PSU recognizes 19 premier student-athletes

Pittsburg State recognized 19 of its premier student-athletes Thursday morning during the 15th annual PSU Outstanding Student-Athlete Recognition at Memorial Auditorium.

Tyler Anliker (men's cross country and track), Calin Archer (football), Mike Beeler (men's track and field), Hilary Erbert (softball), Billy Ewy (football), Bren Fisher (golf), Derek Fisher (football), Britnee Foster (women's basketball), Matt Haffner (men's cross country and track), Kelsey Henson (softball), Adrian Herrera (men's basketball), Derek Jackson (football), Eric Love (football), Amanda Orloske (women's basketball), Hal Rivard (football), Heidi Smith (women's track and field), Courtney Tate (women's basketball), Kaley Temaat (women's cross country and track) and Jon Thomas (football) earned distinction as being "the best of the best" in college athletics.

Head football coach Tim Beck, head cross country and track and field coach Russ Jewett, head women's basketball coach Lane Lord, head men's basketball coach Kevin Muff, head softball coach Elizabeth Economon and head golf coach Matt Brock provided words on each athlete. Here's a few of the highlights.

Beck on Ewy: Billy has been a very unheralded member of our football team. No one in the stands knows the long snapper unless a play goes bad and thanks to Billy, we didn't have many bad plays in the kicking game. He will be missed and I am sure his work ethic in practice and in games will benefit him as he pursues a professional career after college.

Jewett on Beeler: Mike is probably one of the most determined throwers that I've ever coached. His fierce competitive attitude toward being the best he can be has never faded and that is the attitude he takes to his teammates as a captain of the team. . . . If everyone on our team had his attitude and dedication toward their events, we'd never lose a MIAA championship. Mike is one of those guys that come along every 10 years and I am so very fortunate to be here to share in his journey as a Gorilla.

Lord on Orloske: Amanda and her career could be summed up in one word, discipline. Amanda never missed a practice, conditioning event, team meeting, community service project, film session or game in her four years. To take it a step further, Amanda was the first player in the gym and the last player to leave every single day of her playing career at Pitt. Amanda may have been the most important player in our program during our rebuilding process because of the example she set for all our players on a daily basis.

Muff on Herrera: As his coach for four years, I understood and always appreciated the fact that I could depend on and trust in Adrian. If you asked Adrian where his inspiration and work ethic originated, he would answer family and friends, the foundation of which comes from his mother Jennifer and his father Steve. . . . He took the lessons of time management and extra effort learned as a basketball player and applied them to his academic pursuits. He's incredibly creative and inventive, which will serve him well when he graduates with his degree in broadcasting communication.

Economon on Erbert: Hilary is the epitome of leadership. She is self-motivated and has a phenomenal work ethic. She has played an integral role in the softball program in her career and this year has been no different. Hilary embodies exactly what every coach wants in a student-athlete. There are not enough words to express her importance to our program.

Brock on Bren Fisher: Bren did an outstanding job on and off the golf course. He excelled in tournaments and in the classroom but more importantly he made his mark as a person. His high character and leadership were recognized by competitors and spectators alike. He will continue to succeed after Pitt State and represent our athletics program and university very well.

Orloske responded on behalf of the student-athletes Thursday morning.

"When I first came to Pitt, I didn't know about all the tradition and community support that we have here," Orloske said. "But after being here for four years, I couldn't imagine playing for another school. For women's basketball, just the support we received throughout our regular season and postseason run was really second-to-none. I'm so thankful to be a part of that because those are some of the memories I will take with me forever. So, I can definitely say once a Gorilla, always a Gorilla. Thank you."