THIBODAUX  –  The Nicholls State University Athletics Department held its 13th Annual Athletics Awards Banquet on Tuesday at the Envie Restaurant Banquet Facility, honoring more than 200 Nicholls student-athletes.

Participants and letterwinners received gifts from their respective head coaches, while selected players from each sport received special team awards. The athletics department also handed out seven awards to student-athletes who were nominated by their head coach and voted upon by an awards committee.

The first award presented on the night was the Norman Swanner Community Service Award, which is given to a senior who has a minimum grade point average of a 2.5 and was nominated by their coach for their significant involvement in the community. The 2012 recipient of this award was senior baseball player, Blake Bergeron. Bergeron is not only an active member in the campus community, but he has volunteered his time to the Thibodaux community, assisting with town clean-up, along with the set-up for Thibodeauxville. He also participated in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure and frequently visits cancer patients at Thibodaux Regional Medical Center. In addition, he volunteered his time to work the Dixie Youth Clinics and served as a volunteer umpire for the Dixie Youth Baseball Program.

Freshman guard Jenny Nash was presented the Freshman Female Student-Athlete of the Year Award. Nash started 27 games for women's basketball team, helping lead the Colonels to its best season in program history. As a freshman, Nash finished fifth on the team in scoring, second in blocked shots and three-pointers made, and was the team's third leading rebounder. Her last-second, game-winning three-pointer against Stephen F. Austin ultimately put Nicholls into the Southland Conference Tournament, where the Colonels defeated top-seed Central Arkansas by 20 points for their first postseason win in program history. In addition to her success on the court, Nash, a math education major, recorded a perfect 4.0 GPA in her first semester.

The Freshman Male Student-Athlete of the Year Award was given to basketball player Sam McBeath. A starter in 22 games this year, McBeath completed the season by ranking at least third on the team in six different categories, including finishing as the team's second leading rebounder and shot blocker. For his efforts, he was named College Sports Madness Southland Conference Freshman of the Year.

Receiving the Female Student-Athlete of the Year Award was junior tennis player, Parija Maloo. Maloo completed one of the best seasons in Colonel history, going a combined 33-7 in singles and doubles at the No. 1 position. In her first season, she posted the best overall record in the Southland Conference in No. 1 singles with an 18-3 record, while also finishing 15-4 in the top flight in doubles. Maloo was also stellar in the classroom, as she earned a spot on the Southland Conference Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll.

Senior baseball player Seth Webster was presented the Male Student-Athlete of the Year Award. Webster, who is currently in graduate school, finished his junior year ranked second in the conference in earned run average at 2.30 ERA, which was the lowest of any Colonel pitcher in the last 14 years. He finished the season being named First Team All-Southland Conference, First Team All-Louisiana and Second Team All-Region. This season, the team captain currently ranks ninth in the nation in fewest walks allowed per nine innings and is on pace to have one of the strongest careers of any Nicholls pitcher.

The final two awards handed out on the night were the Colonel Pride Awards, which are given to a male and female student-athlete that best exemplifies pride in their academics, team, teammate, community and in Nicholls State University. Senior volleyball player Rachel Yezak garnered the Louise “Do” Bonin Female Colonel Pride Award, while junior football player Gerald Gruenig received the Jim Hunter Male Colonel Pride Award.

Yezak is always seen cheering on her teammates, along with supporting her fellow athletes. A team captain for the Colonel Volleyball team, she has shown not only a dedication to her sport, but to the entire athletics department. Besides being one of only four athletes in Nicholls history to accumulate 1,000 kills and 1,100 digs, she has been seen at various Nicholls events, showing true Colonel Pride.

Gruenig is a student-athlete whose talents are recognized both on and off of the playing field. A three-year letterwinner, Gruenig represented the football team in the Student Government and was a member of the team's Leadership Council. This past season, he started the first five games before suffering a broken leg, which ended his year. In spite of not being able to play, he continued to show leadership and pride for the team by helping his younger teammates develop. Gruenig is also very active in the community. In support of relief from the oil spill, he helped deliver over 20 tons of goods to those in need. He has also visited the Cancer Center at Thibodaux Regional on numerous occasions. In the midst of his responsibilities for football and his service off the field, he also finds time to host his own radio show on 91.5 FM KNSU.