FORT HALL, Idaho -- The Idaho State Athletic Department celebrated the 2015-16 year with the 64th annual Bennion Banquet Tuesday evening at the Shoshone-Bannock Hotel & Events Center. The night was an opportunity to celebrate the year and give out team and academic awards.
The awards ceremony ended with the Male and Female Big Sky Scholar Athlete award, which were awarded to Chris Edwards of football and Shelby Erdahl of track and field.
Edwards, a redshirt senior defensive lineman from Meridian, Idaho, was a leader in 2015 on the defensive line and in the classroom. He boasts a 3.90 GPA and has already graduated with a degree in exercise science. He is a four-time member of the Big Sky Conference All-Academic team and this year he garnered academic All-Region honors. On the field he had 63 tackles as a starter.
Erdahl set PRs on the track in the 200m and 60m hurdles as well as in the classroom. The senior from Bozeman, Mont. is graduating with a 4.0 GPA in exercise science. She has garnered conference all-academic honors every semester she has been eligible to receive the honor.
Here is a look at the rest of the award winners:
Athletics Advisory Board Academic Athlete Achievement Award 2015-16: Josh Holland (Men's Track and Field) and Svenja Tegtmeier (Women's Tennis)
Idaho State Cheerleading Newcomer of the Year: Madison Breding
Leadership Award: Ernie Gurerro
Idaho State Cheerleader of the Year: Carli Lutz
Women's Tennis Player of the Year:Â Wiebke Boeckmann
Men's Tennis Player of the Year:Â Francis Filipovich
Women's Golf Player of the Year: Kylie Martens
Women's Cross Country Outstanding Performer: Presli Hutchinson
Men's Cross Country Most Outstanding Performer: Ty James
Softball Offensive Player of the Year: Kacie Burnett
Softball Defensive Player of the Year: Maddy Hickman
Volleyball Bengal Pride Award: Sommer Reeder
Volleyball Bengal Toughness Award: Hayley Farrer
Volleyball Bengal Award: Tressa Lyman
Soccer Rookie of the Year: Cassidy Kaumeyer
Soccer Most Improved Player: Meaghan Bare
Soccer Most Valuable Player: Maria Sanchez
Men's Basketball Bengal Pride Team GPA: Erik Nakken
Men's Basketball Most Improved Player:Â Geno Luzcando
Men's Basketball Most Valuable Player: Ethan Telfair
Women's Basketball Best Defensive Player: Anna Policicchio
Women's Basketball Most Improved Player Award: Saylair Grandon
Women's Basketball Most Valuable Player: Anna Policicchio
Football Outstanding Offensive Player: Xavier Finney
Football Outstanding Defensive Player: Tyler Kuder
Football Outstanding Newcomer: Rasheed Williams
Football Outstanding Special Teams Player: Ty Graves
Football Most Valuable Player (Team MVP): Xavier Finney
Men's Track and Field Outstanding Field Athlete: Khalil Abdul-Hakim
Men's Track and Field Outstanding Track Athlete: Daniel Garz
Men's Track and Field Most Valuable Athlete: Deante Gaines
Women's Track and Field Outstanding Field Athlete: Samantha Simmons
Women's Track and Field Outstanding Track Athlete: Katie Nicholls
Women's Track and Field Most Valuable Athlete: Kaitlin Sorensen-Keller
Male Big Sky Scholar Athlete Award: Chris Edwards
Female Big Sky Scholar Athlete of the Year: Shelby Erdahl
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