Skip To Main Content

CSU Monterey Bay Athletics

Skip to Navigation

Scoreboard desktop

Schedule

All Events
Scenic Shot From 2024 Monte Awards
Benny Davis/CSUMB Athletics

Tong, Kömmerling Highlight Montes Awards

Junior golfer, soccer star named CSUMB’s athletes of the year

April 30, 2024

By: Kevin Gilmore (@OtterKevin)
SEASIDE, Calif. — Cal State Monterey Bay took a night to recognize its best and brightest at the annual Montes Awards Banquet Monday evening in the CSUMB University Center. The awards recognized achievements in competition, in the classroom and in service to the community.

The highlight of the night, as usual, was the naming of the Otter Athletes of the Year. This season's winners were golfer Cathy Tong (Newport Harbor HS) and men's soccer midfielder Janos Kömmerling.

Tong led the Otter women to their fourth NCAA West Regional appearance in five seasons by compiling the second-lowest stroke average in program history (75.2). She earned first team All-CCAA recognition by finishing in the Top 10 in five of her 10 tournaments this season.

Kömmerling, meanwhile, led the Otters to their first NCAA Regional appearance in program history. Kömmerling was a 2023 Academic All-American® who finished third in the CCAA with six assists and fifth with 18 points.

The Outstanding Senior Scholar-athlete Award, presented annually to the one senior who most exemplified academic excellence while achieving at a high level in the arena of competition went to women's basketball standout Sarah Shaw (Dana Point/JSerra HS), an All-CCAA selection who is preparing for law school after graduating this spring.

The Male and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year Awards went to baseball infielder Jacob Dressler (San Jose/Branham HS) and women's soccer defender Kiley Johnson (Arroyo Grande HS). Dressler is a key member of the infield for the defending CCAA champions who is completing work on his degree in kinesiology. Johnson, who played more than 1,000 minutes while making 13 starts in 2023, already earned her B.A. in psychology at CSUMB and is completing requirements for her teaching credential.

The Newcomer of the Year Awards went to a pair of diamond stars. Freshman hurler Mackenzie Willis (Gardnerville, Nev./Douglas HS) took the women's trophy after obliterating the CSUMB single-season strikeout record with 195 (the old mark was 163). She ended the regular season No. 1 in the CCAA and No. 1 in the West Region in strikeouts. Across the way at the Otter Sports Complex, junior Jaden Sheppard (Amador Valley HS) became the eighth Otter to hit 10 or more home runs in a season as he leads the baseball team on its quest for a third consecutive CCAA title.

The Otters also took time to recognize three CCAA Award winners at the Montes. Samiya Terry (Long Beach Wilson HS) of women's basketball and Javier Romero (San Francisco/Thurgood Marshall HS) were named as finalists for the Dr. Hal Charnofsky Memorial Award, given to student-athletes who distinguish themselves for their performance both inside and outside the arena of competition. Volleyball hitter Jackie Wahl (Palm Desert HS) was named a finalist for the Impact Award for her work with The Hidden Opponent and student-athlete mental health support and awareness.

Finally, the CSUMB Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) voted on its annual slate of awards, announcing the following winners:

 
GO OTTERS!





 
Print Friendly Version