35 Grizzly student-athletes earn their degrees in 2013
5/21/2013 12:00:00 AM | General
May 21, 2013
They came from eight different states and all but one of them are from the Northwest, and they all accomplished the same goal - earning a college degree.
"They" are the 35 student-athletes at the University of Montana who recently earned their degrees, many of whom participated in the graduation ceremonies that took place on UM's campus last Saturday, May 18.
Several of those graduates gathered in the Canyon Club in Washington-Grizzly Stadium this past Thursday (May 16), to receive their senior gifts - a Grizzly watch.
The athletes pictured in the home page photo: Back row from left to right: Cody Blum, Jake Hendrickson, Brett Brauer, Paige Branstiter, Josh Stuberg, Olivia Weber, Josh Harris, Mathias Ward. Middle row from left to right: Nathan Klug, Mike McCord, Peter Nguyen, Lauren Costa, Kristen Hoon, Lauren McCreath, Kenzie De Boer, Ali Hurley, Alyssa Smith, Katie Baker. Front row from left to right: Kate Wilkins, Rebekah Collins, Brittany Schroeder, Kiandra Rajala.
Not pictured: Heather Davidson, Bobbi Furrer, Charles Burton, Bryce Carver, Sam Gratton, Greg Hardy, Blake Lebeau, Dan Moore, Aaron Roberts, Caleb Walden, Will Cherry, Michael Facey, Andrew Warren. Those recent UM graduates came to Missoula from the states of Arizona (3), California (6), Idaho (5), Ohio (1), Montana (11), Oregon (2), Washington (6), and Wyoming (1).
A list of those graduates, with majors, hometowns, and a short bio:
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Katie Baker - Health and Human Performance, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho: The 2013 Big Sky MVP as a senior ... Three-times named first-team All-Big Sky Conference ... A four-time Academic All-Big Sky Conference selection ... Scored 1,427 points, the fifth-most in program history.
Kenzie De Boer - Communications, Lynden, Wash.: First-team All-Big Sky as a senior ... Finished career with 1,270 points to rank No. 12 in program history ... A four-time Academic All-Big Sky selection.
Ali Hurley - Sociology, Anaconda: A five-year member of the Lady Griz basketball program ... Played in 116 career games and two NCAA tournaments ... Accepted to Montana's School of Law.
Alyssa Smith - Health and Human Performance, Monroe, Wash.: Played in 124 career games, the second-most in program history ... Twice voted the team's most inspirational player, once the team's top defensive player ... A four-time Academic All-Big Sky selection.
SOCCER
Lauren Costa - Accounting, Missoula: The Big Sky Conference Defensive MVP as a senior ... A two-time first-team All-Big Sky performer ... Four times voted the team's Most Outstanding Defensive Player ... A four-time Academic All-Big Sky selection.
Kristen Hoon - Biology, Corona, Calif.: Honorable-mention All-Big Sky pick as a senior ... Ten shutouts in 2012 set a new program record ... A two-time Academic All-Big Sky Conference selection.
Lauren McCreath - Biology, Boise, Idaho: The team's co-captain as a junior and senior ... Second-team All-Big Sky Conference as a senior ... A two-time Academic All-Big Sky selection.
Kate Wilkins - Marketing, Eugene, Ore.: A five-year member of the Montana soccer program ... Academic All-Big Sky, and honorable-mention All-Big Sky Conference as a senior.
VOLLEYBALL
Paige Branstiter - Health and Human Performance, Nyssa, Ore.: A five-year member of the Montana volleyball program ... Played in 94 career matches ... Named to the Montana Invitational all-tournament team as a senior.
WOMEN'S GOLF
Olivia Weber - Philosophy, Idaho Falls, Idaho: A two-time second-team All-Big Sky performer ... Finished career with a stroke average of 77.8, the second-lowest in program history ... Tied for fifth at the Big Sky championship as a senior...received Grizzly Cup for UM's 2012-13 Female Athlete of the Year.
WOMEN'S TENNIS
Heather Davidson - Marketing, Rocklin, Calif.: Three times voted first-team All-Big Sky - only the second player to accomplish that feat in program history ... Finished career with 73 singles wins and 73 doubles victories ... A four-time Academic All-Big Sky selection.
WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY/TRACK
Emily Eickholt - Pharmacy, Laurelville, Ohio: Holds four Montana records, one individual and three as part of relays ... A two-time Big Sky outdoor champion in the relays ... Competed at eight Big Sky track and field championships and one cross country championship.
Bobbi Furrer - Psychology, Missoula: A four-year member of the Grizzly track team ... Also competed one season in cross country.
Kiandra Rajala - Recreation Management, Clinton: The Montana record holder in the hammer throw ... Competed at five Big Sky indoor and outdoor championships, with a career-best fifth-place finish in the hammer at the 2012 outdoor championships ... An eight-time Academic All-Big Sky selection.
Brittany Schroeder - Health and Human Performance, Gig Harbor, Wash.: A one-time Big Sky champion in the relays ... Two times an All-Big Sky Conference relay performer ... An eight-time Academic All-Big Sky selection.
FOOTBALL
Brett Brauer - Communications, Missoula: Excelled as UM's snapper for field goals and PATs his junior and senior years...A two-year letterman.
Charles Burton - Sociology, Long Beach, Calif.: A four-year letterman and started his junior and senior (2011) seasons at offensive right tackle...Honorable mention All-Big Sky selection twice.
Bryce Carver - Management, Dillon: A wide receiver who played in 34 career games...Career-wise he had 34 catches for 620 yards and 9 touchdowns...A four-year letterman.
Sam Gratton - Marketing, Billings: Three-year starter at wide receiver...Played in 50 career games (36 starts)...Ranked 19th in school history in career receptions (121) and 26th in career receiving yards (1,423)...Honorable mention all-league as a junior and senior...Four-time all-league academic team pick.
Greg Hardy - History, Fairview: A three-year starter...Played in 46 career games with 36 starts...A two-time first team All-Big Sky pick...Career-wise he had 68 catches for 648 yards.
Josh Harris - Sociology, Kalispell: Played in 39 career games and had 81 tackles, including 19 stops for losses...all-league pick as a senior...named to the Division I All-District academic team....a three-time all-league academic team pick.
Jake Hendrickson - Psychology, Gilbert, Ariz.: Started all 11 games as a senior at left guard as a senior, and was the co-recipient of UM's Paul Weskamp Award (Outstanding Offensive Lineman).
Blake Lebeau - Communications, Union City, Calif.: A promising offensive lineman, but was unable to play his last few seasons at UM due to an injury...Earned a letter in 2009.
Mike McCord - Psychology, Phoenix, Ariz.: A two-year starter at safety...Played in 52 career games and had 139 tackles...Had a key interception in a 17-14 home win over Eastern Washington his senior year (2011).
Dan Moore - Sociology, Tucson, Ariz.: A fullback/halfback who played in 38 career games...Rushed for 924 yards and 12 touchdowns in his career...A team co-captain in special teams his senior year.
Peter Nguyen - Management, Seattle, Wash.: Three-year starter...Ranked sixth in career rushing yards (1,985) and kickoff return yards (1,325), and seventh in punt return yards (561)...UM's Steve Carlson Award (MVP) winner as a senior...Four-time all-league selection, and named to the Big Sky's all-academic team four times.
Aaron Roberts - Finance, Spokane, Wash.: An outstanding prospect at wide receiver and as a return specialist, but never able to play because of several injuries.
Josh Stuberg - Management Information Systems, Helena: A four-year letterman at linebacker who played in 46 career games and had 104 career tackles.
Caleb Walden - Sociology, Boise, Idaho: Outstanding special teams player and UM's co-captain in that area as a senior....Played in 25 career games.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Will Cherry - Communications, Oakland, Calif.: Started in a school-record 104 games...UM's all-time leader in career steals (265), and ranked fourth in career assists (397) and seventh in career scoring (1,484)...First team all-league three times...Big Sky's Defensive Player of the Year as a junior and senior.
Mathias Ward - Master's Accounting, Gig Harbor, Wash.: Played in 118 career games...Two-time all-league, and All-District pick as a senior...A Division I Academic All-American...Three-time all-league academic team selection...2012-13 Grizzly Cup recipient -- UM's Male Athlete of the Year.
MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY/TRACK
Nathan Klug - Management, Columbia Falls: Qualified for four Big Sky Conference outdoor championships in the hammer ... Twice finished fifth ... A one-time Academic All-Big Sky Conference selection.
MEN'S TENNIS
Cody Blum - Journalism, Jackson, Wyoming: A two-year member of the men's tennis team ... Played four career singles matches, eight career doubles matches.
Michael Facey - Accounting, Cameron Park, Calif.: First-team All-Big Sky Conference as a junior ... Won 50 career singles matches, 36 in doubles ... A four-time Academic All-Big Sky Conference selection.
Andrew Warren - Management Information Systems, Idaho Falls, Idaho: A 2013 first-team All-Big Sky performer ... Went 7-3 in singles and 9-0 in doubles in Big Sky matches ... A key member of the Grizzlies' 2012 team that won the program's first Big Sky regular-season championship....Has one season of eligibility remaining.
Players Mentioned
