Wrestling Awards Given Out at Banquet

 

Crowd enjoying dinner at the Awards Banquet

  A small but enthusiastic crowd enjoyed a great dinner on Sunday afternoon in Reser Stadium's Club. Dinner was followed by the Awards program, capping the 2015-16 Wrestling Season for Oregon State.

The FALL Board opened the program with their two awards, one for the Club member Volunteer of the Year Award which went to Ken & Andrea Tobin. Ken & Andrea stepped up when asked and joined the FALL Board this year. The Board is very appreciative of their efforts to help! The Tobins are the parents of wrestler Izaak Tobin.

The second Award From The FALL, the Alumnus Volunteer of the Year Award, went to Ron Iwasaki, '65-'67. Ron always adds to the festive nature of the Banquet and some Socials by providing blooming plants to decorate the room. Many thanks, Ron!!
 

  

Introduction of team - right section

Introduction of team - center section

 

Introduction of team - right section

After some remarks by the emcees, Coaches Troy Steiner and Kevin Roberts,  the team was introduced to the crowd. Next the Awards were presented:
 
Coaches Appreciation: Jared Reis, Jay Tovey

Booster of the Year: Adam Rutherford

Highest GPA: Seth Thomas

Joe Wells "Team Impact" Award: Corey Griego

Chad Flack "Most Improved" Award: Kegan Calkins

Len Kauffman/Larry Bielenberg "Most Pins" Award: Amar Dhesi (12 pins)
Bill Brickey "Most Dedicated' Award: Joey Palmer

Dale Thomas "Hustle" Award - Seth Thomas (this award is from a point system honoring both wrestling points and academics.)

Robin Reed "Outstanding Wrestler" Award: Amar Dhesi 

Amar Dhesi's NCAA 5th place All_American trophy

Hardest Worker Award: Joe DeMatteo

Congratulations to all the winners!

 

Coach Z listens to Seth Thomas's Senior speech

  The three graduating seniors then gave a recap of their days in the Oregon State Wrestling program. The three seniors coming up to the microphone were Jay Tovey, Jared Rice and Seth Thomas.

A short video recap of the season was next. Videographer Ryan Haworth put together a quick look at some of the more exciting moments of the season. Thank you, Ryan!! And thank you to the wrestlers for providing those moments!!

A humorous presentation of gag awards by Seniors Seth Thomas and Jared Reis was followed by a season review and look forward by Coach Zalesky.

The many flowering plants were given out to the mothers in the crowd. 

Presentation stage decorated with flowering plants

Special thanks go to the donors for the banquet:
NCAA Champion Level - $120:
Rolly & Carol Benson
Gerry Mahoney

NCAA All-American Level - $60:
Bob & Pat Newton
Reynold & Jennifer Gardner
Len Kauffman
Gary Westford

Pac-12 Champ Level - $30
Don Hoskins
David Jackson
Craig Scharer
Doug & Monique Parazoo

Thank you to Davis Family Farms for the table centerpiece plants and Ron Iwasaki for procuring the other plants there.

A moment of silence was observed at the beginning of  the afternoon for the memory of FALL Club member and former National Champion, Roger Weigel who passed away recently.

So the season has come to an end, but events will continue. University Nationals in Freestyle and Greco will be taking place soon. Then there is the Annual Dale Thomas Golf Classic, an important fund raiser for the wrestling program, coming up June 10. Stay tuned!

Go Beavs!

The 5 Pac-12 Team Trophies & Dhesi's All-American trophy