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| Clockwise from top: Florida Tech
competes in 15 sports; Bill Jurgens
with Jessica Mirda, Female Scholar-Athlete
of the Year; Jurgens awards Bubba DiFabio
one of two Panther Leadership Awards;
Jurgens and Alexis Lelekis, recipient
of the other Leadership Award. |
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The
2005 academic year began with the fury
of hurricanes, but ended with a flurry
of awards for deserving Florida Tech student-athletes. Leading the charge was
Mississauga, Canada-native, Jonathan Baksh.
The sophomore baseball
standout earned a trio of honors for
his exploits on the field, including the
Sunshine
State Conference (SSC) Player of the
Year Award, First Team All-Region honors
and
a spot on the third team of the National
Collegiate Baseball Writers Association
All-American team. Baksh is the first Panther
to earn
the SSC Player of the Year Award since
1999.
Florida Tech Baseball
Coach Paul Knight said the university is
proud of
Baksh’s
accomplishments.
“John had a great
year. He deserves the recognition he is
getting. His numbers
were outstanding, hitting nearly
.500 in the conference games. He’s
a great outfielder, as well. He’s
a great student and team leader. He’s
mild-mannered and well-spoken. He’s
simply a great representative of his team,
school and
family.”
On the other diamond,
the Panther softball team finished
33-15 on the
season.
Along the way, head coach Nancy
Bottge earned
her 500th career victory. Florida
Tech athletics director Bill Jurgens
called
reaching the milestone a signature
achievement.
“It’s a great
accomplishment for a coach that has dedicated
her life to college
softball and for the young women
who play the game,” said Jurgens.
Another
head coach earning honors was women’s
rowing coach Casey Baker, who
was named the Dad Vail Regatta Coach of
the Year.
Baker’s rowers finished
the year fourth in the nation.
“It was a gratifying
season, the culmination of a lot of hard
work by these young women,” said
Baker. “I am proud
of their accomplishments
and humbled by the award
I was given at
Dad Vail.”
Finally this
year, four Florida Tech
student athletes were
recognized for their accomplishments
outside the lines. Senior
volleyball player Jessica
Mirda and senior
men’s rower
Steve Plunkett earned the
prestigious Female and
Male Scholar-Athlete of
the Year
awards.
Mirda graduated with honors
in psychology, while Plunkett
distinguished himself as
a top student by earning
a degree in aerospace engineering
with a concentration in
flight.
Also recognized
at year’s end were
senior golfer Alexis
Lelekis and senior baseball
player
Bubba DiFabio. Both received
the inaugural Florida
Tech Panther Leadership
Awards.
Jurgens said the
awards
were one part of a
new foundation
in leadership.
“I believe that
it’s important to
express leadership qualities in college
athletics. We’re doing two things
to stress this emphasis. First, we’re
starting a series of leadership speakers
for athletics. Second, we’re recognizing
student leaders through this award,” said
Jurgens. “Both of our award winners
have made great contributions as members
of our student-athlete advisory committee.
I really enjoyed working with them this
past year. Bubba provided great suggestions
for improving student support at athletic
events. Alexis provided great leadership
for our advisory committee.”
Christa
Parulis-Kaye |
