Gonzaga’s men’s and women’s basketball program received numerous conference awards this week for having outstanding squads on and off the court.
Most importantly, redshirt junior Mike Hart and senior Shannon Reader were named to the WCC All-Academic teams. Hart is a Business Administration major and tallied a 3.63 GPA. Reader earned a 3.26 GPA as a Public Relations major.
On the court, GU had a strong presence, with numerous men and women making the all-conference team, as well as earning individual awards.
Gonzaga dominated the WCC awards, proving they are the best of the WCC
Four lady Zags were honored as Kayla Standish and Katelan Redmon were named to the All-WCC first team squad. The seniors, who both represented the United States in the Pan-Am games prior to the season starting, had a great year individually, and as a team for the Zags. They are a part of the winningest class in GU Women’s Basketball history.
Haiden Palmer, a red-shirt sophomore, was honored as the Co-newcomer of the Year for the league—she transferred after her freshman season at Oregon State. Palmer was also a first-team Honorable Mention. Freshman Sunny Greinacher was named to the All-Freshman team.
For the men, senior Rob Sacre was named the West Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year. His seven foot presence and ability to block-out in the paint made it extremely difficult for opponents to move inside on the Zags. Sacre also racked up enough blocks this season to move to second all-time in that stat at GU. He was given a spot on the league’s 10-man WCC First team, as well.
Kevin Pangos, the freshman super star from Canada was honored as the WCC Newcomer of the Year. Pangos lit up the conference awards, earning spots on the all-WCC first team roster, and the All-Freshman team. He was joined by fellow freshman starter Gary Bell Jr. on the conference freshman squad.
Joining Pangos and Sacre on the 10-man team, was junior Elias Harris. For his third straight year the power forward was honored by the conference. As a freshman he earned a spot on the first team and as the New Comer of the Year. Last season he was recognized as an honorable mention for the all-conference roster.
