SAN DIEGO—(Jan. 11, 2012)—From the professional and amateur ranks, 16 athletes with eye-popping resumes will be honored as Stars of the Year at the annual Salute to the Champions Feb. 15 at the Town and Country Convention Center. Among the amateur honorees is PLNU's Erica Wessels.
All-Pro defensive back Eric Weddle of the San Diego Chargers and San Diego Padres outfielder Cameron Maybin top a list of eight professional athletes who will be honored for their efforts in 2011 at the 66th annual Salute. Weddle earned an invitation to the Pro Bowl while Maybin was named the team's top player by the local Baseball Writers Association.
Joining the two are Arian Foster, the former Mission Bay High standout who led the Houston Texans to their first-ever playoff win; snow- and skateboarder supreme Shaun White, who dominated the X-Games; Eastlake High grad Adrian Gonzalez, who finished second in the American League batting chase with a .338 average for the Boston Red Sox; Rachel Buehler, who led the U.S. soccer team to a second place finish in the Women's World Cup; Dominick Cruz, who twice defended his Mixed Martial Arts crown; and J.J. Killeen, who captured the Nationwide Golf Tour in 2011.
Amateurs who will be in the spotlight include San Diego State's record-setting running back Ronnie Hillman; Suzanne Cornwell, who led Cal State San Marcos to the NAIA women's cross country title; Camille Gaito, who as a junior led UC San Diego to the NCAA Division II softball crown; Natalie Hagglund, the La Costa Canyon grad who was the standout libero for the USC Trojans; Stephanie Ochs, who was selected the West Coast Conference Player of the Year in soccer for USD; Kawhi Leonard, who lifted San Diego State into the Sweet 16 before turning pro in basketball; Charles Jock, the ex-Mission Bay runner who finished second in the nation in the 800-meter run and Point Loma Nazarene's Erica Wessels, an NAIA All-American in soccer.
Wessels, a senior defender who led the team in scoring, helped lead the Sea Lions to their first-ever conference title. PLNU then reached the NAIA National Championship Tournament, reaching the semifinals. Some of Wessels' postseason honors include GSAC Player of the Year, NAIA first team All-American and NAIA all-tournament team member.
The Sea Lions posted a 19-2-4 overall record in 2011, the most ever in the program's history. Wessels captained the team's defense which tallied 18 shutouts and allowed just 13 goals all season. In addition to her defender duties, Wessels registered a PLNU-best 27 points by scoring 12 goals and dishing out three assists.
Joining Wessels at the Salute to Champions banquet are PLNU Stars of the Month Tori Anderson (track), Will MacNeil (cross country), Katie Pedlowe (soccer) and Tabitha Henken (volleyball).
For ticket information to the Salute to the Champions banquet, contact Erica Monzon at the San Diego Hall of Champions at ericam@sdhoc.com or 619-699-2305.
