June 7, 2006
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Women's cross country runner Daniele Riendeau and softball pitcher Jenna Kubesch were each named recipients of the 2005-06 Scholar Athlete of the Year awards Wednesday by the Conference USA office.
The awards are based on academic achievement (GPA), athletic achievement and service.
Riendeau won the award after receiving bachelor's degree in just three years. The Lady Tigers' top distance runner during the past cross country season, Riendeau finished sixth at the C-USA Cross Country Championships last fall, earning All-Conference USA honors, the first-ever Lady Tiger to do so. Riendeau, a native of Ottawa, Ontario, also went on to earn All-Region honors at the NCAA South Regional. She currently holds six U of M track and field records, in the indoor mile, 3000 meters, 5000 meters and outdoor in the 1500, 5000 and 10,000 meters. She earned her degree in psychology and will pursue her master's degree in the School of Health and Behavioral Sciences while completing her final season of eligibility starting this fall.
Softball pitcher Jenna Kubesch is sharing her Scholar-Athlete award for the sport of softball with Southern Miss' Charity Butler. Kubesch also graduated with her undergraduate degree in just three seasons, graduating in May with a 3.938 GPA in public relations and journalism. The Weimar, Texas native led the Lady Tiger softball team with a 1.89 ERA and a .196 opposing batting average in 28 appearances (23 starts). She also led the team in shutouts (6), innings pitched (152.0) and strikeouts (149), while tying for the team lead with 12 wins. The C-USA pitcher of the week one time in the program's first-ever season, Kubesch is currently back in the wood bat Cape Cod League, where she is a general manager intern for a second summer. She will return to Memphis to complete her eligibility next season while working on her master's degree in sport and leisure commerce.
Tulsa led all league schools with four Scholar Athlete Award winners. Rice and UTEP each had three winners, while four other league schools had two winners apiece. Southern Miss baseball player Marc Maddox is the only repeat winner from last season. Nine of C-USA's 12 institutions produced at least one scholar athlete winner, with co-winners named in men's golf, softball and swimming/diving.
2005-06 Scholar Athlete Award Winners
Baseball Marc Maddox, Southern Miss Men's Basketball Miguel Ayala, UTEP Women's Basketball Kara Pongonis-Paslay, Tulsa Men's Cross Country Stephan Samoei, UTEP Women's Cross Country Daniele Riendeau, Memphis Football Garrett Mills, Tulsa Men's Golf Sam Korbe, Tulsa Parker LaBarge, Rice Women's Golf Ashley Grier, UCF Men's Soccer Matt Wiley, Tulsa Women's Soccer Courtney Baines, UCF Softball Jenna Kubesch, Memphis Charity Butler, Southern Miss Women's Swimming & Diving Sarah Virginia Hunt, East Carolina Flavia Rigamonti, SMU Men's Tennis Sebastian Falk, UAB Women's Tennis Blair DiSesa, Rice Men's Track and Field Mickael Hanany, UTEP Women's Track and Field Callie Wells, Rice Volleyball Heidi Krug, East Carolina
