Seniors Catabrean Baumann and Cameron Hunt have been named the 2018-19 Southwestern College Outstanding Student-Athletes. The awards were announced Tuesday at a ceremony in Stewart Field House.

The recognition was the 21st annual presentation of the student-athlete award given in memory of Tracy Young by Bill and Georgianna Young. Tracy was a member of the Southwestern College class of 1982. The award is presented to the senior female and male student-athletes who demonstrate exceptional performance in athletics, academics, leadership, and college and community service.

Baumann is a three-year member of the Southwestern College volleyball program.   She was a KCAC first team all-conference selection, named KCAC setter of the week twice, and guided the Moundbuilders to the KCAC playoffs and an opening round win.  She holds the school record for most assists in a season and career and is also the first player in the Southwestern College volleyball record book for attacking percentage and assists per set.  She has been on the Dean’s Honor Roll all three years at SC and has been a Daktronics Scholar-Athlete for two years. 

Hunt has been a member of the Moundbuilder basketball team for four seasons.  During his senior season, he led SC to the KCAC tournament championship and to the Round of 16 at the NAIA II national championships. Hunt was named the NAIA II National Player of the Year as well as the NABC NAIA Player of the Year.  He holds the school record for points scored in a season and career and is the all-time leader in assists for a season and career.  Hunt played in four KCAC tournament championship games and led SC to the league title in the 2017-18 season.

Other finalists for the Outstanding Student-Athlete award were Alex Ritzema, Kamy Walck, Kari Blattner, Kailee Turner, Brandon Poche, Dean Wilson, and Chase Carr.

The ceremony caps a year that included both individual and team achievement for Southwestern College athletics. Highlights from 2018-19 include:

• The men’s and women’s tennis teams claimed KCAC titles; Franco Poi was named co-player of the year, and head coach Jason Speegle was named men’s and women’s coach of the year.
• Men’s basketball won the KCAC tournament championship and advanced to the Round of 16 at the NAIA II national championships.
• Women’s cross-country finished second at the KCAC championships. Bryce Grahn, Kari Blattner, and Sydney Staples qualified to compete at the NAIA cross country national championships.
• Volleyball had the most wins in a season since 1992.  League honors were earned by Baumann, first team; Kayln Beel, second team; and Deardin Kelley, third team.
• Men’s soccer recorded the most wins in program history.  Three players, Dean Wilson, Tre Thomas, and Ram Keller, earned honorable mention all-conference.
• Dustin Rivera, offensive lineman for the Moundbuilder football team, was named to the American Football Coaches Association NAIA first team.  Teammates Keyshawn Wyatt, running back, and Grant Torgerson, linebacker, earned honorable mention.  Rivera, Wyatt, Torgerson, and kicker Alfredo Botello earned first-team all-KCAC recognition.
• Men’s golf was named the 2019 KCAC Team of Character, and Darren Reed was named to the all-conference team.
• Women’s golf finished third in the KCAC and Abby Bertholf was named to the all-conference team.
• Two baseball players earned all-league recognition: Joe Rankin, second team, and Tyler Givens, honorable mention.