’s most inspirational player, winning the Jay Gano Award. Hill, the only non-senior to claim an award, earned Kathy Clark Award, given to the player who best balances athletics and academics.
Idaho makes clean sweep of track and field awards
Following stellar outings at the Mt. SAC relays in Walnut, Calif., one week ago, the Western Athletic Conference has named juniors Hannah Kiser and Kyle Rothwell its Outdoor Athletes of the Week for the week of April 15-21. Kiser made headlines after shattering both the WAC and Idaho all-time records in the 5,000-meter race. The Wenatchee, Wash., native won the event with a time of 15:44.06. Her time was 26 seconds better than the previous Idaho record set in 1982, while it smashed the conference record by 17 seconds. The 5,000-meter mark is Kiser’s third record of the year. She also broke WAC and school records in the indoor mile and 3,000-meter race. Rothwell didn’t capture the hammer throw title in Walnut, but the Eagle, Idaho, native heaved a career-best throw of 15.22 meters (49-11.25) in the shot put event Saturday. The mark is best in the WAC this season and ranks 15th in the NCAA West region along with 30th in the NCAA.