PHOTO COURTESY OF BMCC
Blue Mountain Community College on Tuesday awarded two students with the Wally McCrae Student Athlete of the Year Award.
Volleyball player Sierra Linke and baseball player Alex Storaci – both sophomores – were honored for their outstanding performance on the court and on the field, as well as for their high GPAs and commitment to academics, strong leadership, sportsmanship, integrity, and accomplishments throughout the year.
Each year, a male and female sophomore athlete at BMCC are selected by the athletic director – Brett Bryan – to receive the high honor, which began in 1975, and honors BMCC’s first college president, Wally McCrae. In addition to each receiving a plaque, they’ll have their names added to a plaque in the McCrae Activity Center (MAC).
Linke, an outside hitter from Pasco, Wash., was named the 2014 Baden Volleyball Player of the Year, helping lead the Timberwolves to two consecutive Eastern Region titles. She was named the MVP of the Eastern Region for this past season, as well as MVP of the Northwest Athletic Conference at the 2014 tournament. She led BMCC in kills per set with 3.46, and recorded the most kills in the conference with 273. Linke will transfer to Eastern Oregon University this fall, where she will play volleyball for the Mountaineers.
Storaci, a first baseman from Kennewick, Wash., has played for the Timberwolves for the past two years. He has a batting average of .242, and scored 25 runs this season. He also notched 38 hits, eight doubles, two triples, 15 RBIs and 14 base on balls. Storaci has demonstrated a strong work ethic in the classroom, as well as helping with field crew, game management, and as a student worker in the McCrae Activity Center. This fall he’ll head to Salem to Corbin University.
