May 8, 2002

LAS VEGAS - The UNLV Athletics Department hosted its annual awards banquet for its men's Olympic sports teams Tuesday at the Foundation Building on campus. Student-athletes from each sport were honored for their accomplishments in their respective sports.

Rookie of the Year, Coach's and Most Valuable Player awards were presented by each sport's head coach. In addition, the nominees for the UNLV Olympic Sportsman of the Year award were announced.

Tennis' Thomas Schneiter and swimming's Jacint Simon are the nominees for this year's Sportsman of the Year award, which will be announced following the completion of all spring sports.

Schneiter is the 2002 Intercollegiate Tennis Association Mountain Region Farnsworth Senior Player of the Year after posting a 22-7 overall record that included a 15-4 mark at the No. 1 singles position. The two-time All-Mountain West Conference honoree's final campaign included a 9-2 record vs. regional opponents and an upset of the nation's top-ranked player, Al Garland of Pepperdine.

Simon is a 2002 All-Mountain West Conference First Team honoree in the 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle, 500 freestyle, 400 freestyle relay and 800 freestyle relay. He captured the conference's 200 freestyle title for the third straight year and won his third straight All-American honor in the 200 freestyle this season. Simon also was named the MWC Men's Swimmer of the Year for the third straight year.

2001-02 UNLV Men's Olympic Sports Awards

BaseballRookie:     Joe WickmanCoach's:    Eric NielsenM.V.P.:     Ryan Ruiz

GolfRookie:     Ryan MooreCoach's:    Clark CorbettM.V.P.:     Ryan Moore

RodeoRookie:     Jack VanderlansCoach's:    Jason RobeckM.V.P.:     Charles Rich

SoccerRookie:     Brendon BainCoach's:    NoneM.V.P.:     Jason Melendez

Swimming/DivingRookie:     Patrick AdamsCoach's:    Travis KummerM.V.P.:     Andrew Livingston

TennisRookie:     Aviram SalomonCoach's:    Andreas MaurerM.V.P.:     Thomas Schneiter