Wecker Among Top 10 Senior CLASS Award Finalists
Mar 02, 2005 | Women's Basketball
KANSAS CITY, Mo. Kansas State’s Kendra Wecker was recently selected as one of 10 female finalists for the 2005 Bayer Advantage Senior CLASS Award presented annually to the most outstanding NCAA Division I senior basketball player.
The women’s finalists also included Notre Dame’s Jacqueline Batteast, Baylor’s Steffanie Blackmon, Tennessee’s Shyra Ely, TCU’s Sandora Irvin, LSU’s Temeka Johnson, Ohio State’s Caity Matter, Minnesota’s Janel McCarville, Mississippi State’s Tan White and Penn State’s Tanisha Wright.
The male candidates included Vermont’s Taylor Coppenrath, Marquette’s Travis Diener, Duke’s Daniel Ewing, Oklahoma State’s Joey Graham and John Lucas III, Mississippi State’s Lawrence Roberts, Kansas’ Wayne Simien, Notre Dame’s Chris Thomas, Gonzaga’s Ronny Turiaf and Syracuse’s Hakim Warrick.
A national committee of sportswriters and sportscasters selected the 10 men’s and 10 women’s finalists for the fourth annual award. The names of the finalists will appear on the official ballot during the national voting process throughout the month of March.
The winners will be determined by a points system involving three voting groups: the national media committee, Division I head basketball coaches and national online fan balloting via the official website at: www.seniorclassaward.com.
The Senior CLASS Award an acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School was launched during the 2001-02 college basketball season. It is designed to honor the attributes of seniors who remain committed to their university and elect to pursue the many rewards that a senior season can bring. Legendary sportscaster Dick Enberg initiated the idea for the award and now serves as Honorary Chairman.
“The award is designed to return the prestige and dignity of being a senior college basketball player,” Enberg said. “It’s not intended to say that leaving early for pro basketball is wrong, rather to celebrate those who do decide to return for a senior season.”
The winners will be announced on national television during the 2005 Final Four tournaments in St. Louis (NCAA Men’s Final Four) and Indianapolis (NCAA Women’s Final Four). At the same time, the Bayer Advantage Senior CLASS Award will also announce its first and second all-senior All-America teams, based on ballot results.
The remarkable story of Shane Battier leading Duke to the 2001 national championship in his senior year inspired the inception of the award. Last season, Saint Joseph’s Jameer Nelson and Duke’s Alana Beard were honored joining an elite company of past winners including Maryland’s Juan Dixon, Connecticut’s Sue Bird, Xavier’s David West and Mississippi State’s LaToya Thomas.
The Fourth Annual Tribute Gala for the Senior CLASS Awards will be held on Saturday, April 30, at the Westin Crown Center, in downtown Kansas City, Mo. The event is hosted by the Pride of Kansas City Foundation.
