Sport Clubs Awards

OUTSTANDING SCHOLAR AWARD

Summer Northrop

DANCE

Summer is the epitome of a scholar athlete. Her Dance Club competed for and won the National Hip Hop dance competition at Nationals this year for the first time in club history. Academically, she similarly strives to be head of the class. She consistently achieves a 4.0 GPA and earns a spot on the Dean’s List every semester. She also serves as a teaching assistant for an anatomy course on campus and was accepted to the Weber Honors College as a freshman. Her Dance peers and her academic instructor recommended her for this award. She maintains one of the most difficult academic schedules on campus, while contributing to one of the most successful Sport Clubs at San Diego State University.

This award is presented to the sport club athlete who has excelled in their respective sport and consistently demonstrated academic excellence along with campus involvement.

TEAM OF THE YEAR

Waterski & Wakesports

The SDSU Waterski and Wakesport Club epitomized team effort over the last year. The team worked collaboratively to purchase a brand new wakeboard boat that will offer an opportunity for club members to take an active role in expanding the wakesports side of their club. Additionally, they found success in competitions as well. The team placed second in their regional competition and moved on to a tenth place finish at nationals. They also boasted a second place finish in the team spirit award at nationals, demonstrating just how much fun the team had over the course of the year. They featured 30 new members on the team this year and a massive increase in water time as well.

This award is presented to the team who has positively represented SDSU sport clubs, has excellent sportsmanship rapport, and has succeeded in competition performance.

SPORT CLUB OF THE YEAR

Dance

Dance earns this award this year for all their consistent efforts. The team prides itself on academic success coupled with relenting practice schedules and an expectation to compete at the highest level at competitions. This year, they competed at the UDA College Dance Championships and won their first national title in the D1A Hip Hop category. They represented Aztec Recreation-Sport Clubs and San Diego State University and brought home one of the most prestigious awards in their respective sport. On top of their national success, the club is also noted for their dedication to community service with significant monetary donations to Aztecs Rock Hunger and donation of their time to local 5k runs and blood drives.

This award is presented to the sport club team who has met all the standards of the sport clubs program mission statement and continuously takes great strides to improve their sport club team.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Jason Merrill

RUGBY

His players note Jason for his positivity and taking an active role with the Rugby Club at San Diego State University. An alumnus of the program, Merrill made quite an impression on the boys in his first year of coaching this team. The players note he’s willing to help in every aspect of the club. From helping setup the alumni game to communicating transparently with the team, no task is too small for the coach of this Rugby club. Jason is often in the Sport Club offices making sure the club is meeting their requirements and his players are taking care of the administration of the club. He helps to ensure the officers can meet their deadlines, and he’s noted for being a true leader of the team.

This award is presented to a coach who has proven to be a strong leader and positive role model both on and off the field while making significant contributions towards the sport club program.

DARCY BINGHAM EMERGING LEADER OF THE YEAR

Zak Chaudhry

TRIATHLON

Zak has a reputation as a Jack-of-all-trades amongst his peers. This year, he served as a team captain for the Triathlon team. As the captain, Zak turned what is traditionally an individual sport into a team effort. He was noted for his enthusiasm and encouragement during team workouts, pushing his teammates to achieve some of the best success to date with the club. As the semester wore on, the club found themselves in need of a Treasurer. Zak took on the role without hesitation, teaching himself the necessary skills to track and implement the budgeting strategies of his club. Zak is an exemplary leader for not only his club, but the entire Sport Club program.  

This award is presented to a returning sport club athlete who has proven to be a leader by making significant contributions to their club or the sport club program on and off the field.

BOB BINGHAM TEAM LEADER OF THE YEAR

Colin Knight

WATERSKI & WAKESPORTS

Colin exemplified the term ‘Lead by Example’ during the 2019-2020 academic year. He leads a team in excess of 40 members through a course of paperwork, hosting an event in San Diego, and coordinating travel to a multitude of away tournaments. Colin managed the purchase of a new wake sports boat for the future of his team. Past and future officers for the club point to Colin as an exemplary leader in everything he does. They noted it doesn’t matter what activity he’s completing for the team, he does so with a smile and a passion for solidifying the future of the team. His peers praise him for a dedication to fostering friendships among the team and creating a family atmosphere for all to enjoy. Congratulations to Colin on being named Bob Bingham Team Leader of the Year.

This award is presented to the sport club athlete who has significantly contributed unselfishly of themselves to their respective sport club team.

BINGHAM SPORT CLUB LEADER OF THE YEAR

Natalie Hoffman

SKI & SNOWBOARD

Natalie served the Sport Clubs program in a number of ways during the 2019-2020 academic year. She served her Ski and Snowboard club of over 80 athletes as a Race Coordinator and Vice President; two jobs that would alone fill just about any student’s time. She also competed at a high level ranking in the top 10 of her discipline at Nationals in Lake Placid. Arguably however, her greatest impact to the program came as the Executive President of Sport Clubs this year. She lead Sport Club Council meetings and ensured all 21 clubs were keeping up with the IRA finance requirements and developed engagement opportunities for clubs to interact with each other on a regular basis. Her fellow club officers noted her ability to wear multiple hats and serve everyone at a high level was exceptionally commendable.

This award is presented to the sport club officer who has significantly contributed unselfishly of themselves not only to their respective sport club team, but to the sport club program as a whole.

OUTSTANDING ATHLETE AWARD

Erin Fink

WOMEN’S WATER POLO

Her coach and teammates consider Erin as the hardest working player on the women’s water polo club team. She consistently stays after practice to work on her skills and pushes the team in drills and matches. Her dedication to this club saw her play 6 years of collegiate club water polo and finish up the last of her eligibility in 2019, which spanned across an undergraduate and graduate degree program at State. She never stopped putting her maximum effort into this group and her teammates credit her efforts as a main reason they placed third at Nationals last season. There is no doubt she has earned this award, several awards from CWPA, and that third place finish over this course of her tenure at SDSU.

This award is presented to the sport club athlete who has demonstrated outstanding athletic ability and talent in their respective sport.