FINAL COMMISSIONER’S CUP STANDINGS  |  COMPLETE HONORS VIDEO
 
SAN MATEO, Calif. – At the conclusion of each academic year, the West Coast Conference announces its major individual year-end honors as a celebration of the best and brightest to represent the Conference and its member institutions.

Today, the West Coast Conference is pleased to announce the 2021 Mike Gilleran WCC Scholar-Athletes of the Year, Postgraduate Scholarship recipients, WCC Sportsmanship Awards and the #WCCRepresent Award. Interviews with all recipients can be viewed HERE.



2021 WCC YEAR-END MAJOR HONORS
Mike Gilleran WCC Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year – 
Corey Kispert, Gonzaga
Mike Gilleran WCC Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year – 
Ashley Lahey, Pepperdine
WCC Postgraduate Male Scholarship – 
Ross Meldrum, San Diego
WCC Postgraduate Female Scholarship – 
Olivia Hoj-Simister, BYU 
WCC Male Sportsmanship Award – 
Ryan Bisharat, San Diego
WCC Female Sportsmanship Award – 
Kristín Gunnarsdóttir, Pacific
#WCCRepresent Award – 
Saint Mary’s Volleyball
 
MIKE GILLERAN SCHOLAR-ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
The Mike Gilleran Scholar-Athlete of the Year is selected by a vote of the WCC's Executive Council to recognize the finest accomplishments in athletics, academics and community service by individuals who have completed their collegiate eligibility. The award is named in honor of the conference's first full-time commissioner, Mike Gilleran.
 
Corey Kispert, Gonzaga Men’s Basketball
Kispert turned in one of the most decorated careers in Gonzaga and WCC history, earning consensus First Team All-American honors and First Team Academic All-American honors as a senior after leading the Zags to an unbeaten regular season and the 2021 NCAA Championship game. The 2021 WCC Player of the Year was named the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year and was selected as the 2021 DI-AAA ADA Men's Scholar postgraduate recipient, and was named to the Division I-AAA ADA Men's Scholar Athlete Team.
 
Kispert played in 137 games during his collegiate career at GU, and he won 126 of those contests. He is the winningest Division I men’s college basketball player in the last 25 years for student-athletes that appeared in at least 100 games. Kispert ended his Bulldog career tied for third in program history with 126 wins. He ranks fourth all-time at GU with 270 made three-pointers in his career, and 12th with 1,586 points. Kispert is the 11th Gonzaga men’s basketball student-athlete to be named the Gilleran Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year and the first since Josh Perkins in 2019.
 
Ashley Lahey, Pepperdine Women’s Tennis
A three-time All-American, Lahey wrapped up one of the most decorated tennis careers in program and WCC history by leading the Waves to a historic march to the 2021 NCAA Championship match. A 2020 CoSIDA Academic All-American selection and a three-time WCC All-Academic selection, Lahey rose to No. 1 in the ITA singles rankings in 2020 and was the 2018 NCAA Singles National Runner-Up. The 2020 ITA Senior Player of the Year was a four-time All-WCC First Team Singles selection.
 
During her five seasons in Malibu, she led the Waves to four NCAA Tournament appearances and four WCC regular season championships. A standout in the classroom, Lahey was a five-time Pepperdine Scholar-Athlete and captured the 2020 ITA Southwest Region Arthur Ashe Award. Lahey is the fifth Pepperdine student-athlete to be named the Gilleran Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year and the first since soccer standout Ana Pontes captured the honor in 2013.
 
WCC POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS
To be eligible for a WCC Postgraduate Scholarship, a student-athlete must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25, demonstrate significant athletic contributions to his or her sport for a minimum of two years, and have a record of participation in campus or community activities. He or she also must submit a personal statement of intention to attend graduate or professional school for which this scholarship would be awarded.
 
Ross Meldrum, San Diego Men’s Soccer
A two-time All-WCC selection as a central midfielder, Meldrum turned in a standout career for the San Diego men’s soccer program, making 44 starts for the Toreros. A team captain in 2020-21, Meldrum earned all-region honors as a junior while posting a stellar 3.80 GPA in Economics/Political Science. The Chelmsford, England native was active on campus, serving as Vice President of the USD Economics Council, the USD Model United Nations and served as the USD SAAC Team Representative. Active in the community, Meldrum assisted in organization efforts to provide care packages for Air Force first responders working in area hospitals and clinics.
 
Meldrum plans to continue his education at the London School of Economics where he will pursue his MSc in Developmental Studies. Meldrum is the second Torero to earn a Male Postgraduate Award since the program was established in 2004 when men’s soccer standout Kellen Hiroto took home honors in the debut of the scholarship.
 
Olivia Hoj-Simister, BYU Cross Country/Track
Hoj-Simister capped a remarkable career with BYU Cross Country, by helping the Cougars secure a runner-up finish at the 2019 NCAA National Championship. A two-time All-WCC First Team selection, Hoj-Simister helped BYU to 13 race titles and 27 top-10 individual showings in her four-year career. The Holladay, Utah native was active on campus, serving as the co-chair for BYU SAAC since her arrival on campus in 2016. A standout in the classroom, Hoj-Simister posted a sparkling 3.94 GPA in Public Health (Emphasis Health Promotion) and was a five-time honoree on the USTFCCCA All-Academic honor roll and was a three-time WCC All-Academic Team selection.
 
Hoj-Simister is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Public Administration at BYU with an emphasis in the Non-Profit sector. Hoj-Simister is the first Cougar to earn a Female Postgraduate Scholarship Award since the program was established in 2004.
 
WCC STUDENT-ATHLETE SPORTSMANSHIP AWARDS
WCC Sportsmanship Awards are nominated and voted on solely by the 10 Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) groups. The awards are designed to celebrate outstanding sportsmanship exhibited during competition, practice and behind the scenes.
 
Ryan Bisharat, San Diego Men’s Golf
A graduate student on the USD men’s golf team. Bisharat played a key role in propelling the Toreros to the NCAA Regionals and the first NCAA Nationals berth for the program since 2011. After struggling in round two of the NCAA Regionals and with the Toreros very much in contention for a trip to the national tournament, Bisharat approached the coaching staff and asked to be substituted in the final round. His replacement performed well and the Toreros advanced due in no small part to the selflessness displayed by Bisharat.
 
Kristín Gunnarsdóttir, Pacific Women’s Soccer
After learning she would be unable to compete as a senior due to career-ending medical issues, Gunnarsdóttir remained involved by dedicating her senior season to assisting the program in a myriad of ways. During a spring season dominated by COVID-19 challenges, Gunnarsdóttir played a lead role in ensuring testing was scheduled and performed and supervised equipment issue and match day needs.
 
#WCCREPRESENT AWARD
The #WCCREPRESENT award is unique as it may honor a student-athlete, team, or campus Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) for initiatives that promote the positive WCC SAAC values of sportsmanship and community service. The winner is recognized for efforts to represent the #WCCREPRESENT tagline: Our Conference. Our School. Our Team. Ourselves.
 
Saint Mary’s Volleyball
In January of 2020, Saint Mary’s Volleyball began a new initiative focused on raising awareness, combating and supporting survivors of human trafficking. The team started its own campus-approved club named LIGHT: Gaels Against Human Trafficking. The team immersed in education under the direction and mentorship of the organization “Love Never Fails” – https://www.loveneverfailsus.com/ – and did community outreach to engage the public and raise awareness. Once campus life emerges from COVID-19 restrictions, LIGHT: Gaels Against Human Trafficking, plans to engage in more community events.