RENO, Nev. – Track and field’s Alex McAlman and football’s Virgil Green have been named the winners of the Alpha Award by the Wolf Pack Strength and Conditioning Program.
The Alpha Award is the premier award given by the strength and conditioning department. A male and a female student-athlete are honored with the award each year based on leadership, tenacity and character, according to
Matt Eck, the assistant athletics director for strength and conditioning. An athlete must first win his or her team award in order to be considered for the Alpha Award.
“It was definitely a pleasant surprise to win the team award, and an even bigger one to win the Alpha Award,” McAlman said. “They both mean a lot to me. We go in every week and just try to get better, and fortunately I have teammates who are there to push me to improve. It can be a lot of work, but it helps to have a staff there that is as committed to our success as we are. I like to think that they can see the fruits of their efforts in our successful performances throughout the season.”
Said Green: “It means a lot that I am seen as a leader and a role model to the younger guys on the team and that the coaches see that I am working hard in the weight room. I take everything seriously. I want to get better and I am willing step up and be a leader and I believe it’s important for me to work hard and do things the right way because it shows the younger players how they need to do things. I am grateful for this award and everything
Matt Eck and his staff do for us.”
Eck also announced the individual sport winners for the strength and conditioning program. The Athlete of the Year Award is given to the student-athlete in each sport who fully utilizes the strength and conditioning program in all its facets to maximize their athletic performance, excels in their respective sport, and exemplifies the work ethic one would expect in a championship athlete. This award is nominated and chosen by the student-athletes for each given sport. The winners:
Baseball – Kevin Rodland
Men’s Basketball – Joey Shaw
Women’s Basketball – Marianne Lombardi
Football – Virgil Green
Soccer – Marie Cove
Softball – Sam Bias
Swimming & Diving – Misha Fotoohi
Men’s Tennis – Kristian Kuharszky
Women’s Tennis – Aodhnait Lombard
Track & Field – Alex McAlman
Volleyball – Tatiana Santiago
