SAN BRUNO, Calif., --University of Portland women’s soccer player Imani Dorsey and Loyola Marymount women’s basketball player Kate Murray were named West Coast Conference Co-Female Scholar-Athletes of the Year, while Gonzaga men’s basketball player Blake Stepp earned the 2004 WCC Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, Commissioner Michael Gilleran announced today. Dorsey is the fourth female recipient from Portland and Murray is the third female athlete from LMU to receive Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors. Stepp is the second Gonzaga men’s scholar-athlete in the last three years to take home the annual award.
The highest honor in the WCC is selected by a vote of the WCC's institutional representatives to recognize the finest accomplishments in athletics, academics and community service by individuals who have completed their WCC eligibility.
Dorsey finished her brilliant career at Portland in leading the Pilots to four straight trips to the NCAA Tournament and a National Championship in the 2002 season. The 2003 WCC Defender of the Year anchored a defense which recorded a 76-16-4 record during her career. Dorsey earned numerous honors including Soccer Buzz first team all-West Region and all-America honors with Soccer Buzz and Soccer Post Magazine.
Dorsey, an Interdisciplinary Studies major, posted a 3.84 grade-point average, made the Dean’s List for eight consecutive semesters, and served as the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Vice President at Portland. The Santa Monica, Calif. native has also been honored with the WCC Commissioner’s Honor Roll Gold Award, CoSIDA Academic All American, All-America NSCAA Scholar-Athlete selection, and the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Recipient. Away from campus, Dorsey volunteered time with elementary schools, the Children¹s Hospital, and helped families at Ronald McDonald House.
Other Pilot WCC Scholar-Athletes of the Year:
Female:
1993, Nikki Rosenfeldt (Volleyball)
1992, Martha Sheldon (Basketball)
1989, Tracy Thorne (Cross Country)
Male:
2000, Bryan Bothwell (Cross Country)
1997, Uli Steidl (Cross Country)
1993, Jason Boykoff (Soccer)
