SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – On Monday night, Cal State San Bernardino Athletics celebrated the accomplishments of the student-athletes from the university's ten athletics programs in the inaugural "SB's".
"What makes CSUSB Athletics such a special place are the people and the energy and in the room was phenomenal! Last night was truly a showcase of the 2022-23 amazing individual and team achievements and, as I remarked last night, a tribute to what can be accomplished when people "keep showing up", for themselves and each other. The SB's were a perfect display of the power of our teamwork, resiliency, and commitment…resulting in CHAMPION excellence!" – Dr. Chelsea Herman
The SB's Live Stream
(Ceremony begins at 1:18:00)
Ten student-athletes were honored with special awards for their performances in competition, in the training room, and in the classroom.
Iron Yote
Brand-new to CSUSB this year was the Iron Yote award, which recognizes the hard work and dedication to their health, wellness, recovery, and the commitment it takes to excel as an NCAA student-athlete.
Women's – Kaleigh Giannone, Women's Track & Field
Men's – LeAndrew Knight, Men's Basketball
Pup of the Year
Women's – Abbey Clarke, Volleyball
Clarke played in 85 sets for the Yotes this season, recording 105 digs. She served the game-winning ace to seal the victory in the incredible come-from-behind win against San Francisco State on Senior Day. Clarke also recorded season-high 11 digs vs Cal Poly Pomona on October 7th.
Men's – Diego Reyes, Men's Soccer
Reyes started in 14 games for the Yotes this past fall, ranking third on the team with 1,255 minutes played. He also played all 90 minutes in 9 consecutive games.
Newcomer of the Year
Women's – Hailey Hunt, Track & Field
Hunt has been one of the top performers for track & field this spring, including being part of both the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams that set NCAA provisional marks. At the CCAA championships, she finished second in the 100 meter and 6th in the 200 meter.
Men's – Mahmoud Fofana, Men's Basketball
Fofana was a key piece in the Yotes' Final Four run in March, including a double-double in their Elite Eight game against Lincoln Memorial to help them advance to the Final Four. Fofana ranked first on the team in blocks and third on the team in rebounds, while averaging 9 points and six rebounds per game.
Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Women's – Carly Luna, Women's Soccer
Luna has a 4.0 GPA while finishing her Masters in English and Writing. She was also the starting goalkeeper for the women's soccer team, and was named CCAA Defensive Player of the Week. She also recorded 7 shutouts this past season, finishing with 14 in her career to rank third in program history.
Men's – Jacob Calderon, Men's Golf
Calderon carries a 3.75 GPA while working toward his Master's in Career Technology. Calderon was named CCAA Golfer of the Week earlier this spring after shooting two under par in the Fujikura Invitational.
Student-Athlete of the Year
Women's – Tereise Tosi, Softball
Tosi has been a dominant force in the Yotes' lineup this season, leading them to their 5th NCAA Tournament while also being top 10 in the CCAA in nearly every offensive category. She was named CCAA Player of the Week twice, while also being named First Team All-CCAA. Tosi is currently batting .395 with 10 home runs.
Men's – Brandon Knapper, Men's Basketball
Knapper is the third back-to-back All-American in men's basketball history. In the Elite Eight game, Knapper broke the all-time 3 point record. He followed that up by making 8 more in the Final Four game. Knapper was also named West Regional Most Outstanding Player, CCAA Player of the Week, First Team All-CCAA, CCAA Tournament MVP, and Bevo Francis Top 25 watchlist for best player in all of D2, D3, and NAIA.
We would like to take a moment to recognize the SB's committee, responsible for the coordination and execution of the event. This includes Dr. Chelsea Herman, Jalyn Hayes, Maddy Luna, Alex Kline, Kelcie Tolan, Priscilla Brooks, Nicole McDonald, Kaelyn Blackwell, Mason Roach, and the voice of the event, Mike Wexler.
Congratulations to all of the seniors and we thank them for their contributions while attending CSUSB. They will always be part of the Yotes family.
#10TEAMSONEPACK
