Sport Clubs Awards

OUTSTANDING SCHOLAR AWARD

Caitlin Bartels

WOMEN'S WATER POLO

Caitlin has proven herself to be an outstanding athlete both in and out of the water. She has demonstrated both exceptional academic performance and athletic ability while maintaining her strong commitment to community service. She shows a genuine enthusiasm for learning and has landed herself Dean’s List acknowledgements every semester. She has devoted herself not only to the Club Women’s Water Polo team but also to a multitude of extracurriculars including the Women in Science Society, American Medical association, and the highly-competitive Palomar Health Pathmaker Internship. She is the true embodiment of an outstanding scholar athlete.

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

Men's Lacrosse

The Club Men’s Lacrosse team has exceptionally represented the SDSU Sport Club program. With a roster of over 50 members, Men’s Lacrosse proved their excellence both on and off of the field. Through hard work and dedication, they achieved the best record to start the season in program history. This year the team has an incredible start, going undefeated for their first 8 games. This is the best start to a season that SDSU Men's Lacrosse has had and is a great improvement from the team's last season. Off the field, they performed numerous acts of service throughout the community and held themselves to the highest of standards. They fostered exceptional relationships with the administration, training staff, and school staff throughout the entirety of the year.

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

Men's Lacrosse

Through the development of a culture centered around hard working, disciplined, and well rounded student-athletes, the Aztec Men’s Club Lacrosse team has made an impact on SDSU this year. The organization helps young men to create lifelong connections while playing the sport they all love. The fun environment and high standards have allowed the team to enjoy the success that they've earned in one of the toughest divisions that collegiate club lacrosse has to offer. Aside from the club lacrosse team, many members are involved in other groups/leadership on campus such as: Greek life, Armenian Student Association, Finance Investment Society and Aztec Trading, and the Fowler College of Business. From top to bottom the Aztecs men's lacrosse team is stacked with talented players that have proven that they are committed to excellence on and off the field, earning them the title of Sport Club of the Year.

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

Bryan Bome

MEN'S LACROSSE

Bryan Bome shows an extreme dedication to his players' development. He has an innate ability to identify each player's strengths and weaknesses, which enables him to create customized training programs that target their specific needs. He goes the extra mile to mentor his players and instill values such as discipline, teamwork, and perseverance. Coach Bome's leadership style is centered on creating a positive team culture that promotes excellence and a winning mentality. He emphasizes the importance of having a growth mindset and encourages his players to strive for greatness both on and off the field. Under his tutelage, the SDSU Men's Lacrosse Team has become a force to reckon with, with their performances leaving their opponents in awe. His commitment to excellence has rubbed off on his players, and they have responded by consistently delivering top-notch performances on the field.

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

Emma Duckett

WOMEN'S SOCCER

Emma has made a tremendous impact on the team since joining in 2022 and has continued to step up and take on more team responsibilities since then. Her leadership on the Women's Club Soccer Team has been a crucial factor for their success. As captain, she leads by example both on and off of the field. Her commitment to the team is evident in her consistent attendance at practices and her willingness to go above and beyond to help her teammates improve. Emma prioritizes team cohesion and creates a welcoming environment where everyone feels included and valued. On the field, Emma is seen as a role model to many players, she is a skilled individual who leads by example with her work ethic and dedication. Her positive attitude and encouragement help her teammates stay focused and motivated during games. Through Emma's leadership, the Women's Club Soccer Team has excelled.

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

Emily Keller

WOMEN'S SOCCER

Emily has demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication to the women's club soccer team. Her passion for the sport and commitment to the team have been truly remarkable. She has been a driving force behind the team's success. As the captain and president of the team, Emily has shown strong leadership skills, inspiring her teammates to give their best on and off the field. She is an excellent communicator and has a unique ability to bring the team together, ensuring that everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goal. Overall she has made the women's club soccer team a priority in her college life and has shown as her role on the team through her time spent of these efforts and resulted in ending her career with the team ranking 2nd place in league and winning 1st place in Aztec Cup (2022), 1st place in Directors Cup (2021) and 2nd place in Director's Cup (2022).

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

Joseph Thompson

MEN'S VOLLEYBALL

Joey Thompson has led the Men's Volleyball Club at SDSU for three years. He single handedly held the Men's volleyball club together through very tough years due to COVID, essentially being the sole reason the club still exists and is active today. He has diligently worked to better the club and has held multiple events throughout the school years to build relationships– whether this be with alumni or other schools in order to better our respective clubs. Not only this, but during his time as president he was able to move the team from the lowest financial tier, to the highest financial tier, supplying the team with the means necessary to compete at their highest capabilities. His involvement as president of the Men's volleyball team goes unquestioned, with further evidence that he was unanimously elected captain of the A team. Joey has proven himself to be a true leader, earning him the award of Sport Clubs Leader of the Year.

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

Kayla Walker

WOMEN'S RUGBY

Kayla's talent coupled with her phenomenal work ethic is what sets her apart from most athletes. She is a tremendous defender whose speed allows her to chase down anyone on the field. Her determination and grit have not only made her a force on the field, but have made her teammates work harder as well. Her communication skills and willingness to learn have been crucial in helping our rookies in the backline become comfortable and confident in doing what they are required to do every time they step on the field. Kayla is a selfless athlete who works hard to compete at a higher level each day while also encouraging the team to reach the highest level they can. Kayla’s contributions to the team and success on both the regional and national level have made her a truly outstanding athlete.

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