By Athletic Communications
Original article here.
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Sydney Wiese and Ryan Nall took top honors at the 19th annual Benny’s Tuesday evening at Gill Coliseum. The end-of-the-year celebration commemorated the achievements of Oregon State student-athletes over the course of the 2016-17 academic year.
Wiese earned Female Athlete of the Year honors after making the All-Pac-12 Team for the fourth-straight season. The All-American set the Pac-12 record for career 3-pointers, as well as the Oregon State record for career assists. She helped the Beavers make the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive year and earned the Senior CLASS Award for her accomplishments on and off the court.
Nall was named Male Athlete of the Year, after a season that saw him earn Pac-12 Honorable Mention in football. The running back compiled 189 all-purpose yards in the Beavers’ Civil War win, and set a rivalry record with four rushing touchdowns. Overall, Nall finished the year with 15 touchdowns, and averaged 6.5 yards per carry.
Nall’s performance helped lift the Oregon State football team to the Male Moment of the Year honor for the squad’s win over Oregon on Nov. 26. The Beavers’ Civil War win was their first since 2007, and took place in front of a sold-out crowd at Reser Stadium. Oregon State rushed for 310 yards in the contest.
Gymnast Katianna McMillan earned the Female Moment of the Year for her winning routine vs. Utah. The senior entered the final floor routine needing a 9.90 to tie the No. 4-ranked Utes, and rose to the occasion to seal the victory with a score of 9.925. The meet win marked Oregon State’s first triumph over Utah since 2013.
Baseball’s Jake Mulholland was selected as the recipient of the Joe Zaher Male Newcomer of the Year. The freshman pitcher was named Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week on April 10 after going 2-0 with a save in 10 2/3 innings of combined work vs. Utah and Portland. Mulholland leads the team with six saves, and has 37 strikeouts compared to just 10 walks.
Women’s basketball’s Mikayla Pivec was tabbed as Female Newcomer of the Year, after making the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team. She was a two-time Pac-12 Freshman of the Week, and made the Play4Kay Shootout All-Tournament Team. Overall, Pivec averaged 7.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, while making 27 starts on the year.
Gymnast Taylor Ricci won the Everyday Champions Award, which recognizes a student-athlete who embodies Oregon State’s ideals of success through academics and athletics. Ricci is a three-time Pac-12 All-Academic First Team selection, and scored a 9.825 on the floor at the Pac-12 Championships. To read more on Ricci, click here.
Swimmer Jesikah Cavanaugh was selected for the Glenn Klein Community Service Award for her leadership efforts of the Beaver Athlete Sustainability Team, while Lanesha Reagan won the Robert Byers Spirit Award for her championing of mental health awareness.
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