Raider Rival Awards recognize nine worthy opponents
SOU Sports Information
ASHLAND – With the conclusion of the 2014-15 sports season, Southern Oregon University's coaches and student-athletes have selected nine individuals from opposing teams to receive Raider Rival Awards.
Each program was asked to pick an outstanding player who best embodied the five core values of the NAIA Champions of Character initiative, which are respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship.
Established in 2010, the Raider Rival Awards give SOU's student-athletes a chance to voice which opponents they would most like to have as teammates.
JASMIN AYALA, Sr., Concordia (Ore.)
Sport: Women's Soccer
Position: Defender
Of Note: For leading the Cavaliers to 10 shutouts and helping them allow just nine goals all season, Ayala was voted the Cascade Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team NAIA All-American. The Raiders were limited to three goals in six games against Concordia during Ayala's career.
Coach's Quote: "Jasmin was a great player offensively and defensively. She was a brick wall, nearly impossible to pass. While she was easily one of the best players in the Cascade Conference, she always worked very hard and was very humble." - Jenni Rosenberg, SOU women's soccer coach.
JACE BILLINGSLEY, Jr., Eastern Oregon
Sport: Football
Position: Running back
Of Note: Billingsley was converted from receiver to the Mountaineers' primary option at running back with a month left in the season and responded by leading them to four straight wins – including a 31-27 triumph over SOU in which he rushed 45 times for 247 yards and two scores. In EOU's first meeting with SOU, a 35-31 Raider win, he caught 11 balls for 130 yards and a touchdown. He was a first-team All-Frontier Conference selection.
Coach's Quote: "He's an outstanding competitor who plays the game at a high level the way it ought to be played, and he certainly had some outstanding games against us. Jace is one of the toughest players we've seen the last couple years." - Craig Howard, SOU football coach.
JAVONTE BYRD, Jr., Northwest Christian
Sport: Men's Basketball
Position: Guard
Of Note: Byrd maintained his habit of torching the Raiders through the Cascade Conference quarterfinals, where he scored 27 points and drilled a buzzer-beating 3-pointer that forced the first of two overtimes before SOU prevailed. In three games in Ashland over the last two seasons, Byrd has shot 18-for-28 from downtown and averaged 26.3 points.
Coach's Quote: "Over the past two seasons Javonte has been a one-man wrecking crew against us. He's done it with a Walt Frazier-like demeanor. For those who are too young for that reference, he just keeps on scoring without ever changing expressions. He just plays." - Brian McDermott, SOU men's basketball coach.
CHANARA GREENE, Sr., Northwest
Sport: Women's Basketball
Position: Center
Of Note: Greene, who received All-Cascade Conference honorable mention, averaged 12.8 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.7 blocks during the 2014-15 season, ranking in the CCC's top-eight in all three categories with career bests.
Coach's Quote: "It is rare than an opposing coach enjoys the development of rival players, but Chanara did it the right way through hard work and a great attitude. She would knock someone down going for a rebound and be the first one to help them up. Throughout the years she proved to be not only a great basketball player, but also a respected opponent." - Lynn Kennedy, ex-SOU women's basketball coach.
LILA KLOPFENSTEIN, So., College of Idaho
Sports: Cross Country/Track and Field
Event: Distance
Of Note: For the second straight season, Klopfenstein turned in an All-American performance at the NAIA Cross Country Championships with a seventh-place finish after taking second at the Cascade Conference Championships. She also qualified automatically for the NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships in three events – the 3,000 meters, the 5K and the distance medley relay.
Coach's Quote: "She's a super tough competitor and will be a thorn in our side for the next two years. Lila is very talented and very smart, which is a tough combination for opposing coaches to deal with." - Grier Gatlin, SOU track and field/cross country coach.
SIERRA PORTER, Jr., College of Idaho
Sport: Volleyball
Position: Setter
Of Note: Porter led the Yotes to the NAIA Championships for the second time in her three years, getting there with consecutive upset victories to win the CCC tournament title. She was named a second-team NAIA All-American and All-CCC after ranking second in the CCC in assists (11.4/set) and finishing among the league leaders in digs and aces.
Coach's Quote: "She's one of the toughest competitors that we face in the nation. She is equally as great a character opponent as we face all year. She is masterful with the ball and raises the level of both sides of the court. She is the type of volleyball player that we want representing our conference and are appreciative that she does." - Josh Rohlfing, SOU volleyball coach.
HANS ROELLE, Sr., Eastern Oregon
Sports: Track and Field
Event: Mid-distance
Of Note: Roelle finished his career as a six-time NAIA All-American. In 2015 he won the NAIA Indoor 1,000-meter title for the second straight season, and in 2014 he was the NAIA Outdoor 800-meter title. In May he also repeated as the Cascade Conference 800 champ with a win at Raider Stadium.
Coach's Quote: "He's tough, has a great attitude and never seemed to have a bad race. I'm glad he's graduating." - Grier Gatlin, SOU track and field/cross country coach.
TRE SULLIVAN, Jr., Oregon Tech
Sport: Softball
Position: Outfield
Of Note: A first-team All-Cascade Conference and second-team NFCA All-Region selection, Sullivan hit safely in all four games against SOU this season, going 6-for-13 with a home run, two doubles, four RBI and four runs scored. She would eventually help the Owls to the NAIA World Series and a top-four finish.
Coach's Quote: "She was a superstar against us this year. It was tough to know where to pitch her because she hit to every field off us." - Jessica Pistole, SOU softball coach.
KYLE WILSON, Sr., Great Falls
Sport: Wrestling
Weight: 141
Of Note: After placing fourth in the NAIA in 2014, Wilson was the 141-pound national runner-up this season for the Argos.
Coach's Quote: "Kyle has been a four-year starter for UGF and has represented the university with class throughout his career." - Mike Ritchey, SOU wrestling coach.