YVC Voice

Student-athletes from Yakima Valley College’s six sports were honored for their accomplishments in competition and in the classroom during the annual YVC Athletics Awards Ceremony on May 31.

Receiving top honors as recipients of the Larry Densley Award and Mary Sherar Award, presented to YVC’s Male and Female Athletes of the Year respectively, were Carson Judd and Aliyah Finch.

Finch, a freshman women’s basketball player from Chelan, pulled off a trifecta as the NWAC East Region’s Most Valuable Player, Freshman of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. During the 2022-23 season, she led the entire conference in total rebounds (403) and rebounding average (14.4 per game) while also leading the Yaks in scoring (19.1 ppg) and blocked shots (1.5 per game). She earned a 3.7 GPA and has been named to the Dean’s List in each quarter at YVC. 

“Aliyah is one of the rare student-athletes that when she says she wants to be great, she means it,” said Women’s Basketball Head Coach Robin Andrea. “Her work ethic and competitiveness is only matched by her love for her teammates and her joy for playing the game.  She is truly one of one.” 

Finch has signed to play for Central Washington University next season.

Judd, a sophomore baseball player from Central Valley of Spokane, was named to the NWAC East Region’s First Team as a pitcher. For the season, he posted a 3.08 ERA and overall 5-3 record.  He was 7th in the entire NWAC with 86 strikeouts (in 81 innings pitched) during the 2023 season. Judd was also named to the NWAC All-Academic Team and has maintained a 3.5 GPA while being named to the Dean’s List three times over the course of his YVC career.

“Carson was the foundational piece of our pitching staff and was solid as a rock,” said Head Baseball Coach Ben Krueger. “We could always count on a quality start to give us the best chance for victory. As a lefty, his best days are ahead of him and we look forward to watching him grow.” 

Carson has signed to play for Washington State University next year.

Each team also presented its 2022-23 awards at the ceremony.

Baseball

• Consistency Award: Zaid Flynn   
• Bobo Brayton Captain’s Award: Matthew Sauve
• Mel Stottlemyre Most Valuable Pitcher: Jagger Harris
• Bill Faller Most Valuable Player: Carson Judd
• Bob Garretson Big Stick Award: Peyton Rickard
• Most Improved Player: Rece Allensworth

Men’s Basketball

• Yakety Yak (Top Offensive Player): Javonte Darrett
• ManiYak (Top Defensive Player): Bright Kari
• Most Valuable Teammate: Mason Tinley      
• Yaktitude (Positive Attitude Award): D’Taye Joe
• Most Improved Player: Jamon Kemp

Softball

• Most Valuable Player: Madison Kennedy
• Most Inspirational Player: Helina Hahn
• Most Improved Player: Emma Jay
• Hustle Award: Alyssa Sosky
• Coaches Award: Paige Thompson

Volleyball

• Most Inspirational: Brynn Widner     
• Most Improved: Jessica Mariscal
• Best Offensive Player: Courtney Standley
• Best Defensive Player: Nizhoni Tallman
• Coaches Award: Alandra Acido-Pastor

Women’s Soccer

• Most Inspirational: Reagan Doty
• Most Improved: Elena Barkley
• Best Offense: Ella McKenna
• Best Defense: Taelyr Overby
• Best Teammate: Brooke Hovsepian
• Coaches Award: Rachel Farr

Women’s Basketball

• Most Valuable Player: Aliyah Finch
• Most Improved Player: Jasslyn Ramos
• Most Inspirational Player: Iliana Ramos

NWAC All-Star Awards

• Baseball – Andrew Graham (First Team); Caleb Gray (Second Team)
• Soccer – Rachel Farr
• Volleyball – Courtney Standley, Dale Schrier and Nizhoni Tallman (Sophomore All-Star Team)

NWAC All-Region Awards

• Baseball – Andrew Graham, Caleb Gray and Carson Judd (First Team); Peyton Rickard (Second Team)
• Men’s Basketball – Javonte Darrett (Second Team); Bright Kari (All Defense)
• Soccer – Rachel Farr (Most Valuable Player), Aria Bragalone and Ella McKenna (All East Region Team)
• Softball – Madison Kennedy (First Team); Alyssa Sosky and Helina Hahn (Second Team)
• Volleyball – Courtney Standley (First Team); Nizhoni Tallman (Second Team); Alandra Acido-Pastor (Sophomore All-Star Team)
• Women’s Basketball – Aliyah Finch (Most Valuable Player, Freshman of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year)

NWAC Academic Awards

YVC student-athletes honored as NWAC Academic All-Stars for earning a cumulative GPA of 3.25-3.49 with a minimum of 60 credits were:

• Baseball – Spencer Shipman
• Soccer – Rachel Farr
• Softball – Helina Hahn, Samantha Shamhart

YVC student-athletes honored with All-NWAC Academic Awards for earning a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher with a minimum of 60 credits were:

• Baseball – Carson Judd, Kevin Corder
• Soccer – Addison Adams, Ella Mckenna, Peyton Haycock, Reagan Doty, Taelyr Overby
• Volleyball – Courtney Standley, Emaline Mariscal-Weinert
• Women’s Basketball –  Courtney Standley