DENVER - Nevada junior Nick Fazekas and Hawai‘i junior Kanoe Kamana'o have been named the recipients of the 2005-06 Joe Kearney Award for the Western Athletic Conference. Fazekas becomes the second Nevada basketball player to win the award. Kirk Snyder brought home the award in 2003. Kamana'o is the second Rainbow Wahine volleyball player to win the award, with Kim Willoughby taking the 2003 and 2004 honors. Named in honor of former WAC commissioner Joe Kearney, the awards are given annually to the top male and female WAC athlete. The WAC Athletics Directors select the male award winner, while the WAC Senior Woman Administrators choose the female honoree.
Click here for printable version of the 2006 Kearney Award.
Fazekas, a junior from Arvada, Colo., is a two-time WAC Player of the Year in basketball. He has helped the Wolf Pack to WAC Championships and NCAA Tournament appearances in each of his three seasons, including a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2004. Fazekas earned All-America honors from the Associated Press in each of the last two seasons, including a third-team nod in 2006 and honorable mention in 2005. He is the school career blocked shots leader with 144 and stands second in career scoring 1,812 points.
During the 2005-06 basketball season, Fazekas was named a first-team all-WAC selection for the second-straight year. He was one of 22 players on the final ballot for the Wooden Award and a finalist for the Adolph Rupp Award. Fazekas was also named the Player of the Year for District VIII by the US Basketball Writers.
“Nick Fazekas is most deserving of the Kearney award for several reasons,†said Nevada head coach Mark Fox. “As the most recognized and awarded athlete in the conference, he has carried himself with great class both on and off the basketball floor. He is a very successful student and excellent ambassador for Nevada and the WAC.â€
Kamana'o, a junior from Honolulu, is a three time American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American, including a first-team nod in 2004. She is a three-time first-team all-WAC member and the WAC Player of the Year for 2004 and 2005. In 2005, she posted the second-best assists-per-game average in school history at 13.85. She is the only player in the country to average more than 13.5 assists, 2.5 digs and one block per game in each of the last two seasons.
In her Rainbow Wahine career, Kamana'o she is the leader in assists with 4,955 and assists-per-game at 13.73. Her career started strong and has continued, as she was named the 2003 AVCA Freshman of the Year, posting the second-highest single-season assist total in school history at 1,683.
“Kanoe Kamana'o is Hawai‘i's most accomplished setter in the history of its program,†stated Marylin Moniz-Kaho'ohanohano, Hawai‘i's Senior Woman Administrator. “Her work ethic, dedication and talent have been an inspiration to the youth volleyball players who dream to be like Kanoe. Her demeanor on the court and her sense of play glues the team together and provides a level of play with our quick offense that is exciting for our fans.â€
2005-06 Joe Kearney Award Nominees
MEN
Mattias Jons, Boise State-Track and Field
Christian Vitters, Fresno State-Baseball
Steven Wright, Hawai‘i-Baseball
Russ Winger, Idaho-Track and Field
Paul Millsap, Louisiana Tech-Basketball
Nick Fazekas, Nevada-Basketball
Danny Bowen, New Mexico State-Golf
Mobin Ghoury, San Jose State-Cross Country
Trever Ball, Utah State-Cross Country/Track and Field
WOMEN
Eleni Kafourou, Boise State-Track and Field
Katharina Winterhalter, Fresno State-Tennis
Kanoe Kamana'o, Hawai‘i-Volleyball
Dee Olson, Idaho-Cross Country/Track and Field
Donesha Spivey, Louisiana Tech-Track and Field
Salaia Salave'a, Nevada-Volleyball
Jackie Choi, New Mexico State-Volleyball
Brie Marhenke, San Jose State-Swimming and Diving
Zuzana Cernianska, Utah State-Volleyball
Previous Kearney Award Winners
MEN
2005-06 Nick Fazekas, Nevada-Basketball
2004-05 Gabriel Wallin, Boise State-Track and Field
2003-04 Kirk Snyder, Nevada-Basketball
2002-03 Nick Watney, Fresno State-Golf
2001-02 David Carr, Fresno State-Football
2000-01 LaDainian Tomlinson, TCU-Football
1999-00 Courtney Alexander, Fresno State-Basketball
1998-99 Andre Miller, Utah-Basketball
1997-98 Lars Frolander, SMU-Swimming
1996-97 Keith Van Horn, Utah-Basketball
1995-96 Keith Van Horn, Utah-Basketball
1994-95 Stoney Case, New Mexico-Football
1993-94 Marshall Faulk, San Diego State-Football
1992-93 Marshall Faulk, San Diego State-Football
1991-92 Carlton McDonald, Air Force-Football
WOMEN
2005-06 Kanoe Kamana'o, Hawai‘i-Volleyball
2004-05 Jamie Southern, Fresno State-Softball
2003-04 Kim Willoughby, Hawai‘i-Volleyball
2002-03 Kim Willoughby, Hawai‘i-Volleyball/Basketball
2001-02 Stacy Prammanasudh, Tulsa-Golf
2000-01 Florence Ezeh, SMU-Track and Field
1999-00 Amanda Scott, Fresno State-Softball
1998-99 Martina Moravcova, SMU-Swimming
1997-98 Amanda Scott, Fresno State-Softball
1996-97 Martina Moravcova, SMU-Swimming
1995-96 Nina Lindenberg, Fresno State-Softball
1994-95 Suzanne Metz, Utah-Gymnastics
1993-94 Amy Van Dyken, Colorado State-Swimming
1992-93 Mikki Kane-Barton, Utah-Basketball/Volleyball
1991-92 Anu Kalijurand, Brigham Young