CCAA Athletes of the Year
2009-10 Male Athlete of the Year
Brandon Gregorich, UC San Diego (Baseball)
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UC SAN DIEGO baseball player Brandon Gregorich was named the 2009-10 California Collegiate Athletic Association Male Athlete of the Year. The CCAA Athlete of the Year is selected by the league's Sports Information Directors and is named at the conference's annual spring meetings.
A senior first baseman from Oakley, Calif., Gregorich was named an All-American by three different organizations, including a first team choice by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA). He helped lead UC San Diego to the NCAA Division II National Championship game.
Gregorich, who is the first UC San Diego athlete to be named CCAA Male Athlete of the Year, concluded his senior campaign with a team-high .452 batting average, while also leading the Tritons in hits (103), doubles (30), RBI (84), and total bases (156). He hit seven homers in 2010 and scored 70 runs.
Gregorich set program single-season records for hits, doubles, and RBI. His 84 RBI established a CCAA single-season record, breaking the previous mark of 82 set by Sonoma State’s Mike Richardson in 2001.
The CCAA’s Most Valuable Player, Gregorich also was tabbed the Daktronics West Region Player of the Year, National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) West Region Player of the Year and ABCA West Region Player of the Year. Additionally, the Tritons’ first baseman earned an ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Award.
Gregorich becomes the ninth baseball player to be tabbed the CCAA’s top male athlete and first since 1999-2000 when Sonoma State’s Derek Bell was honored. |
Past Winners:
CCAA Male Athletes of the Year (1982-present) |
2009-10 Female Athlete of the Year
Christine Merrill, UC San Diego (Track & Field)
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UC SAN DIEGO track and field athlete Christine Merrill was named the 2009-10 California Collegiate Athletic Association Female Athlete of the Year. The CCAA Athlete of the Year is selected by the league's Sports Information Directors and is named at the conference's annual spring meetings.
Merrill, a senior from Bakersfield, Calif., capped an impressive four-year career by claiming two individual All-American honors at the 2010 NCAA Division II Track & Field Championships that concluded on May 29.
She finished third in the 400-meter hurdles with a school-record time of 58.04 and placed 12th in the 100 hurdles at 14.18. She also ran a leg on the women’s 4x400 relay team that finished eighth with a time of 3:44.39, the third-fastest finish in program history.
Merrill was named the CCAA Athlete of the Meet for the second consecutive season at the conference championships in May after posting individual victories in the 100 hurdles (13.90), 400 hurdles (59.13), and the 400 meters (54.76). She also ran legs in both relays, as the Tritons placed first in the 4x100 and 4x400 with respective times of 46.67 and 3:45.2. Her time in the 400 meters was a school record.
Merrill is the third UC San Diego female to earn the CCAA’s top honor, joining former Tritons Cindy Dostalek (Soccer, 2000-01) and Leora Juster (Basketball, 2006-07). |
Past Winners:
CCAA Female Athletes of the Year (1982-present) |