PORTLAND, Ore. – College of Idaho senior Christon Vander Esch, a 5-11 forward from Riggins, Idaho who helped lead the Yotes to a share of the Cascade Collegiate Conference regular season title and a berth in the NAIA Tournament, has been named the CCC Player of the Year, the league office announced Sunday. Vander Esch also was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.
Other top award winners in balloting of the league’s head coaches were senior Rebecca Gimeno of Concordia, who was named the Newcomer of the Year; and Aaron Christian of Concordia, who was voted the league’s Coach of the Year. Cascade College was voted the recipient of the Team Champion of Character Award, which is based on the ideals of character, integrity and sportsmanship.
In conference games only, Vander Esch finished second in the league in rebounding (8.9 rpg), blocked shots (41) and steals (57), and sixth in scoring (15.9 ppg). A two-time CCC Player of the Week, she set a conference mark and tied an NAIA single-game record with 15 steals in a victory over Willamette University. College of Idaho, which has won a school-record 27 games, posted an 18-2 CCC record to share the regular season crown with Concordia. Vander Esch was joined on the All-CCC and All-Defensive teams by teammate Nicole Gall, a 5-10 sophomore guard.
Gimeno, a transfer from Montana Tech, earned CCC Newcomer of the Year honors after leading Concordia to a share of its first-ever regular season CCC title. The 5-4 guard from Spokane, a two-time CCC Player of the Week, averaged 14.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game during the CCC regular season. Gimeno was also named to the All-CCC and All-Defensive teams.
Christian, who is in his third season as Concordia’s head coach, guided the Cavaliers to a share of their first-ever CCC regular season crown. Ranked as high as eighth in the country, CU is currently 27-3 overall and has earned an automatic berth in the NAIA Tournament, scheduled for March 11-17 in Sioux City, Iowa. The Cavaliers will play College of Idaho for the CCC Tournament championship Monday night in Portland.
Southern Oregon led the way with three players on the all-conference team – junior forward Jacki Speer (who was also named to the All-Defensive team), junior guard Rhiannon Dickison, and junior guard Whitney Scott. Corban had a pair of first team selections – senior guard Kailey Bostwick and freshman guard/forward Katie Steigleman. Warner Pacific (Jacque Barton) and Cascade (Robin Swain) each had one selection on the all-conference team.
| 2008-09 Cascade Collegiate Conference All-Conference Team |
| Player of the Year: Christon Vander Esch, College of Idaho |
| Defensive Player of the Year: Christon Vander Esch, College of Idaho |
| Newcomer of the Year: Rebecca Gimeno, Concordia |
| Coach of the Year: Aaron Christian, Concordia |
Team Champion of Character: Cascade College
|
| Name |
Institution |
Pos. |
Hgt |
Class |
Hometown |
| Christon Vander Esch* |
College of Idaho |
F |
5-11 |
Sr. |
Riggins, Idaho |
| Jacki Speer |
Southern Oregon |
F |
6-1 |
Jr. |
Centralia, Wash. |
| Rebecca Gimeno |
Concordia |
G |
5-4 |
Sr. |
Spokane, Wash. |
| Nicole Gall |
College of Idaho |
G |
5-10 |
So. |
Boise, Idaho |
| Katie Steigleman |
Corban |
G/F |
5-11 |
Fr. |
Eugene, Ore. |
| Robin Swain |
Cascade |
G |
5-7 |
Sr. |
Reno, Nev. |
| Rhiannon Dickison |
Southern Oregon |
G |
5-6 |
Jr. |
Redding, Calif. |
| Whitney Scott |
Southern Oregon |
G |
5-6 |
Jr. |
Tumwater, Wash. |
| Kailey Bostwick |
Corban |
G |
5-6 |
Sr. |
Medford, Ore. |
| Jacque Barton |
Warner Pacific |
G |
5-9 |
Sr. |
Eugene, Ore. |
| *indicates Player of the Year |
Honorable Mention: Kristi Auckland, Evergreen; Danielle Clauson, Concordia; Angela Gimeno, Concordia; Amanda Johnston, Oregon Tech; Ashlee Michelson, Eastern Oregon; Kellie Morey, Oregon Tech; Kristina Schumacher, Cascade; Brianna Smith, Eastern Oregon; Ann Snodderly, Concordia; Tana Stickney, Eastern Oregon
| 2008-09 Cascade Collegiate Conference All-Defensive Team |
| Name |
Institution |
Pos. |
Hgt |
Class |
Hometown |
| Christon Vander Esch* |
College of Idaho |
F |
5-11 |
Sr. |
Riggins, Idaho |
| Rebecca Gimeno |
Concordia |
G |
5-4 |
Sr. |
Spokane, Wash. |
| Jacki Speer |
Southern Oregon |
F |
6-1 |
Jr. |
Centralia, Wash. |
| Nicole Gall |
College of Idaho |
G |
5-10 |
So. |
Boise, Idaho |
| Ann Snodderly |
Concordia |
C |
6-4 |
Jr. |
Portland, Ore. |
| *indicates Defensive Player of the Year |