Stacey Barr – Women’s basketball
Aptly named the ‘Roo from Range’ by a former play-by-play broadcaster, Barr had an exceptional junior season. Name an accomplishment, she did it. Barr helped Idaho win its first outright regular season league title since 1986, led Idaho to a WAC tournament title for a second consecutive season and played in her second NCAA tournament. She was named WAC Player of the Year, averaging 18.2 points ,7.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Idaho’s opponents in the Big Sky Conference next season might not think it’s fair that she has one more season left.
Stephen Madison – Men’s basketball
Madison fell just short of garnering Idaho’s second straight WAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Year award, when the honor went to New Mexico State’s Daniel Mullings. Madison had a career-year for the Vandals in his senior campaign, with career highs in field goal percentage, points, rebounds and assists with 20.1 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. More importantly may be what Madison accomplished in Las Vegas, when he put up 26 and 25 points in back-to-back wins at the WAC tournament to get Idaho into its first conference championship game since 1991.
Meredith Coba – Volleyball
The sophomore setter was absolutely essential for Idaho’s attack in 2013, averaging 10.16 assists per set while no other Vandal averaged even one per set. Coba started all 30 games for Idaho, helping lead the program to a 19-11 record and a semi-final appearance in the WAC tournament. Coba’s 1,174 assists were the most of any Vandal in a season, since Kelsey James’ 1,124 in 2008. She and senior Alyssa Schultz will lead Idaho back into the Big Sky Conference in 2014.
Austin Rehkow – Football
The freshman punter might have been an upgrade on former punter Bobby Cowan. Rehkow led the nation in punting average with 47.8 yards-per-punt and was named a Walter Camp All-American. Rehkow punted 75 times, booming them more than 50 yards 34 times and hitting them inside the opponent’s 20-yard line 24 times. The Spokane native also pulled double-duty as Idaho’s kicker, though he struggled there only hitting 10-of-17 field goals. Rehkow is well on his way toward being on the NFL’s radar if his punting numbers hold steady.
Hannah Kiser – Cross country
All Kiser does is win — just look at her trophy case. In the fall, Kiser helped lead the women’s cross country team to its fourth consecutive WAC Championship win, capping off a 4-for-4 run for her during her Vandal career. Kiser was also named the WAC Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Year for a second season running. She was slowed during the track season with an injury, but returned last weekend at the Payton Jordan Invitational and hopes to bring home Idaho’s first outdoor women’s track and field conference championship.
Vicky Lozano – Women’s tennis
Lozano helped lead Idaho to its most successful season in program history in her senior campaign, leading Idaho to a WAC Championship win and NCAA tournament berth as the No. 1 singles and a No. 1 doubles player. She’s combined for a total of 34 match wins between her singles and doubles competition, teaming up with fellow senior Almudena Sanz for a 17-4 No. 1 doubles record. Lozano also picked up Idaho’s only match victory against a nationally ranked opponent, something that bodes well for her, as the Vandals head to USC to face the No. 16-seeded Trojans in the NCAA tournament.