NEWS

05/08/10

Inaugural Character Champion Award Announced at Spring Meeting

PALM SPRINGS, CA - The inaugural Fair-Play Character Champion Award was announced on May 3 at the Orange Empire Conference (OEC) spring meeting. OEC Commissioner John Keever announced Sam Morales of Santiago Canyon College and Caitlin Segert of Irvine Valley College as the first winners of the annual award. Two student-athletes from each member college received Honorable Mention (see list below).

The OEC Character Champion Award is given annually to the Orange Empire Conference male and female student-athlete that exhibits high character traits of sportsmanship, respect, caring, fairness, civility, honesty, integrity, and responsibility. The annual award is sponsored by Fair-Play Scoreboards.

Sam Morales, Santiago Canyon College, Soccer, Cross Country and Track & Field
Sam Morales was selected for the award after being the first three-sport athlete in the history of Santiago Canyon College (SCC) by competing on the soccer team, the cross country team and the track & field team. During his time at SCC, Morales was named First-Team All-Orange Empire Conference in soccer, qualified for the regional championships in cross country and track & field and was named team most valuable player in soccer and track & field.

Morales' soccer coach, Wade Fraser, expressed that Morales shows the ability to consistently maintain a positive balance between his competitive nature and desire to win with his respect for sports and those he competes against. While his compassion towards competitors was seen on the soccer field as he helped players to their feet, it was in the individual sports where he shined.

Upon finishing his races, Morales didn't view the races as over, rather he would turn back to the course and cheer his teammates on all the way to the finish line. Sam was often seen cheering on his competitors while the same was true the opposite way.

Off the field, Morales was considered polite and well-mannered while treating others with the utmost respect. He also spent time giving back to the community by volunteering at the Orange Foundation Games and serving as a walk-on coach at Costa Mesa High School.

"Sam is not the most talented athlete that I have ever coached," said Shawn Cummins, head cross country coach and track & field coach at SCC. "But he is unquestionably the finest person that I have had the opportunity and pleasure to coach."

Caitlin Segert, Irvine Valley College, Volleyball
Caitlin Segert was selected for the award after two seasons as a member of the Irvine Valley College (IVC) women's volleyball team. Segert carried a 3.29 GPA while working towards her AA in general studies. She was named an IVC Scholar-Athlete both years while being a member of the only California community college team to be named Team Academic All-Americans by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

Caitlin was the driving force in IVC’s first-ever Dig Pink event.  This national effort is dedicated to raising awareness of the extent to which breast cancer impacts all of our lives, and is a fundraiser for breast cancer research.  She helped coordinate the event in conjunction with the coaching staff and athletic administration, and was directly responsible for the effort of the women’s volleyball student-athletes in obtaining raffle prizes, give-aways, and auction items which helped raise over $2,000 that evening.

Head coach Tom Pestolesi pointed out that her work ethic was remarkable, and she gave a focused, all-out effort each day at practice, in the weight room, and on game day.  He continued that she was the only player he has coached that literally thanked her coaching staff whenever they corrected her.  Her intent was always to make the most of every day, and her leadership, both by actions and her words, were instrumental in taking her teammates to the state Final Four in women’s volleyball in 2009.  Her efforts have been rewarded with an All-OEC selection in 2009, and her acceptance of an athletic scholarship to Vanguard University to study kinesiology in the fall of 2010.

Pestolesi also described Segert off the court as caring, friendly, earnest, and most importantly having the most integrity of any player in the history of the program.  Caitlin is the kind of student-athlete first to put up the nets and the last one to leave the gym without asking for help or drawing attention to her efforts.  Caitlin has established a new benchmark for excellence within the IVC program, but has already begun efforts to remain a part of the program as an alumna and mentor.

2010 Orange Empire Conference Fair-Play Character Champions