May 8, 2003

LAS VEGAS - The UNLV Athletics Department hosted its annual awards banquet for its men's Olympic sports teams Wednesday 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.

Swimming and diving's Jonathan Hugo and golf's Ryan Moore are the nominees for this year's Sportsman of the Year award, which will be announced following the completion of all spring sports.

Hugo, a sophomore, was named the Mountain West Conference's Men's Swimmer of the Year this past season and was a first-team All-MWC honoree in four events (including a relay team). He also set the MWC record in the 50 Free and was the only UNLV swimmer to compete at this year's NCAA Championships.

Moore, a sophomore, is one of five finalists for the Hogan Award, which is presented annually to the nation's best male collegiate golfer. He won last year's U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, which earned him a berth as an amateur at The Masters, where he tied for 45th in April. He has also been selected to compete for the U.S. at the Palmer Cup, which features eight of America's best male collegiate golfers competing against their counterparts from Great Britain and Ireland.

Additional nominees for Sportsman of the Year may be added as the spring season continues.

2002-03 UNLV Men's Olympic Sports Awards

BaseballRookie: Matt LucaCoach's:    Garett ShitanishiM.V.P.: Fernando Valenzuela

GolfRookie: NoneCoach's:    Travis WhismanM.V.P.: Ryan Moore

RodeoRookie: Jordan AllynCoach's:    Jason RobeckM.V.P.: Galen Wilson

SoccerRookie: Rod DyachenkoCoach's:    NoneM.V.P.: Alex Hernandez

Swimming/DivingRookie: Joe BartochCoach's:    Bjorn ErikssonM.V.P.: Jon Hugo

TennisRookie: Romain MassaroCoach's:    Avi SalomonM.V.P.: Henner Nehles