HONORING LEGENDS

This past year, Gonzaga recognized former Zag student-athletes that not only made impacts in their respective programs’ histories, but also through the campus and community.

Sophie Whittle

On Sept. 24, GU honored women’s tennis standout Sophie Whittle with a banner reveal at Stevens Center. Whittle competed at Gonzaga from 2015 to 2019. She capped her successful career at GU by being named an Intercollegiate Tennis Singles AllAmerican, the school’s first-ever in the sport, in 2019.

After a fall season that featured an ITA National Championship in singles, Whittle was ranked No. 1 in the nation and went on to remain in the top 15 throughout the spring. Additionally, during her senior year, she reached No. 17 in doubles with playing partner Graciela Rosas.

She has a school-record 30 wins in one season and a program-best of 90 overall wins during her career as a Zag. She earned WCC Player of the Year, All-WCC First Team, WCC All-Academic Team and WCC All-Tournament Team honors.

Whittle also became the first Zag to compete in the NCAA Singles Championships in 2019. Additionally, she competed in the NCAA Doubles Championships with Rosas in the same year. Adding to her list of accolades, Whittle was also chosen as the nation’s Most Improved Senior and the recipient of the prestigious Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship award.

Dan Dickau

On Feb. 9, the Bulldogs paid tribute to former Zag great Dan Dickau before a home win over San Francisco. Dickau set America on fire in 2001-02 as the Gonzaga University senior became the Bulldogs first first-team Associated Press All-America selection. Dickau helped guide the Bulldogs to a No. 6 national ranking and at the time a school-record 29 victories.

Dickau was Gonzaga’s third John R. Wooden Award Player of the Year candidate and the first Wooden Award Top Five AllAmerican. Dickau was also a finalist for the James Naismith Player of the Year Award as he earned West Coast Conference Player of the Year honors. He was then selected with the final pick of the 2002 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings, who in turn traded his rights to the Atlanta Hawks.

Dickau continued the long tradition of excellent guard play at Gonzaga, but at the same time put his own unique stamp on the position. He wore No. 21 at Gonzaga because the No. 12 worn by his idol John Stockton has not been available at Gonzaga since Stockton finished playing in 1984.

Dickau finished his two-year Gonzaga career ranking fourth on the career three-pointers list, sixth on the career assists chart and 16th in career scoring with 1,125 points.

Kelly Olynyk

Prior to a victory over Kent State on Dec. 5, Gonzaga raised Kelly Olynyk’s number in the McCarthey Athletic Center. Olynyk helped lead the Gonzaga men’s basketball program to its firstever No. 1 national ranking in the 2012-13 season.

Olynyk broke onto the national basketball scene and became one of the unique stories of the 2013 season. After redshirting as a junior the previous season to re-tool his body, he displayed a new fervor for the game and became an inside force. He was up for every national award offered: Associated Press All-America First Team, U.S. Basketball Writers Association All-America First Team, U.S. Basketball Writers Association District IX Player of the Year; District IX First Team, John R. Wooden Award Top Five All-American, Sporting News All-America First Team, Oscar Robertson National Player of the Year Trophy Finalist, and Naismith Men’s College Player of the Year Award Top 30.

Olynyk was also named the West Coast Conference Player of the Year, All-WCC First Team, Capital One Academic All-America® Division I First Team, Capital One Academic All-America® Division I District 8 First Team, West Coast Conference Men’s Basketball All-Academic Team, Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year and was selected to the Old Spice Classic All-Tournament Team.

Olynyk averaged 17.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists per game and 1.1 blocks per game in helping Gonzaga to a school-record 32 wins in a 32-3 season. The Bulldogs finished the season ranked No. 1 in the final Associated Press Top 25 for their inaugural No. 1 ranking, and earned a No. 1 seed into the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.

Olynyk, born in Toronto, Ontario, and raised in Kamloops, British Columbia, also joined an elite group in earning AP All-America and Capital One Academic All-America® accolades, becoming just the fifth player overall since 2000 and the second Zag to earn both distinctions. He posted a 3.53 undergraduate GPA in earning his Bachelor of Business Administration degree with an emphasis in accounting.