The St. Catherine University Athletic Department recently held their 2011-12 awards banquet. The annual event recaps the departments highlights and includes the handing out of several major awards.

First year Maria Koval was named the Wildcat Rookie of the Year. Koval played #2 singles and #1 or #2 doubles all season for the Wildcats. She finished the year with an overall record of 14-6 in singles play, including going 7-3 in conference action. Koval was even better in doubles finishing 16-4, and 8-2.

The Brady Williams Spirit Award is handed out to a member of the St. Kate's community who demonstrates consistent spirit and support for Wildcat Athletics. This year's winner was senior Sarah Vrudny. The two time swimming and diving team captain was also the teams most inspirational award winner and served as president of the Wildcat Student Athlete Advisory Committee (WSAAC). In her role as president of WSAAC Vrudny helped orgnaize "Wildcat Wednesdays", "Sister Sports", and numerous other outreach opportunities for the entire athletic department.

The Sheila Brown Wildcat Award had two recepients this year. Senior tennis player Lauren Beadnell and senior hockey team captain Kayla Clafton were both honored for their long term contribution of athleticism, scholarship, dedication, sportsmanship and leadership.

Clafton played in every single game during her four years with the Wildcats. Her steady leadership and positivie influence were major factors in the team compiling a record of 51-36-10, including a school best MIAC Runner-up finish in 2010, during her four year career. Clafton graduates as the all-time point leader by a defensemen, and holds the record for least penalty minutes in a four year career.  She did all of this as a senior team captain who was enrolled in graduate program coursework in Physcial Therapy. Clafton is graduating with a 3.7 GPA. She will continue her graduate studies in PT at St. Kate's next fall.

Beadnell has been the backbone of the tennis program during her four years. Beadnell's leadership and competitive sprit helped propel the team from winning one conference match her freshman year to making back-to-back trips to the MIAC playoffs during her junior and senior seasons. She was also active in WSAAC and a leader in the Wildcats cheering section at countless athletic contests. A newly inducted member into the Phi Betta Kappa academic honor society, Beadnell is graduating with a 3.8 GPA and will be entering law school in the fall.

The evening's final award, the McCahill Athlete of the Year award, was given to softball standout Alyssa Luedtke. The sophomore outfielder led the Wildcats in batting average, slugging percentage, on base percentage, runs, hits, triples and total bases. She set a St. Kate's school record for batting average (.467) and tied the record for triples in a season (5). Overall, Luedtke was second in the MIAC in batting average, fourth in on base percentage, second in hits and led the league in triples. She is also currently the Wildcats career leader in batting average and triples.

After finishing the year in 9th in the All-MIAC standings, and with a record setting 68 first year letter winners, the future of the Wildcats athletic department continues to be on the upswing.

The 2012-13 season kicks off in mind-August when soccer, volleyball, cross country and golf report back for the start of the new year.