VALLEY CITY, N.D. (vcsuvikings.com) – The Valley City State University athletic department recognized excellence in its student-athletes Monday night at the 2021 Viking Awards.
The annual banquet brings together most of the university’s student-athletes for a meal, awards and recognition of their accomplishments during the 2020-21 season. This year’s celebration was held outdoors at VCSU’s Lokken Stadium, and students were served a tailgate-style meal prepared by members of the VCSU Century Club Board of Directors.
Athletic director Jill DeVries emceed the event as VCSU announced its major athletic awards, honored its seniors and North Star Champions of Character, and celebrated numerous school record breakers during the night.
Recipients of VCSU’s athletic awards are announced below.
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Zachary Co and Emily Smith were selected as the 2021 Athletes of the Year.
Emily Smith set new career records for wins (65) and strikeouts (562) as she winds down a dominant career as a pitcher for the VCSU softball team. The senior from Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, has pitched three no-hitters this season. She is currently 19-1 with a 1.20 ERA. Smith has struck out 189 batters in 116 innings this season.
A two-sport athlete, Co placed fourth in shot put at the NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships and was an honorable mention All-Conference defensive lineman for the football team. The junior from El Paso, Texas, has also qualified to compete in shot put and hammer throw at the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He has won meet titles in four different events this season. On the football field, Co recorded 30 tackles on the defensive line.
VIKING IMPACT AWARD
VCSU seniors Jorun Hamre and Allyssa Weitkum were the recipient of this year’s Viking Impact Award.
The Viking Impact Award is presented to senior student-athletes who have made a significant impact on the VCSU campus and Valley City community outside of their athletic programs.
Along with being a standout athlete for both the baseball and football teams, Hamre was president of the VCSU Student-Athlete Advisory Council for three years. A native of Leonard, N.D, Hamre has also served as a campus representative for the NSAA Board of Student-Athletes. He has coached the Valley City Babe Ruth baseball team for two seasons and assists the Valley City Baseball Association in their fundraising effort to support youth baseball.
Weitkum has excelled as a cross country and track student-athlete during her time at VCSU. She is a captain of the track team this season and helped coached the cross country team during the fall. She is employed at the Open Door Center where she works with individuals with disabilities in the community, and she also volunteers at various events in the community. A native of Wauconda, Ill., Weitkum plans to pursue her Masters in Applied Exercise Science from Concordia University Chicago.
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Junior Eddie Oyet and freshman Makenzee Stone were named the 2021 Newcomers of the Year.
The award is for incoming freshmen or transfers who made a significant athletic impact in their first year on campus.
Oyet, from Mankato, Minn., made a major impact on the VCSU men’s basketball team and helped the program post a 19-7 record this season. He averaged 10.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and one steal per game while shooting 51 percent overall and 42 percent on 3’s.
A freshman softball player from Blaine, Minn., Stone leads the team and the conference with a .459 batting average this season. She has started all 37 games, primarily at third base, and has scored 35 runs, collected 17 extra-base hits and has driven in 33 runs.
IRON VIKING AWARD
Connor Entzi and Joelle Aiello have been named the 2021 Iron Vikings, which is the Strength and Conditioning Athletes of the Year.
The award is presented by the VCSU strength and conditioning staff and goes to the top performers in the weight room – those that have a high work ethic, bring a positive energy to their workouts and help lift their teammates up each day to make them better as well.
Entzi, from Edgeley, N.D., has excelled as a post player for the men’s basketball team. Aiello, a native of Napa, Calif., is a four-year starter at shortstop for Viking softball.
GOLDEN CRUTCH
VCSU dual-sport athlete Sal Avila was the recipient of this year’s Golden Crutch Award. The El Paso, Texas, native is a member of the VCSU football and baseball teams.
The Golden Crutch Award is presented annually by the VCSU athletic training staff. The award recognizes a student-athlete who has been a model patient for VCSU’s athletic trainers, encourages others in the training room, and continually works hard at making their health a priority.