RENO, Nev. All-Americans Nick Fazekas and Kali Baker have been named the Doc Martie and Ruth Russell Award winners as the University of Nevada’s top male and female senior student-athletes, Director of Athletics Cary Groth announced Wednesday.
“Nick and Kali are tremendous student-athletes who have made significant contributions to their teams and to our entire athletics department,” Groth said. “They personify everything that a student-athlete should be and are very deserving of these prestigious awards.”
The awards are named for J.E. “Doc” Martie, a former Nevada men’s basketball coach (1923-29, 1930-39) and administrator, and Ruth I. Russell, a former director of women’s athletics (1948-69). Student-athletes are nominated by their head coaches and must be in their final year of eligibility and in good academic standing. The award winners are chosen in a vote by the athletics department staff.
Fazekas, a senior forward from Arvada, Colo., was named the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year in each of his last three seasons, becoming the second player in league history to earn the award three consecutive years, and earned All-America honors as a senior. He helped lead Nevada to four consecutive WAC regular-season titles and NCAA Tournament berths, and joined by fellow senior Kyle Shiloh, ended his basketball career as the winningest player in school history with a 106-27 record in his four years at Nevada. Fazekas finished his career as Nevada’s all-time leader in scoring, blocked shots, field goals and free throws made and was second in career rebounding.
“Nick is very deserving of the Doc Martie Award. He had a terrific college basketball career and has carried himself with great class on and off the basketball floor. He has been an excellent ambassador for the University of Nevada,” Wolf Pack men’s basketball coach Mark Fox said.
Baker is a standout on Nevada’s cross country and track and field teams and hails from Las Vegas, Nev. She became the first Wolf Pack student-athlete to win indoor All-America honors, placing eighth in the mile at the 2006 NCAA Indoor Championships. She has earned All-WAC honors in cross country, indoor and outdoor track in each season she has competed and has been a member of all three of Nevada’s WAC championship teams (indoor track and field - 2003 & 2004, cross country - 2004). She is member of the All-WAC and United States Track and Cross Country Coaches' Association Academic teams. The Outstanding Performer at the 2006 WAC Indoor Championships, she has won a total of seven WAC medals, including four individual wins and a relay team victory, and holds six school records.
“Kali has been an excellent student, a fabulous athlete and a great team member. She has persevered through numerous injuries to become an All-American. She has represented the University of Nevada well as a person, student and athlete,” Nevada cross country head coach and track and field assistant coach Kirk Elias said.
