INDIANAPOLIS – Saint Joseph’s College men’s soccer standout
Bryan Webb and Rockhurst University softball star
Natalie Johnson have been named the recipients of the 2013 Great Lakes Valley Conference Male and Female Sportsmanship Awards, it was announced by the conference office Friday. The GLVC Sportsmanship Award is presented to one male and one female student-athlete who have distinguished themselves through demonstrated acts of sportsmanship and ethical behavior.
Nominees for the GLVC Sportsmanship Awards are presented to the conference office by each institution’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and then voted on by the panel of peers at the annual GLVC Spring Meeting in May.
Webb, a senior midfielder from Valparaiso, Ind., was honored by his fellow student-athletes for his hard-work and dedication on the field. A four-year leader for the Pumas, he started all 17 games his final year and led the team with two assists. Webb was nominated as one who exemplifies the definition of teammate by leading through his actions and caring for every member on the team while welcoming incoming players with open arms. On the field, the humble and reserved leader was lauded by his peers for going the extra mile even when he wasn’t asked, and was recognized for showing respect for the game and his opponent.
The dedicated player, who is also a two-time Academic All-GLVC honoree, recently graduated with a degree in accounting and economics.
Johnson, a senior from Lee’s Summit, Mo., adds the sportsmanship accolade to her collection having already received first-team All-GLVC West Division distinction and All-Midwest Region honors. A four-year starter, Johnson led the Hawks in eight offensive categories, including batting average (.468), hits (65), doubles (15), triples (1), home runs (11), runs scored (33), total bases (115) and slugging percentage (.827). Johnson was noted by her peers as a humble athlete who constantly showed her teammates how important they were to her by being the first to congratulate them on a good hit or play. She was also recognized for the respect she showed the coaching staff and the opposition.
An elementary education major, Johnson will graduate in December after completing her semester of student teaching, which was supposed to occur this past spring. Instead, Johnson delayed her student teaching to spend each day with her teammates and help Rockhurst to its first winning record in four years.
Webb and Johnson are just the third recipients to receive this honor and will also be the GLVC nominees for the 2013 NCAA Student-Athlete Sportsmanship Awards.
The NCAA Student-Athlete Sportsmanship Awards honors student-athletes who, through their actions in the competitive arena of intercollegiate athletics, have demonstrated one or more of the ideals of sportsmanship, including fairness, civility, honesty, unselfishness, respect and responsibility. Selections are made will be made this August by the NCAA Committee on Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct.