Regents Celebrate Student-Athletes

ROCKFORD, IL – With the 2008-09 academic year winding down and the Rockford College athletic schedule coming to a close, the Regents athletic department spent Mother’s Day celebrating the accomplishment of its student-athletes, both on the field and in the classroom.

Student-athletes and their families filled Maddox Theater to recognize Rockford’s team and individual champions and record breakers, team MVP’s, academic honors, and the female and male Athletes of the Year.  The event also gives added recognition to senior and four-year student-athletes.  As always, the highlight of the night was the Year in Review video created by Rockford’s Associate Athletic Director Cory Espensen. 

“Our student-athletes give so much to the school, in terms of time, energy, and effort,” said Rockford’s interim Athletic Director and softball head coach Kristyn King.  “This is one of the rare occasions we have to get all of our student-athletes and their families together to recognize them and most importantly to say thank you for everything you do for the college.”

In addition to the many athletic awards given, two special awards are also presented, the Margaret and Jack Oshita Awards and the Dr. Hans Wolpe Memorial Awards.  These awards, presented by members of the Oshita family, are given in memory of former Rockford College employee Jack Oshita and his wife.  The awards are given to the male and female student-athletes who consistently contribute to team spirit and display the highest standards of good sportsmanship, while exemplifying work ethic to contribute to team success.

The Wolpe awards are given to current letter winners, who lettered the previous year, have made positive contributions to their teams while maintaining at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.  The award winners are the male and female with the highest GPA among second, third, and fourth-year letter winners who meet the criteria.

Athletic Awards Night Honors
2008 Northern Athletics Conference Cross Country Team Champions
Victor Reyes – 2008 NAC Cross Country Freshman of the Year
Roger Fredrickson – 2008 NCA Cross Country Coach of the Year
Matt Lindgren – 2009 NAC Indoor Track 800 meter Champion
Ryan Rebsom – 2009 NAC Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year
Jimmy Dercks – 2009 NAC Baseball Rookie of the Year
30 Rockford College records broken in various sports
33 student-athletes named to various All-Conference Teams
24 Four-Year Letter winners
62 students on Athletic Director’s Honor Roll (cumulative GPA 3.0 or above)
22 Members of Chi Alpha Sigma, National College Athletic Honor Society (cumulative GPA 3.4 or above)
40 Senior student-athletes