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Track’s McElwee, Softball’s Zavala are ’14-15 PCC Athletes of the Year

Published on Monday, May 18, 2015 | 6:41 pm
 
Alexander McElwee and Justine Zavala were the 2014-15 PCC Athletes of the Year, images created by Richard Quinton

State champion sprinter Alexander McElwee and record-setting softball player Justine Zavala were selected as the 2014-15 Pasadena City College Athletes of the Year.

The selections made by PCC Athletics are part of the annual, season-ending Elizabeth Jensen Scholarships as well as a few other scholarships designated for acceptance by Lancers student-athletes. Jensen, a member of the college’s Dick Ratliff Court of Champions, spent nearly 40 years as a women’s athletic director at Pasadena Junior College and later PCC.

McElwee, a freshman from Arcadia High, was named the top PCC men’s athlete as he completed the triple crown in track and field with his titles in the 400 meters at the South Coast Conference, SoCal, and CCCAA State Championship meets. McElwee became the first PCC athlete to win a state individual crown since Chris Hicks in 2008. He finished with the second fastest time in the nation for community college racers at 46.19 (set at the SoCal finals).

McElwee, who raced under head coach Armand Crespo, is the third Lancers track and field athlete to be named AOTY in the past 10 years. The others were Edino Steele (2006-07) and Mario Cobian (2004-05).

Zavala, a two-year letterman from Los Altos High, received the women’s top athlete award for her outstanding All-SCC First Team sophomore season for the Lancers. The second baseman helped PCC to a turnaround 21-17 season under second-year head coach Monica Tantlinger. Zavala tied freshman teammate Holly Riker-Sloan for the school record for most home runs in a season with 10, hitting her 10th dinger in her final Lancers game.

She batted a team-best .409 and slugged .787, the highest ever by a Lancers softball player. Her 52 hits were the most by a PCC player in 11 years and her six triples the most since 2000. She became just the sixth Lancer to score at least 40 runs in a season and her 37 RBI were the sixth highest in a season. Zavala was a consistent defensive player with 104 putouts and 76 as she helped turn 13 double plays. She also was strong in the classroom with a 2.94 GPA.

She had perhaps the greatest offensive day ever by a PCC player when she batted 4-for-4 with a grand slam, a solo homer, a double, four runs scored and seven RBI in a shocking 14-4 win that broke the program’s long losing streak against state power Mt. San Antonio College.

Zavala is the first softball player to earn the award since PCC Hall of Famer and two-sport star Jennifer Fish (also soccer player) won in back-to-back years 1998-99 and 1999-2000.

The President’s Award, presented to the student-athlete that combines successful playing performance with classroom excellence and sportsmanship, goes to women’s sophomore swimmer Connie Peng. Twice, Peng was the South Coast Conference Swimmer of the Year, sharing the trophy in 2014 with then teammate Shannon Cheung and again this year with another PCC teammate in freshman Ariahn Givens. The Arcadia High graduate carries an outstanding 3.5 GPA at PCC.

Peng earned three top 8 individual medals at this year’s CCCAA State meet after earning a silver medals in the 100-yard backstroke and 100 butterfly at the ’14 state meet. She helped the Lancers earn the SCC undefeated dual season title as the team finished a program best fifth place at the state meet.

Peng holds six school records (three on relays from the ’14 team) and set conference records as a freshman in the 50 and 100 backstroke events. Peng was under the direction of head coach Terry Stoddard.

Men’s cross country and track and field sophomore runner Russell Yu (South Pasadena High) won the men’s highest GPA award with a a perfect 4.0 average in his two years at PCC. He ran 42nd at the SCC Cross Country Finals and he scored eighth place in the 3,000 meter steeplechase at the SCC Track and Field Finals. Yu raced for Coach Crespo.

The women’s high GPA award went to sophomore badminton player Yinghong Lin, who held a 3.92 mark in the classroom. Lin, who partnered with her twin Yingwen in doubles, helped PCC to the SCC team championship. Lin came to PCC from Mark Keppel High (Alhambra). Lin played this year under first-year head coach Jennifer Ho.

The following student-athletes are two-year sophomores who will receive transfer scholarships:

J. Turner Jackson (football, 3.1 GPA, A.B. Miller High) played as an All-SCFA National Northern Conference Second Team wide reciever for the ’14 Lancers. He was third in the region in receptions with 55 for 973 yards while leading PCC in touchdowns with five. He signed with Southeastern Louisiana University. He was a member of the SCFA All-Academic Team

Angelique Ulmer (women’s soccer, 3.0 GPA, South Pasadena High) set a school record for most shutouts in a career with 13 and was an All-SCC First Team selection as PCC’s starting goalie. Ulmer made 126 saves this season and will attend Eckherd College, a Division II university in Florida. She was coached by Reggie Rivas.

Faruk Oyalade (men’s basketball, 3.24 GPA, Amazing Grace High, Nigeria) was PCC’s top center the last two seasons. Oyalade averaged 6.7 points and a team-high 7.9 rebounds per contest. He was also the team’s top rebounder as a freshman when he helped the Lancers reach the SoCal Regional Playoffs. Oyalade played under head coach Michael Swanegan.

All of the mentioned award winners receive $1,000 scholarships. Additional $500 Jensen transfer/assistance scholarships for sophomores with 48 units completed and at least a 2.5 GPA will go to:

Austin Alexander (football, 3.1 GPA, Etiwanda High), who was the Lancers fourth leading tackler with 41 and broke up five passes during his letterman ’14 season. He made 50 tackles his freshman year of 2013. He was selected to the SCFA All-Academic Team.

Danielle Busta (women’s soccer, 3.6 GPA, Crescenta Valley High), who played as a two-time, All-SCC selection as a defender. Busta played as a freshman on the 2012 Lancers that reached the SoCal Regional Playoffs.

Eryn Coleman (3.1 GPA) was the only non-student athlete to receive a Jensen award as she did exemplary work as an athletic trainer assistant.

Yingwen Lin (women’s badminton, 3.9 GPA, Mark Keppel High), the doubles partner of her twin sister Yinghong (see GPA winner). She was a qualifier for the CCCAA state tournament and part of a conference champion team.

Carmina Ortiz (women’s volleyball/badminton, 3.0 GPA, Azusa High), who played two seasons on the badminton team and was a starting middle blocker on the ’14 Lancers volleyball squad. She’s the only two-sport athlete on the scholarship list.

Breanna Rodrigo (women’s softball, 3.1 GPA, Temple City High), a two-year letterman as a utility player for the Lancers. She went 5-2 with two saves as a pitcher and batted .403 with 13 stolen bases as an outfielder in her sophomore season.

Tansica Sunkamaneevongse (women’s cross country, 3.8 GPA, Arcadia High), an All-SCC runner as a freshman and finished 35th overall at the ’13 state meet. She settled for 28th at the ’14 conference finals.

Emily Thach (women’s basketball, 3.0 GPA, Mark Keppel High), who served as a starting guard for two seasons on the Lancers hoops team. An All-SCC Second Team selection as a sophomore, she averaged 6.3 points a game.

Serge Vita (football, 2.8 GPA, PCC CEC), an All-SCFA NNC Second Team defensive lineman in ’14. He led the Lancers in sacks (6) and had 21 tackles for loss (44 overall). Vita is moving on to Union College in Kentucky).

Tiffany Wong (women’s swimming, 2.6 GPA, Mark Keppel High), the SCC 200-yard butterfly champion and holder of the conference record in the debut year for the event at California Community Colleges. She earned a silver medal on the Lancers’ 400 medley relay squad at this year’s state meet.

Men’s swimmer Mohammad Esmaeilian received the Horrell Scholarship for outstanding athletic achievement and sportsmanship. From Iran, Esmaeilian was a double South Coast Conference champion in the 50-yard and 200 freestyle events. He held a 3.3 GPA in the classroom. The Horrell award is named after the Horrell brothers, who excelled in athletics at Pasadena High School (part of then the campus of Pasadena Junior College) and had the program’s old football stadium named in their honor–Horrell Field. Esmaeilian swam for head coach Terry Stoddard.

Football kicker/punter Franklyn Cervenka (La Canada High, 3.6 GPA) earned the Thomas O. Mallory scholarship. The Mallory scholarship is named after the former PCC football coach (coached 20th century sports legend Jackie Robinson) and athletic director who also is a member of the PCC Court of Champions. Cervenka is a preferred walk-on now at UC Berkeley after leading the ’14 Lancers in scoring, including kicking seven field goals. Cervenka was a member of the SCFA All-Academic Team.

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