May 30, 2007
DAVIS, Calif. - Three outstanding student-athletes and three Aggie teams have been named recipients of UC Davis' annual student-athlete awards and will be presented with those honors at the Cal Aggie Athletic Hall of Fame and Student-Athlete Awards Ceremonies at Freeborn Hall on Saturday evening.
Specifically, national champion wrestler Derek Moore has been named as the 2006-07 winner of the Colby E. "Babe" Slater Award as the outstanding male athlete of the year, All-Western Water Polo Association honoree Katherine O'Rourke has been selected as the Dr. Hubert Heitman Award winner as outstanding female athlete of the year, and standout men's golfer Louie Bishop is the recipient of the W.P. Lindley Award for achievement in athletics, academics and in the community.
Additionally, the women's cross country team has been named winner of the Marya Welch Women's Academic Team Award while the men's water polo and men's swimming and diving squads are co-winners of the Lysle Leach Men's Team Award, for compiling the highest average grade-point averages.
Moore, a senior from Redding, provided one of the biggest highlights of the year when he beat top-seeded Ryan Lang of Northwestern in March to win the 141-pound wrestling title at the NCAA Division I Championships, capping a perfect 24-0 season. Moore, also the wrestling program's first Div. I All-American and the university's first Div. I national champion, was also named the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler after his dominating 17-2 technical fall win over Lang. Moore earlier claimed his second straight Pac-10 Championship and was later named the Pac-10 Wrestler of the Year. Moore, who also won the 141-pound class at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational in December, finished his career with 84 victories, second all-time at UC Davis.
O'Rourke, a senior from Solana Beach, helped lead the UC Davis women's water polo team to a 25-7 record, its most wins since 1999, and a berth in the WWPA Championship. She paced the Aggies with a career-high 57 goals while also compiling 24 steals. O'Rourke, who also drew 52 exclusions and seven five-meter fouls, was twice named the WWPA Player of the Week on her way to All-WWPA first-team honors, the third straight year O'Rourke earned all-league honors. She concluded her standout career with 154 goals, a .526 shooting percentage, 122 steals, and 150 drawn exclusions, each among the program's all-time leaders. O'Rourke, the WWPA's MVP in 2006, was also a part of 88 wins and an NCAA Tournament berth during her career.
Bishop, a senior from Murietta, excelled both on and off the golf course for UC Davis during his career and enjoyed his best season this past year. He earned individual championships at two tournaments during a three-event stretch in which he also earned a second-place finish. His 70.7 average set a school record, a mark highlighted by 12 rounds in the 60's. Bishop, who carries a 3.66 GPA in managerial economics and is a nominee for Academic All-America honors, is currently ranked 11th in the Golfstat Cup for the lowest average in collegiate golf. He was also named one of just five finalists for the prestigious Byron Nelson Award, given for outstanding golf and academic achievement as well as integrity and character. In addition to his golfing and academic accomplishments, Bishop volunteered in several community endeavors, including helping the homeless.
In addition to the presentations of the student-athlete awards, Saturday's ceremonies will feature the inductions of the newest Cal Aggie Athletic Hall of Fame enshrinees, announced earlier in the year. Alphabetically, this year's inductees comprise swimmer Tea Austin, lacrosse player Allison Stonebarger Birdwell, soccer player Peter Faeth, swimmer and water polo player Pat Foster, basketball player Danté Ross, and former volleyball coach Marlene Piper.
