May 21, 2002

PROVO, Utah - The Mountain West Conference announced its 2002 baseball all-conference teams and postseason awards on Tuesday night as selected by the league's head coaches. Utah pitcher Mitch Maio and BYU first baseman Dave Jensen shared Player of the Year honors, while UNLV left fielder Joe Wickman was named Freshman of the Year. Air Force skipper Reed Peters was selected as Coach of the Year.

Wickman, a 6-0, 195-pound outfielder, posted a league-record .490 batting average in his debut with the Rebels. He has the league's longest current hitting streak at 18 games and notched the MWC's best on-base percentage at .584, reaching base with 48 hits and 21 walks. He also earned a spot on the first team all-conference squad.

UNLV begins conference tournament play on Wednesday afternoon with Utah at 2 p.m.

2002 All-Mountain West Conference Baseball Team

First TeamPosition        Name              Team   Ht.   Wt.   Yr.   Hometown/Previous SchoolCatcher         Brian Manfred     SDSU   6-2   215   Sr.   Newark, Calif./Newark Memorial HS First Base      Dave Jensen       BYU    6-3   205   So.   Henderson, Nev./Green Valley HSSecond Base    *Troy Cairns       UNM    6-0   160   Jr.   Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs HSShortstop      *Taber Lee         SDSU   6-1   185   Jr.   Olympia, Wash./Capital HSThird Base      Bowie Frost       AFA    6-2   205   Jr.   Lamar, Colo./Lamar HSOutfield        Joe Wickman       UNLV   6-0   195   Fr.   Las Vegas, Nev./Silverado HSOutfield       *Matt Carson       BYU    6-2   195   Jr.   Yucaipa, Calif./Yucaipa HSOutfield        Matt Young        UNM    5-8   170   Fr.   Murphy, Texas/Plano East HSDH              Cameron Coughlan  BYU    5-11  175   Jr.   Malibu, Calif./Malibu HSPitcher         Mitch Maio        Utah   6-0   180   Sr.   Salt Lake City, Utah/Brighton HSPitcher         Chris Dunwell     SDSU   6-1   195   Jr.   El Cajon, Calif./Granite Hills HSPitcher         Rory Shortell     SDSU   6-3   215   Jr.   Portland, Ore./James Madison HSRelief Pitcher *Royce Ring        SDSU   6-0   215   Jr.   San Diego, Calif./Monte Vista HS
Second TeamPosition        Name              Team   Ht.   Wt.   Yr.   Hometown/Previous SchoolCatcher         Donald Hawes      Utah   5-11  180   Sr.   Trementon, Utah/Bear River HSFirst Base     *Nate Weese        Utah   6-0   195   Sr.   Bountiful, Utah/Bountiful HSSecond Base     Adam Castleton    Utah   5-8   175   Sr.   Midvale, Utah/Hillcrest HSShortstop       Dusty Young       UNM    5-11  168   Jr.   Albuquerque, N.M./Manzano HSThird Base     *Mike Westfall     Utah   6-2   190   So.   Scottsdale, Ariz./Horizon HSOutfield       *Doug Jackson      BYU    5-7   155   Jr.   Kailua, Hawai'i/Iolani HSOutfield        Jake McLintock    SDSU   6-1   190   Fr.   Bonita, Calif./Bonita Vista HSOutfield        Josh Phifer       AFA    6-1   205   Jr.   Torrington, Wyo./Torrington HSDH              Todd Stroud       UNM    6-0   210   Fr.   Weatherford, Texas/Weatherford HS Pitcher         Jeff Mousser      BYU    6-2   215   So.   Tempe, Ariz./Marcos de Niza HSPitcher         Matt Kaercher     AFA    6-3   200   Sr.   Billings, Mont./Billings West HSPitcher         James Vermilyea   UNM    6-4   190   So.   Tucson, Ariz./Sabino HSRelief Pitcher  Tyler Dabo        BYU    6-2   180   Jr.   Hollister, Calif./Dixie JC)

Co-Players of the Year: Mitch Maio, Utah and Dave Jensen, BYU
Freshman of the Year: Joe Wickman, UNLV
Coach of the Year: Reed Peters, Air Force

*2001 All-MWC selection