Female Athlete of the Year: Danielle Lemek (Golf)
A six time Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) golfer of the week in the 2014-2015 season, Lemek has furthered her decorated Bradley career. She currently stands atop the MVC in the women’s golf leaderboards, was named MVC golfer of the year and to the All-MVC team for the second straight year. The junior finished the 2014-2015 season with seven top-10 finishes and a 74.28 round average.
Male Athlete of the Year: Elliot Ashbeck (Baseball)
Ashbeck is a unique player as he both pitches and serves as the designated hitter for the Braves’. His production in both parts of the game have him listed on the John Olerud watch list as the top two-way player of the year in all of college baseball.
Ashbeck is the ace of the Bradley pitching staff and, when he’s not pitching, he fills the cleanup spot in the Braves order. He looks to improve on his 8-3 record and .289 average the rest of the season as the Braves battle for an NCAA tournament bid.
Team of the Year: Women’s XC
Under the guidance of MVC cross country coach of the year Willy Wood, three All-Conference runners and MVC cross country athlete of the year Caitlin Busch, the women’s cross country team took the MVC title in November 2014.
The Braves dominated in the MVC title meet by having their top five placing runners take first, fourth, fifth, eleventh and eighteenth and recording 39 points to soundly beat the competition.
This MVC title was the first outright cross country championship won by the women’s team in Bradley history.
Newcomer of the Year: Michael Ward (Men’s track and XC
A relatively quiet burst onto the Bradley athletics community, Ward has already made his mark known on the Hilltop.
Ward, who hails from Cardiff, South Wales, has etched his name into the Bradley track and field and cross country record book by setting four individual school track and field records, and by being named MVC cross country freshman of the year.
Coach of the Year: Matt Tyler
The last three years, Bradley women’s tennis team has culminated a 20-73 record in the past four years. In this, his second season, Matt Tyler has won half of those games in the best season Bradley women’s tennis has had in almost 20 years.
During his short tenure, Tyler has coached the first All-MVC tennis player at Bradley in Ariel Dechter, and the best tennis team since the 1993-1994 season.
The Mesa State College graduate has three leaving seniors from this past season, and commands a young team which will have five returning starters.
