Clayton Jack and Leslie Mak Take Top Honors at The Bennys
June 5, 2012
Corvallis, Ore. -
Oregon State University wrestler Clayton Jack and gymnast Leslie Mak took home the top honors at the 14th annual Bennys Tuesday night at Gill Coliseum. The event is an end-of-the-year celebration commemorating the achievements of student-athletes at OSU.
Jack posted 39 wins as a heavyweight, including the Pac-12 Conference title for the second straight year. He went on to earn All-America honors with a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships.
Mak earned Pac-12 Conference Gymnast of the Year for the second straight season, a first in league history. She earned the weekly Pac-12 Gymnast/Performance of the Week four times. The Toronto native concluded her illustrious career with four All-America honors, including on the balance beam and floor exercise this season.
Wrestling, under the direction of Pac-12 Coach of the Year Jim Zalesky, captured the Male Team of the Year Benny. The Beavers won the Pac-12 title and placed 10th at the NCAA Championships, the best finish in more than a decade.
Softball returned to the NCAA Tournament last month and was selected as the Women's Team of the Year. Head Coach Kirk Walker guided the team to 36 victories, including nine wins over top-25 teams. The team set numerous team and individual records, and made it back into the top 25 in the national polls.
Zalesky accepted the Male Sports Coach of the Year while second-year women's basketball head coach Scott Rueck was the Women's Sports Coach of the Year. Rueck earned Pac-12 Coach of the Year accolades after leading the team to a fifth-place finish in the league (predicted for 12th), a WNIT Sweet 16 appearance and to a 20-win season for only the fourth time in the last 20 years.
Freshman Michael Conforto and junior transfer Elizabeth Santana corralled Joe Zaher Male and Female Newcomer of the Year honors. Conforto was the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and a league first team selection after leading the Beavers to NCAA Tournament and finishing the year with a .349 batting average with 76 hits. Santana is only the fifth player in school history to be named to the Pac-12's First Team for softball after leading the Beavers with a .344 batting average, 64 hits and 41 RBI.
Flashy guard Jared Cunningham had the best Male Performance of the Year after scoring 37 points in the Beavers 100-95 overtime victory over Texas. Junior gymnast Melanie Jones performed a near-flawless routine on the floor exercise at the NCAA Championships that was deemed the Female Performance of the Year.
The Robert Byers Spirit Award was presented to Anna Taylor of the women's rowing team. Taylor has fought a courageous battle with thyroid cancer and returned to the top varsity boat this year. Her teammate Andrea Harvey along with Kevin McShane of the men's basketball team shared the Glenn Klein Community Service Award.
Bennys were also presented to 10 All-Americans: Laura Carlyle (gymnastics), Scott Crichton (football), Clayton Jack (wresting), Melanie Jones (gymnastics), Leslie Mak (gymnastics), Mike Mangrum (wrestling), Sean Mannion (football), Scott Sakaguchi (wrestling), Makayla Stambaugh (gymnastics) and Dylan Wynn (football). NCAA Regional champions Olivia Vivian (gymnastics) and Mak received Bennys as did Pac-12 champions Jack, Sakaguchi, Mangrum and RJ Pena (wrestling).
Scholar Athletes were also recognized with Bennys - Keri Holmstrom (swimming), Marsha Lampi (track), Meghan Leineweber (rowing), Casey Masterson (track), Hannah McCulley (swimming), Lauren Morgenthaler (rowing), Rhys Murphy (basketball), Marcus Perry (football), Emily Richardson (softball), Melissa Sloan (rowing), John Swenson (soccer) and Leslie Urban (rowing).
Joan D. and Ken Austin were presented the Martin Chaves Lifetime Achievement Award. As a student, Ken Austin served as OSU's original "Benny Beaver," and he and Joan remain two of the university's strongest supporters. Co-founders and owners of dental equipment manufacturer A-dec in Newberg, Ore., the Austins' greatest impact at Oregon State has been on the College of Business, where a new building will bear their name in recognition of their $10 million lead gift. They also have generously supported athletic facility projects including the Truax Indoor Center, Reser Stadium, Goss Stadium at Coleman Field and Gill Coliseum.
The 2011-12 BENNYS AWARDS
Male Athlete of the Year: Clayton Jack (wrestling)
Female Athlete of the Year: Leslie Mak (gymnastics)
Male Newcomer of the Year: Michael Conforto (baseball)
Female Newcomer of the Year: Elizabeth Santana (softball)
Male Performance of the Year: Jared Cunnigham (basketball)
Female Performance of the Year: Melanie Jones (gymnastics)
Male Sport Coach of the Year: Jim Zalesky (wrestling)
Female Sport Coach of the Year: Scott Rueck (basketball)
Male Team of the Year: Wrestling
Female Team of the Year: Softball
Robert Byers Spirit Award: Anna Taylor (rowing)
Glenn Klein Community Service Awards: Kevin McShane (basketball) and Andrea Harvey (rowing)
Martin Chaves Lifetime Achievement Award: Ken and Joan D. Austin
All-Americans: Laura Carlyle (track), Scott Crichton (football), Clayton Jack (wrestling), Melanie Jones (gymnastics), Leslie Mak (gymnastics), Mike Mangrum (wrestling), Sean Mannion (football), Scott Sakaguchi (wrestling), Makayla Stambaugh (gymnastics), Dylan Wynn (football)
NCAA Regional Champions: Leslie Mak (gymnastics), Olivia Vivian (gymnastics)
Pac-12 Champions: Clayton Jack (wrestling), Mike Mangrum (wrestling), Scott Sakaguchi (wrestling)
Scholar Athletes of the Year: Keri Holmstrom (swimming), Marsha Lampi (track), Meghan Leineweber (rowing), Casey Masterson (track), Hannah McCulley (swimming), Lauren Morgenthaler (rowing), Rhys Murphy (basketball), Marcus Perry (football), Emily Richardson (softball), Melissa Sloan (rowing), John Swenson (soccer), Leslie Urban (rowing)
