Chapman Athletics announces its Senior Awards recipients
ORANGE – Chapman University celebrated another banner year in athletics with its annual Jog-a-thon and Sports Appreciation Day at Wilson Field on Friday afternoon. Besides celebrating the school’s first-ever SCIAC championship (women’s basketball) and another SCIAC Tournament title (men’s basketball), the Panthers recognized four seniors with the Department of Athletics annual awards.
Don Perkins Male Leadership Award: Josh Hurst, Men’s Golf
One of the Panthers’ top golfers in 2014, the senior also played an important leadership role with the team as it went through a coaching change in the Fall. Hurst went on to an average score of 77.9 per 18 holes this season, including a season-best low round of 73, twice. The team captain also earned two 11th place finishes at the West Cup and SCIAC #2 tournaments.
Jack Duddy Female Leadership Award: Kara Podesta, Women’s Lacrosse
A team captain and starting goalkeeper, Podesta has been the most vocal of leaders on the women’s lacrosse team for four years. This year the senior helped the Panthers to a win in the first round of the SCIAC Championships and finished the season with a 12.21 goals-against average and 100 saves.
Male Student-Athlete of the Year: Justin LaLonde, Football
A D3Football All-West Region and Capital One Academic All-District selection, LaLonde helped to lead the Panthers to one of their best seasons ever on the gridiron. The starting right guard has compiled a 3.67 grade-point average in health sciences as a four-year starter on the Chapman offensive line where the Panthers went 8-1 with one of the top-ranked offenses in Division III. He was named to both the All-SCIAC Football and All-SCIAC Academic teams and was a part of the Chapman Medical Brigade service team that traveled to Nicaragua in 2013.
Female Student-Athlete of the Year: Kimi Takaoka, Women’s Basketball
Another in a long list of accolades, Takaoka has earned a 3.93 grade-point average as an athletic training major at Chapman. Ranked third all-time in scoring in Chapman history, the senior was named to the Capital One Academic All-America First Team – just the seventh Panther ever (all sports). She was also one of 10 finalists for the Jostens Trophy awarded to the most outstanding Division III basketball player on the court, in the classroom and in the community. Takaoka was named SCIAC Player of the Year in 2013-14, leading the Panthers to their first-ever conference championship and an NCAA Tournament berth.
The Jog-A-Thon and Sports Appreciation Day is a tradition spanning the decades for Chapman University Athletics. Family, friends and loved ones sponsor a Chapman student athlete to jog 10 laps around the Holly and David Wilson Field at a choice of levels ranging from $100 per lap to $.50 per lap.
These funds are utilized throughout the year to support important equipment, programs and events for the Donald P. Kennedy Intercollegiate Athletics Program at Chapman University.
by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director
Become a fan of Chapman Athletics on Facebook
Follow Chapman Athletics on Twitter @ChapmanSports
Post your #PantherPic to Instagram @ChapmanSports
#Chaptown