PRESS RELEASE – The University of Guam’s Triton Athletics and Field House Department gave out their annual varsity athletic awards for 2022-23 on Wednesday night at the UOG Calvo Field House in a ceremony that was attended by over 75 student-athletes, parents and friends. Rebecca Salas, a women’s beach and indoor volleyball player, won the Student-Athlete of the Year award.
Said Doug Palmer, the UOG Athletics Director, “This is the best showing of student-athletes to ever attend our Student Athletic Awards as the program has grown from 4 sports 7 years ago to 8 sports this year. We are so happy, especially in the aftermath of the typhoon, to put a smile on so many faces tonight and award so many talented student-athletes, both in their sport and their academics”.
The Tritons gave out four awards to each sport, to include their Most Valuable Player, Best Offense, Best Defense and Sportsmanship. The eight sports included Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball, Men’s Soccer, Women’s Soccer, Indoor Volleyball, Beach Volleyball, Baseball and Women’s Rugby.
Each coach for the sports announced the winners while UOG’s President, Dr. Thomas Krise, and Dean of Enrollment Management & Student Success, Dr. Lawrence Camacho, presented the awards.
Rebecca Salas as Student-Athlete of the Year was named MVP for Beach Volleyball and Best Offense for Indoor Volleyball to earn the top award in the varsity athletic program.
Special awards were given to Victor Consaga, for 7 years of service being the UOG Athletic Photographer and to Rozanna Claros, the “Voice of the Tritons”, for her work on the Triton Sports Zone podcast.
Doug Palmer also announced the addition of men’s volleyball for 2023-24 and introduced Joey Tedpahogo as the new Men’s Indoor and Beach Volleyball Coach.
The Tritons return to action in August with sport tryouts and then begin play in early September with most teams playing around or just after Labor Day.
UOG Varsity Sport Most Valuable Players:
Men’s Basketball: Logan Hopkins
Women’s Basketball: Lovely Nilooban
Women’s Indoor Volleyball: Jenna Almoguera
Women’s Beach Volleyball: Rebecca Salas
Men’s Soccer: Thomas Takumi Odell
Women’s Soccer: Olivia Leon Guerrero
Baseball: Jathan Muna-Barnes
Women’s Rugby: Katrina Penaflor
Student-Athlete of the Year: Rebecca Salas, Women’s Indoor & Beach Volleyball
