Past UP Student-Athletes of the Year (pdf)
PORTLAND, Ore. --- The University of Portland has selected women’s soccer standout Sophie Schmidt and basketball star Luke Sikma as its 2010-11 Fr. Chester Prusynski Student-Athletes of the Year. The award annually recognizes the top University of Portland student-athletes based on athletic and academic credentials.
Schmidt was a starter for the Canadian National Team that won the 2011 CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying Tournament, and she started all three matches for Team Canada at the 2011 Women’s World Cup in Germany. Sikma concluded his career as Portland’s all-time leader in rebounds (987), while his 337 rebounds as a senior tied Rick Raivio for the single-season best in school history.
During her senior campaign last fall, Schmidt was one of four finalists for the Honda Award and she was a finalist for the MAC-Hermann Trophy. Both awards honor the nation’s top collegiate women’s soccer player. The native of Abbotsford, B.C., was also named to the NSCAA All-America Second Team despite missing seven matches due to national team duty. She became the seventh player in Portland history with at least 30 career goals and 30 career assists and she signed to play professionally with the magicJack of the WPS.
A double major in life science and German, Schmidt graduated with a 3.06 grade point average.
Sikma, a native of Bellevue, Wash., also became the 34th player in school history to score 1,000 career points. His 1,048 career points ranks 20th all-time at UP, while Sikma also ranks in the school’s top 10 in blocked shots (2nd, 88), field goal percentage (6th, .533) and steals (t-8th, 121). He led the WCC and finished 12th nationally in rebounding (10.5 rpg) as a senior, he recorded 14 double-doubles and he was named the MVP of the AIA Classic in November.
Sikma recently graduated with a marketing and management degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.08.
Schmidt becomes the 11th consecutive soccer player to win the award on the women’s side, while Sikma is the first basketball player to take the honor since 1998.
The Fr. Chester Prusynski Student-Athlete of the Year award is the most prestigious University honor for student-athletes and is presented annually to one male and one female who have excelled both in athletics and in the classroom. Winners are selected by a vote of athletic administrators and head coaches. The name of the award was changed in the summer of 2010 in honor of Rev. Chester Prusynski, C.S.C., who has served the University community and been a fixture at Pilot athletic events since 1964.
