The votes have been tallied, and here is the list of the Spring 2006 All-State-Press Team:
Kevin Kruger, Men's Basketball: The junior shooting guard's strong leadership qualities held a young team together in the midst of a losing season. Kruger played a school-record 39 minutes per game. Despite playing on an injured foot all season, the junior shooting guard still played 95.7 percent of all possible minutes. Kruger led the Sun Devils in scoring with 15 points per game, and knocked down 40 percent of his three-pointers. The league named him All-Pac-10 honorable mention.
Kristen Kovesdy, Women's Basketball: Shortly after ASU landed the Phoenix St. Mary's product, the Sun Devils were blessed with four long years of success. The 6-foot-3 forward transformed ASU into an instant powerhouse her senior year, posting 12.8 points per game to lead the No. 15 Sun Devils to back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Kovesdy finished her career as ASU's fifth all-time leading scorer with 1,363 career points and will leave a large void for ASU women's basketball coach Charli Turner Thorne to fill.
Alejandro Canizares, Men's Golf: The senior from Spain has built a legacy at ASU that is only behind Phil Mickelson and Billy Mayfair. His six career medals place him third in school history. The senior has yet to win a title this year, but has had a couple close calls, finishing one stroke behind the leader in two tournaments this spring. With two tournaments still remaining this season, Canizares will try to finish his career the same way it began -- as a national champion.
Preston Paramore, Baseball: The freshman catcher has been a rock behind the dish for ASU this year, managing a pitching staff that has been on and off all season. The switch-hitter also hit .326 with three home runs in 40 games this season. The Allen, Texas native has also been one of the best clutch hitters for the Sun Devils, hitting .407 with runners in scoring position.
Rowie Webster, Water Polo: Although only a freshman, Webster stepped into a new team and a new country, and had the most production by an offensive player in ASU's history.
The Australia native joined the team just before the spring semester and was able to lead the No. 9 Sun Devils to their best finish in history.
One of only two freshmen not to redshirt this year, Webster reset the school scoring mark by 12 goals and was named the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Player of the Week on Feb. 28.
Jacquelyn Johnson and Amy Hastings, Track and Field: Johnson and Hastings were the pillars of the women's track team that has remained ranked within the top 10 all season.
Johnson won the NCAA Championship in the pentathlon in indoor meets and is expected to contend for the heptathlon title in the outdoors.
Not to be outdone, Hastings won the 5,000-meter title in the indoor meets and was named Athlete of the Year in ASU's Sparky Awards.
It was the third time in ASU's history that two titles were won in the same year.
Katie Cochran, Softball: The freshman outfielder has had a promising start to her collegiate career in her first year at ASU. Cochran currently leads the team in batting average, runs scored, hits, doubles, triples and RBIs. Cochran is tied for first all-time at ASU for most RBIs in a season (52).
Joona Puhakka, Swim and Dive: The senior diver leaves ASU as one of the most successful divers to ever compete at the University. He took first place in the one-meter and three-meter dives at the Pac-10 Championships this year, marking the fourth consecutive year he's won both events. Puhakka became the first Pac-10 diver to accomplish the feat. He was also given the Male Athlete of the Year award Monday night at the Sparky Awards.
Brian Stith, Wrestling: The junior 157-pounder went into the NCAA Wrestling Championships as a No. 10 seed but ended up finishing second in the nation in his weight class. Stith went 31-4 on the year, and is now a two-time All-American after finishing sixth in the nation a season before.
Ashley Kelly, Gymnastics: ASU's most accomplished gymnast of all time wrapped up her career with arguably her best season after competing through an ankle injury as a junior. Kelly was ranked second nationally in the all-around and first nationally in the balance beam for most of the season. She tallied the highest all-around score in the nation, a 39.875, March 10 against Iowa, and finished third in the nation on the uneven bars at the NCAA Championships.
Azahara Munoz, Women's Golf: Coach Melissa Luellen's top recruit enjoyed a stellar freshman campaign that is not through yet. Through eight events, Munoz is ranked seventh in the country -- and highest of the Sun Devils -- with a 71.21 average per round. She holds a 546-60-13 record against all opponents faced, according to www.golfweek.com, and has been ASU's most consistent performer.
T.J. Bellama, Men's Tennis: If Bellama's freshman year is any indication, the kid from Vienna, Va. could win some big matches before his career as a Sun Devil is through. In 2006, Bellama started the season hot, clinching wins for the Sun Devils in his first two career matches. He then clinched a Pac-10 victory over powerhouse USC late in the season. Many of Bellama's other wins came against ranked opponents -- he was the lone Sun Devil to record victories in losses to conference powerhouses USC, UCLA and Cal.
Roxanne Clarke, Women's Tennis: A junior transfer from Florida State, Clarke led the Sun Devils in wins this year, posting an overall record of 25-13. Perhaps even more impressive was her work with Kady Pooler in doubles competition; the tandem set a new school record for wins in a season, finishing 26-9 on the year and advancing to the Pac-10 semifinals. They also knocked off the No. 1 duo in the country, Alice Barnes and Anne Yelsey of Stanford.
Coach of the Year, Clint Myers, Softball: Myers has turned the ASU softball team from a Pac-10 cellar dweller to a legitimate title contender with little change to the roster in his first year at the helm. ASU was 30-26 last season, and Myers has them at 42-9 this year. With six conference wins, the Sun Devils are only one shy of equaling their win total over the last two seasons. Myers has brought strict attention to detail to all aspects of the team.
