PRESS RELEASE – The University of Guam Triton Athletics Department had its annual Student-Athlete Reception on Monday night in the UOG Calvo Field House, where each team had four awards to give, to include the Most Valuable Player for each sport.
The event also included UOG President, Dr. Robert A. Underwood, giving a welcome to the student-athletes as well Vice President for Administration and Finance, Randell Wiegand, welcoming the student-athletes too. UOG Athletic Director, Doug Palmer, went over the Tritons accomplishments for 2017-18 and some of the challenges the program faces going forward.
The first awardee was the UOG President, who is retiring shortly from the University, but was responsible for bringing varsity athletics back to the UOG campus with his Good To Great program and has been strong supporter of the current four varsity sports. Dr. Underwood received a picture of himself holding a UOG Athletic Banner at a UOG basketball game and he also received a basketball with 2017-18, 30–0 on it, for the undefeated basketball season during 2017-18 as the Tritons went 30-0 for the academic year and won 3 basketball leagues.
Triton Athletics Super Fan, Jeff Laforteza, was awarded a latte stone glass statue for his attendance at the majority of UOG Athletic events in 2017-18.
Then the head coaches for the four varsity sports gave out 4 awards to their teams.
Winners were:
Volleyball
Most Valuable Player Sam Duenas
Best Offense Muneka Taisapic
Best Defense Jestyne Sablan
Sportsmanship Erin Duenas
Men’s Basketball
Most Valuable Player Andrew Carlos
Best Offense Ryan Nangauta
Best Defense Andrew Carlos
Sportsmanship Gio Meneses
Women’s Soccer
Most Valuable Player Ariya Cruz
Best Offense Elisha Benavente
Best Defense Koholali’i Maertens
Sportsmanship Ashley Borja
Men’s Soccer
Most Valuable Player Dylan Naputi
Best Offense Jaques Diambra
Best Defense Kautong Omengkar
Sportsmanship Derrick Cruz
The four MVPs are up for the Student-Athlete of the Year award, that will be announced on May 28th.
Photos of Dr. Robert A. Underwood, Super Fan Jeff Laforteza and Athletic Director, Doug Palmer, and the four MVPs.
Photos were taken by UOG Sports Photographer, Victor Caonsaga, 55 more pictures of the event will be released to the UOG Athletic Facebook Page later this afternoon.
Douglas W. Palmer
Athletic Director
“Triton Athletics”
University of Guam
Email – palmerd@triton.uog.edu
Office Phone – 671-735-2862
Cell Phone – 671-864-4021
Fax Number – 671-734-2170
Athletes Birthdays by W5
Feature
REMY CRUZ PASSES AWAY AT 71
Feature
REMY CRUZ PASSES AWAY AT 71
QUICK HITS
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In GRC’s first race of the year, Derek Mandell and Sharon Hawley were the first male and female finishers of the Cross Island 10-mile run Saturday morning.
