SEWARD, Neb. – Starting with the 2017-18 academic year, the Bulldog Athletic Association began naming male and female athletes of the month. Nominees for the monthly award will be comprised of the Bulldog Athletic Association athletes of the week throughout that month. The athletes of the month for January were voted on by attendees at the Feb. 6 Athletic Association luncheon. Recipients of the monthly awards will receive plaques from the athletic department.
The Bulldog Athletic Association Athletes of the Month of January are seniors Dani Hoppes of the women’s basketball program and Kyle Pierce of the men’s basketball program.
A native of Lincoln, Neb., Hoppes enjoyed an impressive month of January during which she averaged 12.5 points and 2.4 steals per game while shooting 42.3 percent from the field and 37.3 percent from 3-point range over 10 games. Among the highlights of the month, Hoppes reached 1,000 career points in the home win over Briar Cliff on Jan. 10. She later totaled 36 points and went 10-for-19 from beyond the arc during a Concordia Invitational Tournament championship run, leading her to be named CIT MVP. On the season, Hoppes is averaging 11.3 points and 1.8 steals and has helped the second-ranked Bulldogs to a 25-1 overall record.
Pierce, who hails from Haxtun, Colo., has made a big leap in his senior season. During January, he averaged 11.3 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.7 steals while shooting 44.2 percent from the field over 10 games. The highlight of the month was a career high 21-point outing that included 10 rebounds in the win at Hastings on Jan. 24. This season, Pierce has averaged 11.2 points and 6.5 rebounds and has shot 46.1 percent from the field. A career year for Pierce has played a significant role in the team’s 16-9 overall record.
Bulldog Athletic Association Athletes of the Month of January 2018
Male: Kyle Pierce, Basketball | Haxtun, Colo. | Sr.
Female: Dani Hoppes, Basketball | Lincoln, Neb. | Sr.
Other nominees
Male – Jacob Cornelio, track & field; Josiah McAllister, track & field
Female – Anna Baack, track & field; Brenleigh Daum, basketball
Bulldog Athletic Association Athletes of the Month of December 2017
Male: Cordell Gillingham, Basketball | Greeley, Colo. | So.
Female: Philly Lammers, Basketball | Omaha, Neb. | So.
Other nominees
Male – Brevin Sloup, basketball; Jared Woods, wrestling
Female – Taylor Cockerill, basketball; Sydney Feller, basketball
Bulldog Athletic Association Athletes of the Month of November 2017
Male: Tarence Roby, Football | Rockford, Ill. | Sr.
Female: Quinn Wragge, Basketball | Crofton, Neb. | Jr.
Other nominees
Male – Cameron Devers, wrestling; Jake Hornick, basketball
Female – Jeannelle Condame, soccer; Emily Deschaine, cross country
Bulldog Athletic Association Athletes of the Month of October 2017
Male: Ryan Durdon, Football | Decatur, Texas | So.
Female: Lindsey Carley, Soccer | Urbandale, Iowa | So.
Other nominees
Male – Carlos Ferrer, soccer; Marcelo Hernandez, soccer; Grady Koch, football; Micah Lehenbauer, soccer
Female – Sami Birmingham, soccer; Maria Deeter, soccer; Kaitlyn Radebaugh, soccer
Bulldog Athletic Association Athletes of the Month of September 2017
Male: Tarence Roby, Football | Rockford, Ill. | Sr.
Female: Lindsey Carley, Soccer | Urbandale, Iowa | So.
Other nominees
Male – Jack Bennett, soccer; Kordell Glause, football; Lewis Rathbone, soccer
Female – Victoria Cera, soccer; Emily Deschaine, cross country; Murphy Sears, golf