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Historical first. At barely 19 years of age, Jessica Pixler’s best years lie ahead. Yet the eight months Pixler (Fr., Sammamish, Wa./Eastlake) just completed rival those of any Seattle Pacific University athlete over the last 50 years. A two-time NCAA track champion and driving force behind three teams which finished among the top seven in the nation, Pixler became the first freshman to be voted the Ron Grady Athlete of the Year, which recognized her accomplishments for 2006-07.

After beginning the year in a soccer uniform, she proceeded to run away from the competition in fall (cross country), winter (indoor) and spring (outdoor track). In autumn, Pixler won both the West Regional and the first of five Great Northwest Athletic Conference championships. On the track, she broke four GNAC and one school record en route to winning national titles in the indoor mile and outdoor 1500, and taking second in the 800. She was voted the West Region’s runner of the year both indoors and outdoors, and GNAC indoor and outdoor athlete of the year. Through her contributions–conference victories in the indoor mile and outdoor 800, 1500 and 3000–each of her teams won a GNAC title.

Head coaches of the 14 varsity sports voted, choosing from, among others, two other GNAC players of the year and one national athlete of the year.

Top of their class. The Falcon Award for Excellence–the highest honor for career achievement in athletics, academics and leadership–was presented to seven seniors by President Philip W. Eaton. It was the largest FAE class in 12 years and matched the second-biggest in 20 years. Honored were basketball’s Dustin Bremerman (Sr., Yakima, Wa./Eisenhower), rowing’s Megan Giske (Sr., Gig Harbor, Wa./Gig Harbor), soccer’s Carolyn Nason (Sr., Lafayette, Co./Broomfield), track & field’s Teona Perkins (Sr., Kennewick, Wa.) and Eddie Strickler (Sr., Richland, Wa.), gymnast Sarah Sullivan (Sr., Salem, Or./Sprague) and volleyball’s Jenna Von Moos (Sr., Stanwood, Wa.).

Bremerman was a prominent player for all four seasons, starting three and finishing as the school’s No. 2 career scorer. Twice he made all-conference and during his senior campaign he was voted All-America and GNAC co-player of the year. A business administration major with a 3.33 GPA, he was selected academic all-district as a senior and academic all-conference three times. Bremerman served as team co-captain as a junior and senior.

Although she could’ve graduated in 2006, Giske opted to return for a third year as coxswain. Her dedication paid off as she helped steer the varsity eight to its first NCAA berth. In her first year she jockeyed the varsity four to second in the region. She was twice named all-conference and was all-WIRA as a senior. Giske, a sociology major with a 3.87 GPA, was voted academic all-district and all-conference in ‘07. She was co-captain for two years.

Nason’s arrival in 2004 coincided with the Falcons’ first playoff advancements as they reached the Far West Regional championship game in each of her three seasons. She helped make the defense among the nation’s most formidable and was voted all-region three times and academic all-conference twice. The interior design major has a 3.42 GPA and was co-captain as senior.

In her two years Perkins made a big impact, winning the NCAA outdoor high jump as a senior and earning All-America honors three times. She won two conference championships and was voted regional indoor field athlete of the year as a senior and conference indoor track & field athlete of the year as a junior. A European studies major with a 3.70 GPA, she was academic all-conference as senior and is a NCAA Postgraduate Scholar nominee.

Sullivan was a key contributor for four seasons, coming back from an injury to finish her season strong and lead SPU to second at nationals. She was named the Division II Gymnast of the Year after taking third nationally on floor, winning the conference beam title and qualifying the for the NCAA regional. The art major (3.63 GPA) earned an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship and was voted academic all-district. She was co-captain three years.

A key component in the men’s track and cross country resurgence of late, Strickler shone individually and as a member of the first cross country team to win a conference title and qualify for nationals in 43 years. He was a three-time conference 800-meter champion and was All-America indoors as a senior. The computer science major with a 3.62 GPA was academic all-conference three times, co-captain and is an NCAA Postgraduate nominee.

Von Moos was the catalyst for two conference championships and NCAA tournament berths in her final two years, and was voted All-America, all-region and GNAC player of the year as senior. She broke school assists records for season average and career total and was all-conference for her final three seasons. Von Moos is an interior design major with 3.23 GPA and was co-captain as junior and senior.

101 Scholars. Rowing’s Jeremy Bryant (Sr., Gig Harbor, Wa./Gig Harbor) and soccer’s Mollie Taylor (Sr., Westlake Village, Ca./Oaks Christian) received the Clifford McCrath 101 Scholar Athlete Award, presented by the Washington Athletic Club’s 101 Club. Bryant, an accounting major with a 3.66, and Taylor, a theology major with a 3.83, owned the highest GPAs among graduating four-year lettermen.

Our Dean’s List. A total of 28 scholar athletes were recognized for maintaining a GPA of 3.50 or higher over the past three quarters, dating back to the spring of 2006. The complete list: Justin Abel, soccer; Monica Anderson, track & field; Molly Barnes, track & field; Kim Beaman, cross country/track; Christie Chinaka, gymnastics; James Coggan, soccer; Ashley Domres, gymnastics; Nate Elmenhurst, soccer; Autumn Fielding, basketball; Nikki Finley, volleyball; Megan Giske, rowing; Alyssa Given, volleyball; Claire Grubbs, soccer; Jeff Hallenbeck, soccer; Amber Lundgren, gymnastics; Drew Macha, soccer; Jennifer Marsh, cross country/track; Jared Moultrie, basketball; Victoria Perkins, track/cross country; Ben Pliskin, soccer; Kaitlin Rohde, track/cross country; Karin Rohde, track/cross country; Rachel Savage, rowing; Zeke Schellberg, rowing; Suzie Strickler, cross country/track; Sarah Sullivan, gymnastics; Mollie Taylor, soccer; Megan Wrightman, track/cross country.

Woolly award. Presented with an embroidered personalized blanket for earning four-year letters were 26 seniors: Molly Barnes, track & field; Bjorn Bostrom, cross country; Dustin Bremerman, basketball; Jeremy Bryant, rowing; Kristin Bryant, rowing; Tiffany Butac, volleyball; Whitney Dibble, volleyball; Michael Gavareski, cross country/track; Shelby Gihring, volleyball; Debra Huss, gymnastics; Nikki Jensen, cross country/track; Haley Krommenhoek, gymnastics; Jennifer Marsh, track & field; Drew Matzen, basketball; Michael Morris, soccer; Victoria Perkins, track & field; Ryan Phillips, cross country/track; James Rosser, cross country/track; Katie Ruggles, soccer; Rachel Strand, basketball; Eddie Strickler, cross country/track; Sarah Sullivan, gymnastics; Mollie Taylor, soccer; Jenna Von Moos, volleyball; Andy Willis, soccer; Austin Yuen, basketball.