OSU Atheltes praised at Benny’s

“I feel under dressed,” Keith Pankey said.

He was wearing black pants and a polo shirt as the 10th annual Bennys kicked off last night. Oregon State athletes were dressed in their Sunday best and got their pictures taken as they entered. The event was hosted by Mike Parker, voice of the Beavers – who was his usual, entertaining self – opened the ceremony with an anecdote about his trip to Dutch Bros.

The Bennys is an end-of-the-year celebration commemorating the achievements of student athletes at OSU. Last night, Beaver student athletes had reason to celebrate.

They have won three of the last four Civil War series, are in the top third for All-Academic honors and are in a conference that has 10 national championships in an academic year for the sixth time.

Pat Reser got the festivities started when she was given the Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to the Beaver athletics family. She got a minute-long standing ovation from the crowd.

“To see my name attached with Oregon State, I have to catch my breath,” she said while holding back tears.

Oregon State’s football and gymnastics teams took the top honors at the LaSells Stewart Center.

Mike Riley’s football team was “well-coached,” as Brandon Hughes put it, and posted a 9-4 record in 2007. They also finished third in the Pac-10 Conference for the second consecutive year and won the fourth consecutive bowl game – 21-14 over Maryland in the Emerald Bowl.

The Beavers ended the regular season with a 38-31 double overtime victory over Oregon at Autzen Stadium.

Tanya Chaplin’s gymnastics team was honored with a Benny for a record-setting eighth time. The Beavers won the NCAA West Regional for the first time since 1992 and advanced to the NCAA Championships for the third straight year. Yuki Lamb, Jen Kesler, Jami Lanz, Tasha Smith and Mandi Rodriguez were also honored with Pac-10, Regional and National Championship accomplishments.

“This time here has proven to me what I am capable of,” Lamb said. “[There isn’t] a line I can’t cross.”

Beaver gymnast D’Anna Piro, who was elected president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, was given the Glenn Klein Community Service Benny for her work with SAAC and ASOSU to raise student fees. After accepting her award, she was excited to begin her work.

“Next year we are going to have a great SAAC.”

To which Mike responded with a grin, “You say you are going to have a great SAAC. What’s that going to look like?”

Football’s Yvenson Bernard took home the hardware as the Male Athlete of the Year. The Boca Raton, Fla., native was quick to shy away from the individual honor and wouldn’t even look up at the screen of his highlights.

“It’s a team sport,” he said.

Bernard was one of the team captains in 2007 and concluded his career as the sixth all-time leading rusher in Pac-10 history with 3,862 yards and was named the Offensive Most Valuable Player of the Emerald Bowl.

Swimming’s Saori Haruguchi captured the Female Athlete of the Year honor for the second straight year, but she was away in Japan training for the Olympics.

Haruguchi, from Fukuoka, Japan, earned All-American honors for the third consecutive season and was the Beavers’ first-ever champion in the sport, capturing the 200-meter butterfly. She also captured the Female Performance of the Year honor.

Freshman receiver James Rodgers and relief pitcher Kevin Rhoderick shared the Male Newcomer of the Year award. Rodgers scored four touchdowns over the last three games of the season, including the game winner in double overtime at Oregon. Rhoderick led the conference for saves during the regular season with 12 and was a candidate for the national relief pitcher of the year award.

Jen Kesler from the gymnastics team received the Female Newcomer of the Year award. The Kenmore, Wash., native earned an NCAA West Regional title and All-American honors in the uneven bars.

Riley captured his first Male Sports Coach of the Year. Before the interview on stage with Parker could even begin, he jumped in and mentioned that James Rodgers stole his suit.

Chaplin won Female Sports Coach of the Year for a record fifth time.

The Male Performance of the Year award was presented to the football team’s defense in its goal-line stand against No. 2 California at Berkeley.

The Robert Byers Spirit Award was presented to men’s rower Will Gustafson. Gustafson is a member of the Oregon National Guard and returned to campus after a tour of duty in Iraq. He has also earned numerous honors for his achievements academically.

Bennys were also presented to All-Americans and Pac-10 Conference champions Roy Schuening (football), Jen Kesler (gymnastics), Yuki Lamb (gymnastics), Jami Lanz (gymnastics), Tasha Smith (gymnastics), Saori Haruguchi (swimming), Kyle Bressler (wrestling) and Travis Gardner (wrestling).

Scholar athletes were also recognized with Bennys – Andy Darkins (football), Jessi Gebhardt (golf), Clayton Moe (golf), Keegan Fitzgerald (gymnastics), Yuki Lamb (gymnastics), Rebecca Franceschi (rowing) James Fulmer (rowing), Jeff Halleck (rowing), Claire Hanway (rowing), Erin Postma (rowing), Holly Simmons (rowing), Kaylie Towne (rowing), Justin Wagner (rowing), Brett Gardner (soccer), Whitney Goodell (soccer), Jessica Sadusky (soccer), Mia Longfellow (softball), Felicia Castaneda (swimming), Dena Lougee (swimming), Julie McCauley (swimming), Lauren Denfeld (track/cross country), Kristin Murray (volleyball) and Andy Hall (wrestling).