BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University Department of Athletics celebrated another successful season with the annual Dub Dub Blue Awards Ceremony and BBQ held Thursday afternoon on the WWU campus.
Six student-athletes were presented with awards recognizing their outstanding athletic and academic achievements from the 2017-18 season. The large gathering of student-athletes on the lawn outside of historic Old Main helped celebrate a banner athletic and academic season that featured 9 teams represented at the NCAA Division II Championships, 75 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Academic awards, 55 All-GNAC honorees and 9 All-Americans.
“All of our programs and student-athletes continue to raise the bar, both on the field of competition and in the classroom,” said WWU Director of Athletics Steve Card. “It was an exciting year moving back into Carver Gym and we look forward to continuing to grow our presence with the campus community. Hats off to all our student-athletes, coaches, support staff and administrators on another great year.”
The Male and Female Athletes of the Year will have their names added to the G. Robert Ross Memorial Trophy honoring the top athletes that have participated for WWU.
In addition to the Athlete of the Year and Scholar Athlete of the Year awards that were presented to each student-athlete, WWU’s 9 All-Americans were presented with commemorative photos and Western’s national champion rowing fours were recognized for their outstanding accomplishment.
ABBY PHELPS Female Athlete of the Year
Abby Phelps (Jr., Manson, WA/Chelan) had a remarkable junior season helping lead the Vikings to the GNAC regular-season title and the NCAA Division II West Regional championship match. Was named the GNAC Player of the Year and was a First Team American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American, becoming the second outside hitter in program history to earn this award. She set the WWU single-season record averaging 4.31 kills per set and led the GNAC with 25 matches with double-digits in both kills and digs. A team leader and standout student-athlete with a 3.53 GPA while pursuing a degree in Elementary Education.
DEANDRE DICKSON Male Athlete of the Year
Deandre Dickson (Sr., Easton, CA/Bakersfield College) was a force for the WWU men’s basketball team during another 20-win season for the Vikings, averaging 14.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocked shots per game during his senior season. An all-around player – offense, defense, inside, outside – and true team leader, Dickson ranked in the top 15 in the GNAC in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage, free throw percentage, blocked shots and was 5th in the conference with 6 double-doubles. Over his two-year career with WWU, he averaged 14.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and recorded 75 blocked shots in 51 games.
ALEX BARRY Male Athlete of the Year
Alex Barry (Jr., Sequim, WA) earned First Team All-America honors with a 4th-place finish at the 2018 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He set a PR on 3 of his 6 throws in the NCAA meet, saving his best throw for last with a mark of 68.38m (224-4) on his final throw of the competition to jump into 4th place. The junior finished 2nd at the GNAC Outdoor Championships and holds the 2nd-best mark in WWU history and 5th-best in GNAC history. Barry became the fourth WWU men’s javelin All-American during the NCAA era.
JASMINE McMULLIN Female Scholar Athlete of the Year
Jasmine McMullin (Sr., Sequim, WA) was an Academic All-District selection who is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Education, after graduating with a 3.94 GPA as an English major. She closed out her WWU career during the indoor season winning the long jump and her trademark event, the triple jump at the 2018 GNAC Indoor Championships. McMullin was named the Women’s Field Athlete of the Meet at the GNAC Championships, as well as the women’s Performance of the Meet setting the WWU and GNAC records in the triple jump. She was a First Team All-American placing 4th at the 2018 NCAA Division II Indoor Championships.
ANGIE DEXTER Female Scholar Athlete of the Year
Angie Dexter (So., Anchorage, Alaska/West Anchorage) was named an Academic All-District At-Large selection and a Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association Scholar Athlete with a 3.91 GPA while majoring in Spanish. She rowed out of the stroke seat for the Vikings Varsity 4+ that won the gold medal at the WIRA Championships and the national championship at the 2018 NCAA Division II Rowing Championships.
CHRISTIAN ROTTER Male Scholar Athlete of the Year
Christian Rotter (So., Auburn, WA/Auburn Mountainview) was a key member of the WWU men’s soccer team as a starting forward and a standout student-athlete carrying a 3.86 GPA as a Business Administration major. On the pitch, he started all 17 games in 2017 scoring 2 goals and tying for the team lead with 3 assists.
