Tracy, Zook, Men’s Soccer take top Buzzies honors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Thursday, April 27, 2017 Tracy, Zook, Men’s Soccer take top Buzzies honors

Heather Tracy and Sam Zook win the Female and Male Athlete of the Year awards, and MSUB’s men’s soccer team is named Team of the Year at the fifth annual Buzzies Thursday night.

BILLINGS, Mont. – Among the top honorees at the fifth annual Buzzie Awards ceremony Thursday night at Petro Theater were Female Athlete of the Year Heather Tracy of the Montana State University Billings softball team, male Athlete of the Year Sam Zook of the Yellowjacket track and field squad, and the MSUB men’s soccer team as the Team of the Year.

A total of 30 awards were handed out by the athletic department, commemorating the best individual and team performances and memorable moments from the 2016-17 academic year.

MSUB interim chancellor Dr. Ron Larsen presented the top awards for individuals, and MSUB foundation director Bill Kennedy presented this year’s Coach of the Year honor.

Tracy became the first softball player to win the top award among female athletes, while Zook made it two wins in-a-row for track and field as he followed 2015-16 winner Robert Peterson. The men’s soccer team also won its first-ever Team of the Year award, and head coach Alex Balog was selected as the athletic department’s Coach of the Year.

Dave Coppock, who announced his retirement at the end of the track and field season, was presented with the Yellowjacket Award commemorating his 28 years of service to Yellowjacket athletics.

Tiana Hanson of MSUB’s women’s basketball team was presented with the Scholar Athlete award, which is given to the individual in the department who holds the top grade point average and has exhausted her eligibility. Hanson has a perfect 4.00 GPA as an education major.

Other major awards included Breakout Player of the Year Kamal Tall of MSUB’s men’s basketball team, Freshman of the Year Maddy Lincoln of the softball squad, and Newcomer of the Year Julien Dragomir of the men’s soccer team.

Starting all 29 games the season after suffering a devastating knee injury, Jace Anderson earned the Comeback Player of the Year Award.

Bella Rovens recently became the all-time hits leader for the MSUB softball program, and was recognized with the Career Achievement Award. She enters her final home series this weekend No. 1 in five different major offensive categories for the ‘Jackets.

The Buzzies all-time winners can be found online here.

Overall Awards Team of the Year Men’s Soccer Coach of the Year Alex Balog Female Athlete of the Year Heather Tracy – Softball Male Athlete of the Year Sam Zook – Men’s Track & Field

Tracy was tabbed the top female athlete at MSUB for 2016-17, after breaking the single-season hits record with 73 this spring so far.

Yellowjacket Award For Service Dave Coppock Scholar Athlete of the Year Tiana Hanson Career Achievement Award Bella Rovens Student Support Staff Worker of the Year Josie Smart Male SAAC Award Winner Jacob Marshall Female SAAC Award Winner Dana Lubieniecki Freshman of the Year Maddy Lincoln – Softball Newcomer of the Year Julien Dragomir – Men’s Soccer Breakout Player of the Year Kamal Tall – Men’s Basketball Comeback Player of the Year Jace Anderson – Men’s Basketball Game/Event of the Year Men’s Basketball – 100-93 road win over No. 19 Western Washington (12/31/16) Moment/Play of the Year Men’s Basketball – Marc Matthews last-second, game-winning 3-pointer at home vs. Alaska Anchorage (1/12/17)

Individual Team Player of the Year Awards Baseball Casey Merritt Men’s Basketball Marc Matthews Men’s Cross Country Jorey Egeland

Men’s Golf Caleb Stetzner Men’s Soccer Julien Dragomir Men’s Track & Field Sam Zook Softball Heather Tracy Volleyball Stormy Siemion Women’s Basketbal Tiana Hanson Women’s Cross Country Rio Frame Women’s Golf Bailee Dexter Women’s Soccer Dana Lubieniecki Women’s Track & Field Josey Smiedala

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