The PACWEST conference announced the winners of their Academic Excellence awards today, with five College of the Rockies Avalanche athletes receiving the honour.
This award, which was first introduced in the 1992-93 athletic season recognizes student-athletes who have achieved Honours Standing or equivalent at their institution.
The captain of the men’s team, Spencer Janzen, met the criteria in order to receive the honour and was joined by Alexa Koshman, Taylor Forster, MacKenzie Morey, and Miranda Myndio from the women’s team, who were also award winners.
The Avs’ contingency was part of a 48 person PACWEST Academic Excellence class for the season, which included athletes from not only volleyball but also basketball, soccer, golf, and badminton.
Women’s team coach John Swanson lauded his athletes after finishing fourth at the Provincial Tournament in February for being “outstanding people” and discussed their commitment to academics as a key part of their character.
“They’re incredibly diligent academically as students,” Swanson told the Townsman on February 27. “We pride ourselves [at] College of the Rockies on being student-athletes [with] ‘student’ coming first.”
The Avs’ Academic Excellence award-winners are mostly composed of players who will not be returning next year, with Alexa Koshman being the only one who is expected to continue being a part of the COTR volleyball program next season.
