BILLINGS, Mont. – The Seventh Annual Buzzie Awards presented by the Montana State University Billings department of intercollegiate athletics featured a baseball theme Wednesday night at Petro Theater.
The Yellowjacket baseball took home a number of major awards, including being picked as the 2019 Team of the Year. MSUB is currently in first place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings, at 22-18 overall and 22-10 in conference play. The 'Jackets look to defend their 2018 GNAC regular-season title, and win their fourth championship in the last five seasons overall.
MSUB baseball head coach
Aaron Sutton was named the Coach of the Year, and senior right-hander
Steen Fredrickson was selected as the Male Athlete of the Year. Other major awards claimed by the baseball team included Newcomer of the Year
Daniel Cipriano, Breakout Player of the Year
Landon Peterson, and the Career Achievement Award presented to senior
Jalen Garcia. Right-handed pitcher
Jarrod Molnaa also received the award for Game/Event of the Year, for his 9-inning, three-hit shutout against Saint Martin's University on March 24.
Baseball senior Steen Fredrickson received the 2018-19 Male Athlete of the Year award.
Women's golf senior Shealyn Hafer was selected as the 2018-19 Female Athlete of the Year, after leading the Yellowjacket women's golf team and ranking in the top-10 in the GNAC throughout her final collegiate season.
Women's golf senior Shealyn Hafer was named the 2018-19 Female Athlete of the Year.
After earning the 2018-19 GNAC Freshman of the Year award, Brendan Howard of the men's basketball team received the department's Freshman of the Year award as well. Teammate Tyler Green was named the Comeback Player of the Year, after sustaining significant injuries in 2017-18 and coming back with a second-team all-GNAC campaign as a junior this year.
Freshman Alyssa Etheridge of the softball team, who threw the first no-hitter in school history on March 8 against Saint Martin's University, received the award for the Moment/Play of the Year. Jordan Devoto of MSUB's women's soccer team was the 2018-19 Scholar Athlete of the Year, as she will complete her degree in health and wellness with a 3.97 grade point average.
Dr. Scott Harris, who is retiring after 15 years as the faculty athletic representative, was honored with the Yellowjacket Award for Service commemorating his dedication to Yellowjacket Athletics.
A full listing of the 2019 Buzzie Award winners is listed below.
Female Athlete of the Year
Shealyn Hafer, Women's Golf
Male Athlete of the Year
Steen Fredrickson, Baseball
Freshman of the Year
Brendan Howard, Men's Basketball
Newcomer of the Year
Daniel Cipriano, Baseball
Breakout Player of the Year
Landon Peterson, Baseball
Comeback Player of the Year
Tyler Green, Men's Basketball
Game/Event of the Year
Baseball –
Jarrod Molnaa threw the first 9-inning shutout in the GNAC this season (March 24, 2019)
Moment/Play of the Year
Softball –
Alyssa Etheridge threw the first no-hitter in school history against Saint Martin's (March 8, 2019)
Yellowjacket Award For Service
Dr. Scott Harris
Male Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Member of the Year
Kyle McLaughlin
Female Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Member of the Year
Abbie Lohof
Student Support Workers of the Year
Brittney Hutchinson
Shi Robison
Fan of the Year
Harrison Faulk
Cheerleader of the Year
Jessica Gapay
Individual Team Player of the Year Awards
Baseball
Matt Dillon
Men's Basketball
Tyler Green
Men's Cross Country
Ivan Colmenero
Men's Golf
Garrett Woodin
Men's Soccer
Guillaume Kremer
Men's Track & Field
Isaiah Girard
Softball
Madison Kelly
Volleyball
Maddi Vigil
Women's Basketball
Hannah Collins
Women's Cross Country
Nikki Aiken
Women's Golf
Shealyn Hafer
Women's Soccer
Amanda Hemmen
Women's Track & Field
Shaniah Schwend
