STOCKTON, Calif. – The Pacific Athletics programs and staff gathered at Janssen-Lagorio Gymnasium Wednesday evening to celebrate the accomplishments of its student-athletes on and off the field at the 11th annual Tommy Awards.
 
Director of Athletics All-Tiger Award
 
This award recognizes the best of the best – the top male and female student-athletes based on athletics performance from this season. This year, Liz Smith and Reuel D'Souza were honored with the prestigious award.
 
Smith led the women's basketball team throughout the 2022-23 season, guiding the Tigers to a sixth-place regular season finish and the first West Coast Conference Tournament semifinal berth since 2018. Leading the team in scoring, averaging 14 points per game, Smith scored in bunches, reaching double figures in 25 games, and ranked fifth in the conference with a 39.7 three-point shooting percentage. The Dallas, Texas native earned All-WCC First Team honors and reached 500 career points with a 21-point performance against Gonzaga.
 
Smith led the Tigers through the first three rounds of the conference tournament at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., averaging 16.7 points per game while shooting 46.7 percent (14-for-30) from the field. Smith added a team-high 19 points in the narrow 75-72 semifinal loss to Portland, leading the Tigers with three made three-point baskets.
 
Leading the Tigers to the Golden Coast Conference title and a fourth appearance in the NCAA Men's Water Polo Final Four, D'Souza ranked first on the team with 85 points during the regular season. D'Souza had a season-high four goals this past season in wins over Brown, Pomona-Pitzer, and San Jose State. A playmaker off the ball, D'Souza regularly assisted his teammates, accumulating four assists against Long Beach State, three against Stanford, and a season-high seven against UC Irvine.
 
The sophomore from Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, played a crucial role in the championship run, scoring five times in the conference semifinal match while contributing two steals, tying his season-high. Defensively, D'Souza shined with a season-high three field blocks in the conference championship game and was named to the GCC All-Tournament Team for his efforts.
 
Best Team Upset
 
The men's water polo team grabbed this award after earning a 15-13 win over #3 USC on September 16, 2022, at the Chris Kjeldsen Pool. Leading the Tigers to their first win over the Trojans for the first time since 2019, Mathew Hosmer and Mihailo Vukazic notched four goals apiece. Rene Peralta recorded a team-high two assists, while Bae Fountain kept the Trojans at bay with 14 saves in goal. 
 
Best Play of the Year
 
Clara Vulpisi won the Best Play of the Year award on a game-winning overtime penalty save in the women's water polo match against #11 Michigan on March 19. 
 
Athlete Performance of the Year
 
This year, Pacific honored two student-athletes for individual performances on the field. Ben Nemivant of the baseball team, the male award recipient, was recognized for his six-for-six showing at the plate in a 13-4 dominating win at New Mexico on March 5. Throughout the contest, Nemivant recorded two doubles and notched his first home run of the season.
 
Klara Kosan and Karina Chao of the women's tennis team were honored as the Female Athlete Performance of the Year recipients, after earning a win over the top-ranked doubles team in the nation from Pepperdine on March 31. Kosan and Chao jumped out to an early lead over Janice Tjen and Savannah Broadus and held on to defeat the nationally ranked doubles team 6-4.
 
Rookie/Newcomer of the Year
 
Chao was honored again as the Female Rookie/Newcomer of the Year after making an immediate impact in her first season with the women's tennis program. Chao, a sophomore transfer from Air Force, began the season on a 10-match winning streak in singles and finished the season with a stellar 11-4 record. 
 
Teaming up with Kosan throughout the season, Chao continued her successful campaign in doubles play. The duo reached the program's highest-ever doubles ranking at #32 in the nation and earned WCC Doubles Team of the Week honors. 
 
The Sammamish, Wash., native was the first player in program history to receive WCC Player of the Week honors in singles and doubles in one season while also being named to the All-WCC Doubles Second Team.
 
Bae Fountain, the recipient of the Male Rookie/Newcomer of the Year, led the men's water polo team defensively throughout a record-setting season. A much-needed addition to the squad, Fountain came in as a graduate transfer who made an immediate impact.
 
Starting 21 of the 29 games during the 2022 campaign, Fountain led the team with a .508 save percentage and accumulated a 14-7 record as the Tigers' goaltender.
 
The Tauranga, New Zealand native earned All-GCC First Team honors, was an Honorable Mention All-American, and was the backbone of the team's defense as Tigers won a conference title and made it to the NCAA Men's Water Polo Final Four.
 
Best Talent
 
Voted upon by PSAAC members, Jewel Turner of the beach volleyball team grabbed this award for her fantastic ability to perform a walking handstand.
 
Tiger Spirit Award
 
This year's honoree of the Tiger Spirit Award went to Tom Sun, a regular attendee of Pacific athletic events. Sun consistently attended games throughout the 2022-23 season, bringing an exuberant amount of energy and pride to the Tigers. Although not a student-athlete, Sun has become a vital member of the Pacific family and was a deserving recipient of this award.
 
All-Star Staff Award

The department honored Adrienne Koesterer as she earned the All-Star Staff Award. In over seven years of dedication to Pacific, Koesterer has worked primarily behind the scenes to ensure that the many different aquatic events and the general operation of the pool run smoothly and effectively.

This year has also seen you undertake a new role as Ticketing Operations Manager, which has allowed many more student-athletes to get to know her and come to appreciate her as much as the aquatic sports do.

John Dunning Coach of the Year Award

James Graham was honored with the John Dunning Coach of the Year Award after leading the men's and women's water polo programs to historical seasons.
 
Holding down the fort for both water-polo programs, Graham led the men's team to a 22-7 record, a Golden Coast Conference title and a Final Four appearance, while the women's team had the winningest season in program history with huge upsets over #6 UC Irvine and #11 Michigan.
 
Tiger Tally
 
The Tiger Tally is a competition between teams where points are awarded based on community service hours, supporting other athletes and teams, showing academic excellence, and more. With 2,005 points, the winner of the Tiger Tally Award was presented to the men's swimming team. Women's basketball earned a second-place finish with 1,840 points, while softball took home third place with 1,500 points.

Sports Medicine Gena Johnson Comeback Award

The athletic training staff presented this award to Grant Stevens of the baseball team. After sustaining a devastating elbow injury and challenging rehabilitation, Stevens returned to competition this season. This season, Stevens has led the team's pitching staff, throwing two complete games while securing wins over San Diego and Pepperdine.

Iron Tiger Award

The Iron Tiger Award was presented by Director of Athlete Performance Bennett Reed and given to two student-athletes who show hard work and dedication in their respective sport. This year, Clara Vulpisi of the women's water polo team and Marvcus Guarin of the baseball team were honored.

Team GPA Award

This award was presented to teams on both the men's and women's sides with the highest cumulative GPA. This year, the women's basketball team was honored as the team accumulated a 3.55 GPA, while the golf team was the winner on the men's side with a 3.73 GPA.

Amos Alonzo Stagg Senior Scholar-Athlete Award

This award is given to the top female and male senior scholar-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA. The recognition and the new Stagg Memorial Football Plaza honor Amos Alonzo Stagg, an early innovator in football who put Pacific on the national map when he was named head coach. Plus, he believed strongly in the academic success of his students.

The first recipient was Vanessa Strong from the softball team. Strong will graduate this summer with a Master's in Health, Exercise, and Sport Science, with a 4.0 Cumulative GPA. Strong also received her Bachelor of Arts in Health, Exercise and Sports Science with a Concentration in Health and Exercise Science at Pacific.

Avery Whipple of the men's soccer team was the male recipient of the award after finishing the spring with a 3.98 cumulative GPA. After competing one final season with the Tigers in the upcoming 2023 season, Whipple will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences with a minor in Sociology.

PAF Award

This year's new award, the PAF Award, recognizes the PSAAC student-athlete ambassador that brought in the most donors during Pacific Gives, Pacific's Annual Day of Giving, held last week.

The inaugural award was given to Dalee Higgins of the women's cross country and track & field teams for her contributions to Pacific Gives. Higgins was responsible for 105 donors, making her the highest-placed student ambassador and the third-highest individual ambassador.

Dan Malley Service Award

The Dan Malley Service Award is presented to student athletes who are juniors or seniors, with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and have provided a notable contribution and service to others within the athletic department, university, and the wider community.

The first honoree was Clara Vulpisi from the women's water polo team. Vulpisi is completing her second term as president of PSAAC, where she has focused on a platform that creates stronger ties among all student-athletes, with the university and with the community. Vulpisi has made a monumental multipronged contribution to the Pacific and has positively impacted this community. 
 
Vulpisi has represented Pacific student-athletes in various committee meetings and events. She has served as a student-athlete representative at West Coast Conference meetings and the WCC representative to the national Division I SAAC. She is a Phi Alpha Delta member and serves as the Recruitment Secretary. 
 
She has a 3.81 GPA as a student and has been named on the Dean's List multiple times. Vulpisi is the campus captain for the Hidden Opponent - an advocacy group that raises awareness for student-athletes mental health. 
 
In the pool, Vulpisi was the backbone of the Tiger defense as the goalkeeper and captain, helping the program to a solid finish in the regular season. 
 
The second honoree was Avery Whipple from the men's soccer team. Whipple has made a holistic contribution to the department and university and has continually shown impeccable standards, athletically and academically, as well as in our local community and his community back home. 
 
He excelled academically and was awarded the most prestigious scholarship at Pacific, the Pacific Powell Scholar. His tireless effort to apply himself academically has placed him on the Dean's List honor roll for 2019, 2020, and 2021. Whipple also earned WCC All-Academic First Team honors for the 2021 season. 
 
Whipple currently serves as an undergraduate assistant on two different research teams. When he is not on the field, in the classroom, or tutoring teammates, he is an upstanding member of the Pacific community by volunteering his time for the UOP Quest for the Test Program. This outreach program tutors underachieving high school students in the local Stockton Area. 
 
Whipple's leadership and vision have positively impacted the men's soccer program and department. In addition, he has volunteered for the local animal shelter, participated in "Read Across America" at a local elementary school, and trained young soccer players. Above all else, he is an exceptional human being and someone who exemplifies service to his team, the university and the community. 

The Pacific Tigers Leadership Award 

This award was established to recognize student-athletes for their initiative and outstanding leadership skills. Leadership can come in many forms and the two individuals have exemplified what it means to be a leader in the department, at the university, and in the community.

The first honoree was Danielle Zamora from the women's tennis team. Danielle has served as team captain for the last two years, inspiring her teammates to excel on and off the court. 
 
Zamora has served as a PSAAC Member and is very active in clubs, internships, volunteering on and off campus, and mentoring younger athletes on her team and in the community. 
 
She has maintained a 3.5 GPA or higher in HESP program with a minor in Psychology, all while preparing for the DPT program at Pacific. She has shown heart, discipline, and character while recovering from injury. 
 
Zamora led the team in singles and doubles wins when she sustained the injury last March and battled through the rest of the season to still finish second on the team in singles and doubles wins. Her tenacity as a competitor drove her to return for her senior year to lead and represent her team.
 
The second honoree was Aidan Scott from the men's swimming team. Scott has been team captain for the last two years and has led by example both in the pool and classroom. 
 
Scott has maintained a 3.64 GPA as an Engineering Science major with a concentration in Mechanical Engineering. He has made Dean's Honor Roll and won the MPSF All-Academic Award each year he has been eligible. 
 
Scott is a model member of PSAAC by taking the initiative to volunteer for local community events such as the Rotary Read and the Pacific elementary school tour day. 
 
On top of this, he has been a leader in the pool, with the team's top times this season in the 100, 200 back, and 200 IM, scoring in all three events at the MPSF Championships. He is the third-fastest swimmer in Pacific history to be under 1:50 in the 200 IM and the fifth-fastest swimmer in the 200 fly with a time of 1:49.14.  
 
Scott's leadership is one of confidence, professionalism, and approachability. He will be a vital force behind the success of his team and the Pacific Tigers community.

Four Pillars Award

The Four Pillars Award honors who best represent the Four Pillars of Pacific Athletics which are Balance, Family, Winning Spirit, and Innovation. It's a challenging combination of objectives for our program. This award recognizes those student-athletes who have found a way to contribute in a meaningful way to the athletics program.

Camryn Scully from the women's soccer team was the first to be honored with the Four Pillars Award. Scully is a fifth-year senior who has exemplified all the characteristics of the Four Pillar Award across her outstanding career here at Pacific. 
 
Not only has Scully been a superb soccer player, but she has been one of the best leaders in the history of the women's soccer program. She has served as the team's captain and sits on the team's leadership council, which was established a few years ago.  
 
Scully has been one of the best teammates during her time at Pacific while also being a fantastic citizen and role model to future Tigers. Scully exemplifies true sportsmanship during competition and is quick to acknowledge her opponents regardless of the result. She is the first to volunteer for community service projects and leads by example, encouraging her teammates to participate and have positive attitudes.
 
Ran Amar from the men's tennis team was the second honoree of the award. Amar is an Israeli student-athlete with tremendous self-discipline and work ethic both in the classroom and on the tennis court. 
 
Amar is demonstrated by his cumulative GPA of 3.84, going 11-3 in singles play last year, followed by 5-2 in conference play this year, earning him a spot on the WCC All-Conference Singles Second Team. He made the Dean's Honor Roll in the Fall of 2022 and is accelerating his degree to play his last year on the team while completing his master's here at Pacific. 
 
Amar enrolled at Pacific in January of 2021, starting his United States education online while in Israel. Not only did he demonstrate exceptional independence and work ethic to excel in all his classes, he did so listening to professors through his computer screen in his second language – a struggle that he felt was a significant challenge throughout the semester. 
 
Once present on campus, it was immediately apparent that Amar would be a fantastic ambassador and leader for the tennis program and university. He consistently displays his kindness to the people around him and always acts with integrity. His attention to detail and helping others on the team with school and tennis demonstrated it.