Lizama; Vanden Bosch Named Husker Power Athletes of the Year

Lincoln -- The male and female 2000 Husker Power Athletes of the Year Awards were presented at a banquet held April 12, 2000 at the Hewit Dining Center. This year, Nebraska Athletics honored the accomplishments of 17 athletes who were chosen as their teams' Lifters of the Year. These athletes have roots from Chappell, Neb., to Harare, Zimbabwe and have compiled an impressive list of achievements, including numerous performance records, national championships, NCAA records, Big 12 Championships, Big 12 honors, school records and U.S. national records. Of these 17 admirable athletes, only one female and one male are chosen as the Husker Power Athlete of the Year.

The winner of the female 2000 Husker Power Athlete of the Year Award is Jennifer Lizama. Lizama, a senior from San Lorenzo, California, leads the softball team for all performance indicators except vertical jump and vertical jump points, despite battling several injuries throughout her career. Lizama, who plays second base, has consistently bounced back from her injuries and is not only a natural athlete, but has a genuine love for the game and her work ethic is unmatched. She holds the team records for the 10-yard dash (1.71 seconds), 10-yard dash points (605), 40-yard dash (5.25 seconds), 40-yard dash points (667), the pro agility run (4.40 seconds) and the pro agility run points (579). In December of 1999, Lizama scored the highest Performance Index of any athlete in Nebraska's softball history with 2150 points. She holds numerous honors including school records for the most career stolen bases and runs scored, two-time All-American honors, All-Big 12 honors, Big 1 Tournament MVP, two-time Big 12 Player of the week and Big 12 All-Tournament Team.

The winner of the male 2000 Husker Power Athlete of the Year Award is Kyle Vanden Bosch. Vanden Bosch, a junior rush end from Larchwood, Iowa, is a two-time Lifter of the Year recipient, and he is only the third football payer to ever achieve this great honor. Vanden Bosch recorded the best performance index score on the team during post-winter testing with 2885 points. He set personal bests in the pro agility with an amazing 3.97 seconds, scoring 977 points, the second most points ever scored on any performance test in Nebraska's history. His 977 points for the pro agility run also set a position record for rush ends. In 1999, Vanden Bosch squatted 551 lbs. for 514 points and hang cleaned 375 lbs. for 556 points, giving him a strength index of 1070 points. Vanden Bosch is a member of the prestigious Award Platform with his performance and strength scores. In winter of 2000, he gained 5 pounds of total body weight and 14 pounds of lean body mass. In his career so far, Vanden Bosch has improved his pro agility from 4.34 seconds (506) to 3.97 seconds (977) and his vertical jump from 29" (461) to 34.5" (632).

The female candidates included:
Kim Behrends, volleyball
Kim Behrends, a junior from Chappell, Nebraska, has made great improvements in her body composition during her time at Nebraska. Behrends, an outside hitter, has gained 13 pounds of total body weight, with 12 pounds in lean body mass, over the last two years. Behrends was named to the 1997 and 1998 1st Team Academic All-Big XII teams, and held several state honors as a prep athlete including 1996 Volleyball magazine National High School Player of the Year Runner-up and the D-1 state records for career kills (1643) and single-season kills (525).

Cisco Gilmore, women's basketball
Cisco Gilmore, a senior from Tulsa, Oklahoma, has worked hard at improving her body composition from the time she came to Nebraska to the present. She has successfully lowered her body fat by 7%, gaining 8 pounds of lean body mass. At the same time, Gilmore increased her vertical jump by 1.5". Gilmore, a forward, has never missed a workout, is always on time, has an excellent work ethic and is a good example for everyone on the team to follow.

Molly McDonald, women's diving
Molly McDonald, a junior from Bismarck, North Dakota, leads by example in the weightroom and her positive attitude is contagious to her teammates. A 3x consolation finalist at the Big XII championships, McDonald has been a 2x NCAA Zone qualifier and has earned Academic All-Big XII honors. Her work ethic and determination in adversity have proven her dedication to the program over the years.

Helene Muller, women's swimming
Helene Muller, a senior from Potchefstroom, South Africa, saw tremendous results at the 2000 NCAA Championships this year after completing the Husker Power program. Placing 3rd in the 220-meter freestyle at the 2000 NCAA national championships, Muller earned her 14th All-American honors and became only the third Nebraskan women's swimmer to place in the top three at an NCAA tournament. Muller, who represented South Africa at the 1996 Olympics, is very consistent in the weightroom and is determined to reach her goals with a great attitude and work ethic.

Paige Phillips, soccer
Paige Phillips, a redshirt freshman from Omaha, has made great improvements in her performance testing in the last year. Phillips, who redshirted her first year at Nebraska due to an injury, has improved her 40-yard dash by .12 seconds, her pro agility run by .19 seconds and her vertical jump by 1.5" just in seven months. Phillips, a midfielder/forward, has undergone two surgeries in the time that she has been at Nebraska. However, her work ethic and commitment in the weightroom has allowed her to return to 100%, and she has already scored higher on her performance testing than prior to her injuries.

Melissa Price, women's track & field
Melissa Price, a junior from Anaheim, California, is currently the strongest athlete on the women's track and field team. A true team leader, Price has improved each year on the vertical jump, squat and hang clean. In return, she has consistently improved each season in both of her events, the 20-pound weight and hammer throw. Since coming to Nebraska, Price has gained 16 pounds of lean body mass and improved her vertical jump by 6". She holds the school records for hang clean points with 791 points (220 lbs. 2x while weighing 180 lbs.) and for the 20-pound weight and the school record and Big XII records for the hammer throw. The 2000 Big XII champion for the 20-pound weight throw, Price has also placed 10th (All-American status) at the 1999 NCAA championships, 11th at the 1999 World University Games and 7th at the 1999 USA Championships. A walk-on for Nebraska, Price is dedicated to performance training to assist her in becoming a world-class thrower.

Stacey Tomkiewicz, women's tennis
Stacey Tomkiewicz, a freshman from Palos Verdes, California, is the first recipient of the Lifter of the Year award for the Nebraska's Women's Tennis team. Tomkiewicz is a strong leader both on the court as well as in the weightroom. She has set an example for her teammates, and they have followed her lead as the women's tennis team continues to have one of its best seasons in Nebraska's history.

The male candidates included:
Jeff Armitage, track & field
Jeff Armitage, a senior from Omaha, consistently finishes near the top in all performance indicators. Armitage, whose events include the 35-pound weight and hammer throw, leads the team in two lifts, the snatch and jerk, and he has the 2nd strongest bench press on the team. Despite the aggravation of patella tendonitis for most of his career, Armitage has consistently increased his strength levels each year. Armitage is a prime example of how complete dedication to becoming stronger and more powerful can assist athletes in achieving their goals in sport. He has pushed himself beyond his limits from a walk-on to an All-American. Armitage has placed in the top seven in the 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 Indoor and 1997 Outdoor Big XII tournaments. He also earned 1999 Academic All-Big XII honors and All-American honors by placing 12th at the NCAA Indoor Tournament for the 35-pound weight.

Justin Cowan, baseball
Justin Cowan, a senior from Canon City, Colorado, scored the highest strength index on the baseball team this year with 1146 points. In 1999 Cowan set the hang clean record for baseball with a clean of 330 lbs., accumulating 577 points, showing great improvements in his strength. He also recorded the heaviest squat on the team, squatting 533 lbs., scoring 566 points. With these accomplishments combined with Cowan's consistent hard work and 100% efforts, Cowan sets a standard for the entire team as a leader and a motivator both in the weightroom and on the field. Cowan is not only one of the strongest baseball players in the history of Nebraska, but he has become a technician of all the lifts and conditioning drills, and has concentrated a great deal on using proper technique in the last year. Other records held by Cowan include a tie for the school record for most doubles in one game with three against Jacksonville State last season, and he holds the spot for the eighth-most doubles in a single season with a team-high of 21 in 1999. Cowan will be the primary backstop for Nebraska this season.

Larry Florence, men's basketball
Larry Florence, a senior from Phenix City, Alabama, is a 3x Lifter of the Year recipient and last year's recipient of the Husker Power Athlete of the Year award. The only senior on the team, Florence has shown a great deal of leadership both on the court and in the weightroom. Florence has increased his vertical jump 2.5" since his sophomore year and has also increased his scoring and number of rebounds each year. The 1999-00 team captain, he scored the 2nd highest performance index on the team this year. Well-respected by his teammates and coaches for his quiet, serious demeanor, Florence's consistent work ethic in the weightroom and in conditioning has encouraged the younger players on the team to try to match his intensity in both areas.

Charles Law, men's diving
Charles Law, a junior from Newbury Park, California, has efficiently used the weightroom to improve his performance on the diving board. His hard work in the weightroom has enabled him to become more powerful and explosive off of the platform and springboard. These skills have translated into qualifying for the finals in the 10-meter platform at the Big XII tournament and scoring over 320 points in his last four dual meets.

Adam Pine, men's swimming
Adam Pine, a senior from Ballina, Australia, is a 3x Lifter of the Year recipient. He has been a model of consistent hard work for the last four years at Nebraska. A strong leader, Pine has played a key role in showing underclassmen how to work hard in the weightroom. Pine's strength and power translated into a 1st place finish in the 100-meter butterfly at the 2000 NCAA Championships. Pine is the first male swimmer or diver representing Nebraska to win an NCAA title. His finish in the 100-meter butterfly also set a U.S. Open record.

Dave Riggert, men's track & field
Dave Riggert, a senior from Superior, Nebraska, has consistently improved in all performance indicators every year. Riggert, whose events include the 35-pound weight and hammer throw, leads the team in the squat and hang clean and scored the 2nd highest performance index on the team at the December 1999 testing. In three years, Riggert has improved his vertical jump by 3.5", from 31" to 34.5". A four-time Lifter of the Year nominee, Riggert placed 4th at the 1999 Big XII tournament for the hammer throw and is 4th on the Nebraska all-time 35-pound weight event. He has earned Academic All-Big XII honors for 1997, 1998 and 1999 and has served as team captain for the 1999 and 2000 seasons. An exceptional leader and motivator, Riggert's drive to be a nationally ranked thrower has been displayed every day in the weightroom.

Fungai Tongoona, men's tennis
Fungai Tongoona, a sophomore from Harare, Zimbabwe, is a 2x Lifter of the Year recipient. Tongoona's persistence in the weightroom has paid off for him on the court, and this success is evident to his teammates. He has increased his squat from 205 lbs. to 285 lbs. since coming to Nebraska, and his dedication and intensity in the weight room has directly influenced his speed and quickness on the tennis court. Tongoona always gives 100% whether it is in the weightroom, on the court or in the classroom.

Brad Vering, wrestling
Brad Vering, a junior from Howells, Nebraska, consistently places in the top five for wrestling performance and strength indexes. He has made noticeable gains each year on all strength and performance indicators, including a 2" improvement in his vertical jump in the last year. Since coming to Nebraska, Vering has gained 11 pounds of total body weight and improved his 10-yard dash by .06 seconds. Vering, the 2000 NCAA 197-pound national champion, has been a 3x All-American, won the 1997 Big XII Championship for his weight class and has earned Academic All-Big XII honors twice. Vering's dedication on and off the mat, and his strong work ethic, discipline and leadership in the weightroom was evident as he led his team to an 8th place finish at the 2000 NCAA Wrestling Championships.