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RICHARDSON, Texas –– University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football player Jerrell Freeman and Howard Payne University basketball player Meia Daniels, two senior student-athletes that garnered national player of the year honors and paced American Southwest Conference championships, have been selected as the 2007-08 ASC Athletes of the Year, the league office announced on Monday (June 23) after a vote of the ASC’s sports information directors and Outstanding Media Service Award members.

The American Southwest Conference Athlete of the Year award, in its ninth year, recognizes the male and female student-athlete whose athletic accomplishments best contributed to their sport, their institution’s overall athletic program and to the conference. Each ASC member institution nominates its campus Athlete of the Year award recipients to the conference-wide ballot.

Freeman (Waco, TX / University HS) becomes the sixth student-athlete from UMHB to take the annual award – the second straight and fourth different football player, joining 2006-07 winner Josh Kubiak, ASC Hall of Honor member Preston Meyer (2002-03) and Cody Fredenburg (2003-04). UMHB basketball player Robert Moore (co: 2000-01, 2001-02) and golfer Holly Glover (2004-05) also won top conference honors. Daniels (Fort Worth, TX / Fossil Ridge High School) takes the top female award for the second straight year and becomes just the third student-athlete to be honored in back-to-back seasons (Moore, Hardin-Simmons basketball player Kendra Anderson in 2001-02, 2002-03).

Freeman, a criminal justice major, became the first ASC player to win national player of the year honors from D3football.com in the 2007 season. Freeman was named All-American by four different publications and was also voted ASC Defensive Player of the Year as the leading tackler on the conference’s top-rated defense. He helped lead the Cru to the league championship and also helped UMHB become the first ASC program to advance to the national semifinals twice. Freeman finished the season with 112 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, six sacks and seven pass break-ups. He also forced three fumbles and blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown. Freeman finished his career as UMHB’s career leader in tackles. He played for three ASC title teams and four NCAA Division III playoff qualifiers in his career. Freeman signed a free agent contract with the Tennessee Titans in April, becoming the first UMHB player to sign an NFL contract.

Daniels, a political science major, led Howard Payne to the NCAA Division III women’s basketball national championship – the first team national title from any sport in the 12-year history of the ASC and the first at the NCAA level for HPU. The All-American also fueled the Lady Jackets’ perfect 33-0 mark – the only collegiate men’s or women’s basketball team to finish the season undefeated. She was named national player of the year by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, Texas Basketball Coaches Association and D3hoops.com. Daniels was named Most Valuable Player of the NCAA Final Four and ranked No. 3 in the nation in steals (145). She averaged 19.6 points per game in 2007-08 – scoring an ASC single-season high of 649 points – and passed 2,100 points in her career as a Lady Jacket. Daniels played for three ASC title teams over her four seasons and earned a tryout with the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream. Daniels is also a finalist for the 2008 Honda Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year.

In the ASC Athlete of the Year men’s voting, McMurry University junior track and field athlete Hann Ollison (Colorado City, TX / CCHS) finished second and Hardin-Simmons University senior basketball player Mardochee Jean (Missouri City, TX / Hightower HS) was third. Ollison won two individual national titles, a relay crown and guided McMurry’s first team national championship of any kind, while Jean became the league’s career leader in rebounds, blocked shots and double doubles. On the women’s side, McMurry senior basketball player Tarra Richardson  (Fort Worth, TX / Brewer HS) was the runner-up, followed by Louisiana College junior softball player McCaslin Carson (Monroe, LA / Neville HS). Richardson became the ASC’s first Jostens Trophy winner, while Carson led her team to the World Series – also a first for the conference.

2007-08 AMERICAN SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Male: Jerrell Freeman, Sr., University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Football)

Female: Meia Daniels, Sr., Howard Payne University (Basketball)

1. Meia Daniels, Sr., Howard Payne University (Basketball)

2. Tarra Richardson, Sr., McMurry University (Basketball)

3. McCaslin Carson, Jr., Louisiana College (Softball)

ALL-TIME ASC ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Year	Male	Female
99-00	Brad Parris, McMurry (Track & Field)	Ogonna Merritt, McMurry (Basketball)
00-01	(co) Aaron Kernek, Austin College (Football/ T&F)	Talitha Belcher, McMurry (Track & Field)
	(co) Robert Moore, Mary Hardin-Baylor (Basketball)
01-02	Robert Moore, Mary Hardin-Baylor (Basketball)	Kendra Anderson, Hardin-Simmons (Basketball)
02-03	Preston Meyer, Mary Hardin-Baylor (Football)	Kendra Anderson, Hardin-Simmons (Basketball)
03-04	Cody Fredenburg, Mary Hardin-Baylor (Football)	Brittany Cary, McMurry (Golf)
04-05	Cody Brotherton, McMurry (Track & Field)	Holly Glover, Mary Hardin-Baylor (Golf)
05-06	Aaron Crais, Texas Lutheran (Baseball)	Sandi Clark, Louisiana College (Softball)
06-07	Josh Kubiak, Mary Hardin-Baylor (Football)	Meia Daniels, Howard Payne (Basketball)
07-08	Jerrell Freeman, Mary Hardin-Baylor (Football)	Meia Daniels, Howard Payne (Basketball)

2007-08 MEMBER’S CAMPUS ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

	Male	Female
Concordia University Texas	Valentino Maxwell (Basketball)	Michell Heckmann (Volleyball)
East Texas Baptist University	Kyle Pope (Football/Baseball)	Lia Frederick (CC/Soccer)
Hardin-Simmons University	Mardochee Jean (Basketball)	Laura Newbrough (Soccer)
Howard Payne University	--	Meia Daniels (Basketball)
LeTourneau University	Dewones Smith (Basketball)	Lindsay Haywood (Softball)
Louisiana College	Josh Johnson (Basketball)	McCaslin Carson (Softball)
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor	Jerrell Freeman (Football)	Kacie Kripner (Softball)
McMurry University	Hann Ollison (Track and Field)	Tarra Richardson (Basketball)
Mississippi College	Tyler Winford (Basketball)	Rachel Hardin (CC/T&F)
University of the Ozarks	Brian Sarber (Soccer)	Olivia Fisher (Soccer/Basketball/Tennis)
Schreiner University	Kevin Jones (Baseball)	Monica Enriquez (Basketball)
Sul Ross State University	Art Gonzalez (Basketball)	Nitra Woods (Basketball)
University of Texas at Dallas	Mark Cox (Baseball)	Kelli Jackson (Soccer)
University of Texas at Tyler	R.J. Cowan (CC/T&F)	Kasey Buggs (Basketball)
Texas Lutheran University	A.J. Vesey (Golf)	Jessica Raglon (Track and Field)

2007-08 ASC MEMBER’S CAMPUS ATHLETES OF THE YEAR BIOGRAPHIES

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY TEXAS

School: Concordia University Texas
Sport:  Basketball
Classification: Sr.
Academic Field of Study:  Education
Hometown (high school):  Killeen, TX (Harker Heights HS)

-Valentino Maxwell has been a four year starter for the Tornados and helped lead Concordia to their first ever ASC Championship game in only their second post season appearance. Maxwell averaged 17.4 points per game coming off the bench for the Tornados. He led the Tornados in scoring in 13 of Concordia’s games. Maxwell worked closely with the Rosedale Program at Concordia working with young students teaching them basketball.

School: Concordia University Texas
Sport: Volleyball
Classification: Sr.
Academic Field of Study:  Education
Hometown (high school): Gatesville, TX (GHS)

-Michelle Heckman has been a four-year starter for the Concordia volleyball team. She was named to the ASC West First Team as a sophomore and to the Second Team as a junior, earning an ASC West Hitter of the Week honor both seasons. Last year she won the Concordia Female Athlete of the Year, Concordia Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and Concordia Sportsmanship awards. She also garnered first team all ASC during her Senior Campaign. Along with garnering Player of the Week three times along with Volleyball ASC Scholar Athlete. Heckmann was also the only player to be named Defensively and Offensively Player of the Week during the 2007 season. Heckman, an elementary education major, was named Academic All-Conference carries a perfect 4.0 grade-point average. She has claimed Dean’s List honors every semester while at Concordia University. She is a member of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee, is a mentor for college freshmen, a member of the Concordia Youth Ministry Team, an intramural activities coordinator, volunteered with the Children’s Home Christmas Dinner along with the settlement Home charity and is a member the Field Day Action Team. During 2006 and 2007 Heckman served as a Resident Assistant (RA) in Harms Hall Dormitory.

EAST TEXAS BAPTIST UNIVERSITY

School: East Texas Baptist University
Sports: Football, Baseball
Classification: So.
Academic Field of Study: Accounting
Hometown (high school):  Longview, TX (Spring Hill HS)

-Pope led ETBU this spring with a .386 average from the leadoff spot, earning All-ASC East honors as well as being named ASC East Newcomer of the Year. He was an all-conference kicker for the football team in the fall, earning All-ASC honors as well as setting a new school record for field goals in a season (12). Pope also has been named an ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete for both football and baseball and was named the university’s male Top Tiger athlete for the 2007-08 school year.

-Lia was named ETBU’s 2007-08 female Top Tiger athlete, given annually to the top student-athlete on campus. In addition to being a key member of ETBU’s cross country and soccer teams, Lia also was involved with every other sport on campus as the university’s mascot, “Toby.” She also is a member of the ASC’s All-Academic team. On the soccer field Lia started 16 games last fall and was third on the team in goals scored while also running cross country. It was not unusual for Lia to run a cross country meet locally in the morning, hustle back to ETBU for a football game to work as mascot, then finish it off with a soccer game at night.

School: Hardin-Simmons University
Sport:  Basketball
Classification: Sr.
Academic Field of Study: Business
Hometown (high school):  Missouri City, TX (Hightower)

-Was named the American Southwest Conference West Division player of the year and was named an All-American by three different organizations. Became the all-time leading rebounder in the ASC and added to his career blocked shots record with another banner season. He led the Cowboys to the ASC Tournament for the third time in four years.

School: Hardin-Simmons University
Sport: Soccer
Classification: Sr.
Academic Field of Study:  Social Work
Hometown (high school):  Sacramento, CA (Montana HS)

-Newbrough was the co-ASC Defensive player of the year as she helped lead the Cowgirls to their fifth straight American Southwest Conference title and fifth straight trip to the NCAA Tournament. Newbrough was a 4.0 student as a social work major and was also a team captain and an all-region selection. She was also a CoSIDA Academic All-American.

School: LeTourneau University                                            
Sport:  Basketball
Classification: Jr.
Academic Field of Study:  Kinesiology
Hometown (high school): Union Church, MS (Jefferson County)

-Smith earned First Team ASC East Division honors after a season that saw him lead the YellowJackets in scoring (14.6/g), rebounding (7.2/g), three-pointers made (43), assists (66) and steals (40). He nearly led the team to its second straight ASC playoff appearance missing out on the tie-breaker. He was named the ASC East Player of the Week on Feb. 26. He scored his 1,000th career point on the final day of the season. He led the team to its highest two-year win total (27) since the team won 31 games between the 1985-86 and 86-87 seasons.

School: LeTourneau University
Sport:  Softball
Classification: Sr.
Academic Field of Study: Kinesiology – Exercise Science
Hometown (high school): Longview, TX (Spring Hill HS)

-Haywood led the YellowJackets to the best season in the program’s history with 16 wins. She batted .363 with a school record 11 doubles and 25 RBI’s. Her 45 hits on the season are the second most in the program’s history. She earned Second Team ASC East Division honors at Second Base and was named the East Division Player of the Week on April 7. She finished her career as the school’s all-time leader in games (155), games started (154), runs (62), hits (121), doubles (29), RBI’s (73) and total bases (178). She was named the LeTourneau Athlete of the Year. 

School: Louisiana College
Sport:  Basketball
Classification: Jr.
Academic Field of Study: Psychology
Hometown (high school): Ruston, LA (Athens HS)

-Johnson had a stellar year on the basketball court. He was named All-ASC and First Team All-ASC East Division. He led the ASC in scoring, averaging 18.4 points per game. He also added Third-Team All-Louisiana Honors. The All-Louisiana Team includes all Louisiana schools, including NCAA Division I. Johnson also averaged six rebounds per contest.

School: Louisiana College
Sport:  Softball
Classification: Jr.
Academic Field of Study: Business
Hometown (high school):  Monroe, LA (Neville HS)

-Carson had an unbelievable junior year which helped LC to a third place finish at the NCAA III World Series. Carson was a dual threat for the Lady Wildcat softball team. Pitching, Carson went 18-4 with an ERA of just 0.85. She fanned 106 batters in 140 innings. She threw two one-hitters and one no-hitter during the year. Her second one-hitter came in LC’s first game of the NCAA III World Series, in a 1-0 LC win over Rhode Island College. She was named the ASC East Pitcher of the Year for the second straight season. She was also First Team All-ASC East, First Team All-Atlantic Region, and was a First Team All-American.

-Kacie was voted ASC West Division Player of the Year this season and she was also voted ASC All-West Division for the fourth straight year. She set a new ASC record for career doubles and earned First Team All-West Region honors from the NFCA. Kacie helped led the Cru to a second straight ASC West Division title and UMHB became the first ASC team to go 24-0 in divisional play this season. She helped lead UMHB to a fourth straight ASC Championship Tournament appearance and the Cru also advanced to the NCAA Division III National Championships for the first time in the program’s history. Kacie batted .378 with 14 doubles, three triples and six home runs. She also set a new UMHB single-season record with 50 RBI. She was also an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VI selection and earned ASC Academic All-Conference honors three times during her career. Kacie was a two-time NFCA All-West Region selection during her career. Kacie even served as President of the UMHB Student-Athlete Advisory Committee as a senior.

-Ollison won two individual national titles (400 indoor, 400 outdoor), one relay national title (4x100m), and helped McMurry’s men to its first team national title in history and McMurry’s first national title of any kind. He was also an all-American in the long jump and in the 4X400m relay. He is now tied with McMurry’s Talitha Belcher for the most all-America awards by a McMurry athlete with 12. Could qualify in the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 400-meter race. South Southeast Region Male Athlete of the Year.

-2008 Jostens Trophy Award Winner … 2nd woman in NCAA Division III history to record 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 300 blocks in a career. Finished as the 21st top scorer in NCAA Division III history with 2,164 points. ASC’s all-time leader in points, rebounds, and blocks. Named first team all-America by two different outlets (D3Hoops.com, ABCA), 1st Team academic all-America by ESPN the Magazine and CoSida.. 5-time all-American over four-year career. Helped McMurry’s women to three-straight NCAA Tournament appearances.

School: Mississippi College
Sport: Basketball
Classification: Sr.
Academic Field of Study: Biology
Hometown (high school): Madison, MS (Jackson Academy)

- Tyler Winford capped off an incredible career by being named the ASC East Division Player of the Year, ASC East Division Defensive Player of the Year and one of ten finalists for the Jostens Trophy Award. He finished his four year playing career with a record of 107-15 and started all four years. Tyler was three times named a preseason all-american, three times earned All-ASC First Team honors and is also a former ASC East Division Freshman of the Year. He was a third team academic all-american as well.

School: Mississippi College                                                 
Sports: Cross Country / Track
Classification: Sr.
Academic Field of Study: Elementary Education
Hometown (high school):  Germantown, TN (Houston HS)

- Rachel Hardin finished a great four-year career with an ASC Championship in her final year at Mississippi College. The former ASC Cross Country champion placed second this year in the championship run. She returned in the spring as a member of the track & field team to claim an ASC Championship in the 10,000 meter run. She also finished second in the 5,000 meter run and turned in a third place finish in the 1,500 meter run. Hardin was also chosen as the ASC’s Distinguished Scholar-Athlete in track.

-Sarber was named the ASC Defensive Player of the Year and earned First Team All-Conference honors this season. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound goalkeeper collected a number of national accolades this year, including NSCAA All-Region Second Team, ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America All-District Team and D3Kicks.com All-Region First Team. He posted a conference-best seven shutouts and led the league in goals against average (0.67) and saves percentage (.869). During the season, he was named ASC Defensive Player of the Week. Sarber helped his team to the 2007 ASC regular season championship and a school-best 11-2-0 conference record. He started in all 22 matches, helping Ozarks to their eighth straight playoff appearance. For his career, he has been a two-time NSCAA All-Region player, a three-time All-Conference performer and a two-time member of the ASC All-Tournament Team. He is the career leader at Ozarks in lowest goals against average (0.81), which is also an ASC record. He ranks second in career shutouts (17) and saves (265) at Ozarks. A two-time ASC All-Academic Team member, he is one of Ozarks’ top students posting an impressive 3.8 gpa and helped Ozarks receive the NSCAA team academic award.

-Fisher was a three-sport standout and is one of the few Ozarks’ athletes to ever receive All-Conference honors in three different sports. Fisher was named the ASC East Division Women’s Tennis Player of the Year this season. She additionally earned ASC All-East Division First Team honors in tennis. She played the entire season at No. 1 singles and dropped just one conference match, posting a 4-1 singles record in league play. It is the third straight season she has been All-Conference in tennis. She earned Second Team All-Conference honors in soccer this season. During the season, she was named to the D3kicks.com Women’s Soccer Team of the Week at her midfield position. She finishes her career as a two-time All-Conference soccer player. She is the career leader at Ozarks in games played (73). During the 2007-08 basketball season, the 6-foot center earned Honorable Mention All-Conference. She won the league rebounding title with a 9.3 rebound per game average. Her freshman season, she was named to the ASC All-East Freshman Team. In her career, she has been on the ASC All-Academic Team for three years.

-Kevin was the best player on Schreiner’s baseball team this year. His ERA of 4.36, his Opponents Batting Average of .268 and his winning percentage of .444 were by far the best on the team. He was usually called on to pitch in decisive games, and threw complete game victories against Hardin-Simmons and #17 UMHB. Kevin was recognized by his team as the Team MVP as the conclusion of the season.

School: Schreiner University
Sports: Basketball
Classification: Jr.
Academic Field of Study: Exercise Science
Hometown (high school):  Corpus Christi, TX (CC Academy)

-The best player on SU’s women’s basketball team, and the only irreplaceable one.   As a guard she led the team in FG%, Rebounds, Steals, Assists, and Points, and was second in Blocked Shots. She averaged 16.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.25 assists, 3.96 steals a game. She was 1st in Assists in the conference, 2nd in Steals and 6th in scoring.   She was also 9th in 3 pt. %, while being 7th in 3 pt. Shots Made. Monica was named to the ASC All-West 2nd Team, and was voted as her Team MVP.

-Senior guard Art Gonzalez finished his career at Sul Ross State after posting a team-high 320 points per game (12.8 ppg) for 2007-08. He also led SRSU with 74 assists and 29 steals. Gonzalez also received ASC Honorable Mention following his senior campaign and was also selected as Sul Ross State University Male Athlete of the Year. Gonzalez was also active in Lobos vs. Cancer and the Reading with the Lobos, an educational program which helps promote the importance of good reading skills for Big Bend area youth.

NITRA WOODS
School: Sul Ross State University
Sport:  Basketball
Classification: Sr.
Academic Field of Study: Kinesiology
Hometown (high school):  El Paso, TX (Eastwood HS)

-Nitra Woods finished her collegiate campaign at Sul Ross as the team's leading scorer. Woods the 2007-08 season with a team-high 307 points (12.8 ppg) and 204 rebounds (8.5 rpg).

-Mark Cox has been the staff pitching ace for the UTD baseball team for the past two seasons, leading the team to the NCAA Division III West Regionals in 2007 with a 13-3 record and winning honorable mention American Southwest Conference All-East Division honors. Cox came to UTD originally as a catcher and hit .333 in nine games as a freshman. He started working his way onto the mound in the following year and then became a fulltime starter in 2007. This spring, he tossed the school’s first no-hitter against Howard Payne, then limited ASC West leader McMurry to just two hits in a six-inning appearance earlier this year. Cox has also found his way into the Comet record books numerous times, striking out 13 East Texas Baptist batters in a single game last season and recording 98 strikeouts in a season in 2007.

-Kelli Jackson is one of the most decorated student-athletes in UTD women’s soccer history. A four-year starter, Jackson was named the American Southwest Conference Freshman Defensive Player of the Year in 2005, then followed that up by being named the ASC’s Defensive Player of the Year each of her remaining three seasons. In addition, she was a four-time First Team All-ASC selection and a member of the NSCAA All-Region teams each year. During Jackson’s career, the UTD women were 57-15-8 overall and 44-4-4 in conference play. Jackson was part of a Comet defense that pitched 53 shutouts in 80 games during her career, allowing opposing teams just 3.5 shots on goal per game and an average of just 10.5 goals per season. Before a knee injury ended her senior season with four games left, Jackson had been a starter in all but one game during her four years at UTD.

-Academic All-Conference for Cross Country and Track & Field… First Team All-Conference for Cross Country and Track & Field… Won Rhodes Invitational… Won NCAA S/SE CC Regional…First Team All-Region for Cross Country… Finished 2nd in ASC CC Championships…2007 USTFCCCA S/SE Male Athlete of the Year… 2007 USTFCCCA All-Academic Honors… Qualified for NCAA National Championship Meet… Set School Record for 8K Time at Rhodes Invitational (25:39)… Finished 2nd in both 5K & 10K at ASC Track and Field Championships… ASC Distinguished Scholar Athlete for Men’s Cross Country… 2007-2008 UT Tyler Male Athlete of the Year and Student-Athlete of the Year… ASC Men’s Track & Field Distinguished Scholar Athlete and CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American.

-Academic All-Conference… First Team All-Conference… First Team All-East Division… East Division Player of the Year… Averaged 15.8 points per game, 7.6 rebounds per game, 1.3 assists per game… Shot 47.7 % from the field, 73.0 % from free throw line… Named to ASC Women’s Basketball Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Team… 2007-2008 UT Tyler Female Athlete of the Year… D3Hoops.com 3rd Team All-Region… Captain of 2007-2008 UT Tyler Women’s Basketball Team.

-A.J. Vesey was named to the NCAA Division III PING All-America Third Team and to the PING All-West Region Team. Vesey is the fifth NCAA Division III All-American for TLU men’s golf. Vesey, TLU’s 2007-08 Male Student-Athlete of the Year, was on the Jack Nicklaus Award Watch List for NCAA Division III. He posted a fourth-place finish at the 2008 American Southwest Conference Championships and led the Bulldogs to a runner-up finish at the conference tournament. Vesey finished in the Top 10 in three of the eight tournaments from the 2007-08 season, and he never placed outside the Top 20 in a tournament all year. He was the individual runner-up at the 2008 West Region Invitational. Vesey played on two teams that advanced to the NCAA Division III Men’s Golf Championships. Vesey was part of the Bulldogs’ 7th-place national finish in 2007 and the 12th-place national finish in 2006. He also was a key member of TLU’s back-to-back ASC Championships in 2006 and 2007.

- Raglon ran the opening leg on TLU's 2008 NCAA Division III National Championship 4x100 meter relay team. The Bulldogs won the national relay title (the second in school history) with a school-record and NCAA DIII season-best time of 46.42 seconds. Raglon was one of two athletes in the NCAA Division III to qualify for five events for the national championships. Raglon qualified in the 100, pole vault, long jump, triple jump and the 4x100. Along with the national title in the 4x100, she finished ninth in the nation in the pole vault. Raglon is a three-time NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field All-American, a four-time ASC All-Conference selection, a two-time 100-meter champion in the ASC, and a former pole vault and long jump champion in the ASC. She was the 2007 ASC Field Event Athlete of the Year, and she was named TLU’s Student-Athlete of the Year. Raglon is active on campus as a supplemental instructor for chemistry classes and as a TLU cheerleader.

~Biographies courtesy each member institution