The Bronco women may have only won one conference championship (swimming and diving), but there has never been a year with so many outstanding individual achievements. The team hardware may not have come yet, but I believe this is the year that Boise State took the next step towards being a conference power in women's sports. We salute the amazing accomplishments of these great Bronco student-athletes, the nominees for the 2011-2012 Bronco Women's Athlete of the Year.
Consider what each of these outstanding nominees has done, then please vote in our poll, which is located at the top left of the web page.
Bates ran in six meets for the Bronco cross country team, placing third at the Roger Curran 4K with a time of 15:04.29. She was 11th in the 6k course at the Mountain West Conference cross country championships with a time of 21:33.1 to help Boise State finish third. Bates was named to the All-Mountain West Second Team. She qualified for the NCAA West Regional Championships and finished 52nd in the 6K with a time of 21:30.
Bates won the 3,000-meters at the Bronco Invitational with a time of 10:12.44, then won the mile in 4:59.13 at the Bronco Classic two weeks later. Up against stiff competition, Emma finished 32nd in the 5,000 at the prestigious Husky Invite with a time of 16:53.29. Bates won the 3,000-meters at the Mountain West Indoor Championships, crossing the finish line with a time of 9:47.11, and placed fifth in the 5,000 in 17:11.34.
Emma and the Broncos then began the outdoor season with the Idaho Cup, where she won the 1,500-meters with a mark of 4:29.84. Bates repeated the feat at the Albertsons War 5 meet with a time of 4:29.99. Bates won the 5,000 at the Mountain West Championships with a Stadium record of 17:08.36. Bates finished 11th in the 5,000 at the NCAA Regionals, finishing with a career-best 16:16.74 to qualify for the NCAA National Championships with the 16th best time in the nation this season. Emma also finished 15th in the 10,000 meters at the Regionals (34:48.55), just three places and 24 seconds shy of qualifying for the NCAA Championships.
Bates finished 12th at the Championships with a time of 16:43.84 and attained All-America status. She is the first woman in school history to be named an All-American in the 5,000 meters. Bates rallied from 17th place with one lap to go and had the top time in the nation among freshmen.
Boucher won the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 56.49 and helped the 200-yard medley relay team and the 400-yard freestyle relay team win with times of 1:45.51 and 3:33.08, respectively, against Idaho. In a tri-meet with New Mexico and Seattle, Boucher won the 100-yard butterfly (56.24) and helped the 400-yard freestyle (3:31.46) and 400-yard medley relay teams win first. Amber won the 100-yard butterfly (56.17) and helped both the Bronco 200 free relay team (1:36.18) and the 400 free relay team (3:28.39) win first at the prestigious Rice Invitational.
Amber won the 50-yard freestyle (23.85), the 200-yard freestyle (1:51.37) and the 100-yard butterfly (55.53) and helped the Boise State 200-yard medley relay team beat Seattle with a time of 1:45.40. At the acclaimed Missouri Invitational, Boucher set a new Mountain West Conference record in winning the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 49.01 and helped the 400-yard freestyle relay team take first place. Boucher won the 200-yard freestyle in 1:49.68 and the 100-yard butterfly in 54.57 and helped the Bronco 200-yard free relay team (1:34.34) win against UCLA. Amber led the Broncos to victory in the 400-yard (3:26.86) and 800-yard freestyle (7:32.66) relays at the San Diego Relays.
Boucher won the 100-yard butterfly (55.59) and the 200-yard freestyle (1:50.28) and helped the 200-yard medley relay team (1:44.52) and the 400 freestyle relay team (3:28.57) defeat Oregon State.
With her team down by one point to San Diego State entering the final event, Boucher helped the Boise State 400-yard freestyle relay team set a Mountain West Conference record (3:17.55) to win the title. Amber set a new Mountain West record in winning the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 22.31, won the 100-yard butterfly in 52.30 and was second in the conference in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 48.51. She also helped the 400-yard medley and 800-yard freestyle relay teams as they set new Mountain West records with times of 3:35.59 and 7:13.40, respectively and helped the Bronco 200 freestyle relay team to a title with a Championship record of 1:30.14.
Boucher finished 22nd in the 100-yard butterfly, 23rd in the 100-yard freestyle and 39th in the 50-yard freestyle at the NCAA Championships. Boucher helped the 200-yard freestyle relay team swim a 1:29.83, a top 15 time in the nation.
Bridges' seventh-inning homer helped the Broncos defeat Cal State Northridge 5-3. She had a home run in each game as Boise State downed both Creighton and North Dakota State. With her team down to its final two outs, Bridges blasted a game-tying home run in the seventh against Minnesota, enabling Boise State to down the Big Ten Conference team 2-1 in eight innings. Bridges ripped the go-ahead home run in the sixth inning, then gunned down a runner at the plate in the seventh to end the game in a 3-2 win over Portland State.
With the Broncos needing a series sweep at perennial NCAA team San Diego State, Bridges blasted two home runs in the opener in a 6-1 Boise State win.
Bridges proved her freshman season was no fluke. Bridges batted .342 this season, 9th in the Mountain West, with 14 home runs (5th in the conference) and 40 runs batted in. She was named to the All-Mountain West Conference team.
Glass won the floor exercises (9.85) and the all-around (39.45) in a win over BYU. Amy was third in the all-around (39.225) and second on vault (9.875) against highly-regarded UCLA, Missouri and Illinois as the Broncos took second place. Amy won the balance beam with a brilliant 9.9, rung up another 9.9 on floor exercises and tied for first on vault (9.825) in a win over San Jose State. Glass scored a 9.925 on uneven bars to help Boise State defeat Southern Utah. Amy scored another 9.925 to win the bars in another Bronco victory over BYU.
Amy scored a sensational 9.950 to win the competition at the NCAA Regionals and she was third on the floor (9.90) and third in the uneven bars with a solid score of 9.85. Against the best in the Region, Amy had a 39.450 all-around to place fourth.
Glass qualified for the NCAA Championships, and scored a 9.9 on the balance beam for sixth in the nation, 9.8 on vault to take 30th, a 9.825 on bars to place 20th and a 9.75 on floor for 34th place. Her 39.275 all-around score placed her 15th. Glover's balance beam score of 9.90 and her all-around score set school records for the best performances at the championship meet.
Glass was named the AAI Winner at the NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championship banquet. The award is essentially the sport's equivalent to the Heisman Trophy in football. It is given annually to the top senior student-athlete in the nation by a vote of the sport's head coaches from around the country. Glass edged talented gymnasts such as Kat Ding of George, Megan Ferguson of Oklahoma, Leslie Mak of Oregon State, Jaime Pisani of Arkansas and Geralen Stack-Eaton of Alabama.
Glover hit an early home run that helped propel the Broncos to a 5-4 win in the prestigious Wilson/DeMartini Invitational in Tempe, Arizona. She was the spark plug that ignited the Bronco team and worried opposing pitchers across the country.
Glover batted .481 this season (2nd in the Mountain West) for the Broncos with a .515 on-base percentage (3rd in the conference) to help Boise State finish second in the Mountain West Conference. She led the MWC with a school-record 88 hits and 18 stolen bases, Tara's slugging percentage of .708 was second in the league and her 54 runs ranked third. Tara established a new Mountain West sophomore record in hits, breaking the record set by San Diego State's Kellie Nordhagen in 2000, and her total is fourth all-time in conference history. Glover reached base in a school record 37 consecutive games, and she finished the season by reaching base in 49 of the Broncos' 51 games. Glover also hit in a record-tying 13 consecutive games.
In conference play, Tara hit an unbelievable .622 with an on-base percentage of .638. Both rank second in conference history and her 1.067 slugging percentage is third-best all-time in the Mountain West. Glover's 28 hits against MW foes ranks seventh all-time, cracking the list with only 12 games when all other spots are occupied by players with at least 18 games. Tara recorded a hit in 11 of the 12 games, including 10 multi-hit games. In conference games, Glover led the league in hits, batting average and stolen bases (6), while ranking second in runs (17), doubles (six) and slugging percentage. Tara also hit four homers and a triple.
Glover was named Co-Mountain West Player of the Year and was also honored by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Pacific Region Second Team. One week later, Glover became the first softball All-American as she was named to the Third Team by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
Lenhardt had 14 points and six rebounds as the Broncos downed Pepperdine 68-57 and she posted 20 points and seven rebounds in the 68-58 win over UC-Riverside. Lauren poured in 23 points and grabbed six rebounds in a 65-46 Mountain West Conference win over New Mexico. Lenhardt ripped the nets for 29 points in an 81-75 win over Air Force, and had 16 points, including 12 consecutive Bronco points, and five rebounds as Gordy Presnell's team won an important road game at New Mexico, 68-64.
Lenhardt had 18 points and seven rebounds as Boise State won its first-ever Mountain West Conference tournament game, 68-63 over Colorado State. Lenhardt was 7-14 from the field including a three-pointer, and was 3-3 from the free-throw line to advance the Broncos to the semifinals. Lenhardt had 18 points and 10 rebounds in the conference semifinal 51-50 loss to New Mexico.
North began the season winning the 50-yard freestyle (23.71), the 100 (51.94) and the 200-yard freestyle (1:51.33) and helped the 400-yard freestyle relay team (3:33.08) win against Idaho. In a tri-meet with New Mexico and Seattle, North won the 50-yard free (23.63) and helped the 400-yard freestyle (3:31.46) and 400-yard medley relay teams (3:48.07) capture first place. North won the 50-yard freestyle (23.83) and the 100 free (51.14) and helped both the Bronco 200 free relay team (1:36.18) and the 400 free relay team (3:28.39) win first at the prestigious Rice Invitational.
North won the 100-yard freestyle (52.10) and helped the Boise State 200-yard medley relay and the 400-yard medley relay (3:36.19) teams beat Seattle with a time of 1:45.40. At the acclaimed Missouri Invitational, North helped the 400-yard freestyle relay team take first place. She helped the Bronco 200-yard free relay team (1:34.34) win against UCLA and anchored both the Bronco 400-yard (3:26.86) and 800-yard freestyle relay (7:32.66) teams in their wins at the San Diego Relays. Stephanie won the 50-yard freestyle (23.64) and the 100 free (51.48) and helped the 200-yard medley relay team (1:44.52) and the 400-yard free relay team (3:28.57) defeat Oregon State.
North won first in the 100-yard freestyle (48.34), the 200-yard freestyle (1:47.01), finished second in the 50-yard freestyle at the Mountain West Conference Championships with an NCAA qualifying time of 22.33 and also anchored the 400-yard medley and 800-yard freestyle relay teams as they set new Mountain West records with times of 3:35.59 and 7:13.40, respectively, and anchored the 200-yard free relay team to a win with a time of 1:30.14. Then, with her team down by one point to San Diego State entering the final event, North anchored the Boise State 400-yard freestyle relay team set a Mountain West Conference record (3:17.55) to win the title.
North finished 19th in the 100-yard freestyle (48.85), 40th in the 200-yard freestyle (1:47.38) and 47th in the 50-yard freestyle at the NCAA Championships with a time of 22.81. She also anchored the 200-yard freestyle relay team as they posted a mark of 1:29.83, a top 15 time in the nation.
Potvin-Green scored a 9.825 on vault to finish second as the Broncos downed #16 Washington of the PAC-12. Brittany won the vault (9.875) and the all-around (39.35) in a win over Sacramento State. Brittany was fourth on the vault (9.85) against UCLA, Missouri and Illinois in the Chicago Style Invitational in which Boise State finished second. She tied for first on vault (9.825) in the Broncos' win over San Jose State. Potvin-Green won the all-around with a great score of 39.375, won the floor exercises with a 9.925 and earned a 9.9 on vault in a win over Utah State. She then turned in a 39.275 to win the all-around in yet another win over a PAC-12 opponent, this time with California being the victim.
Brittany scored a 9.925 on vault and won the floor exercises with a 9.9 in a win over Southern Utah. Her great all-around of 39.575 also was the best of the evening. Potvin-Green turned in a sizzling 9.950 to win the floor and a 9.925 to win the vault in another win over BYU. Brittany won the all-around against the Cougars with a 39.600
Brittany scored a 39.075 all-around to help Boise State place third at the NCAA Regionals, good for eighth place in the competition.
Mele won the weight throw with a heave of 64-feet, 7-inches and placed fourth in the shot put 41-feet, 11.5 inches at the Jackson's Open to begin the indoor season. Vaisima won the weight throw with a mark of 64-5 and was third in the shot put (43-3) at the Blue and Orange Opener. She then won the weight throw (63-5) at the Bronco Invitational before winning the Jackson's Invitational (64-7), where she also threw the shot put 43-feet, .25-inches to place eighth. Mele tossed season-bests of 65-3.5 to win the weight throw and 43-9.25 to finish fourth in the shot at the Bronco Classic. She then captured the weight throw (65-feet, .50-inches) and was seventh in the shot put (42-6) at the Boise State Team Challenge.
Zell pitched a 3-0 shutout to beat Loyola Marymount on Opening day, then pitched a 3-0 shutout in a win over UC-Davis and a 4-0 shutout over San Diego. Zell was on the mound as the Broncos scored a signature 3-1 win over Notre Dame at the Campbell Cartier Classic in San Diego. Zell pitched a four-hitter in defeating Minnesota in eight innings with a brilliant 11-strikeout performance.
Aubray pitched another 4-0 shutout in a win over Portland State. Zell pitched a complete game to down San Diego State 6-1.
Zell had a 20-11 record this season with a sterling 2.28 E.R.A. (2nd in the Mountain West). Her .230 opposing batting average led the conference as Aubray had 170 strikeouts (2nd in the Mountain West) against only 39 walks. She was the Mountain West's workhorse with 200.2 innings pitched and led the league with 20 wins. She was named to the All-Mountain West Conference team.
Consider what each of these outstanding nominees has done, then please vote in our poll, which is located at the top left of the web page.
Emma Bates
Bates won the 3,000-meters at the Bronco Invitational with a time of 10:12.44, then won the mile in 4:59.13 at the Bronco Classic two weeks later. Up against stiff competition, Emma finished 32nd in the 5,000 at the prestigious Husky Invite with a time of 16:53.29. Bates won the 3,000-meters at the Mountain West Indoor Championships, crossing the finish line with a time of 9:47.11, and placed fifth in the 5,000 in 17:11.34.
Emma and the Broncos then began the outdoor season with the Idaho Cup, where she won the 1,500-meters with a mark of 4:29.84. Bates repeated the feat at the Albertsons War 5 meet with a time of 4:29.99. Bates won the 5,000 at the Mountain West Championships with a Stadium record of 17:08.36. Bates finished 11th in the 5,000 at the NCAA Regionals, finishing with a career-best 16:16.74 to qualify for the NCAA National Championships with the 16th best time in the nation this season. Emma also finished 15th in the 10,000 meters at the Regionals (34:48.55), just three places and 24 seconds shy of qualifying for the NCAA Championships.
Bates finished 12th at the Championships with a time of 16:43.84 and attained All-America status. She is the first woman in school history to be named an All-American in the 5,000 meters. Bates rallied from 17th place with one lap to go and had the top time in the nation among freshmen.
Amber Boucher
Amber won the 50-yard freestyle (23.85), the 200-yard freestyle (1:51.37) and the 100-yard butterfly (55.53) and helped the Boise State 200-yard medley relay team beat Seattle with a time of 1:45.40. At the acclaimed Missouri Invitational, Boucher set a new Mountain West Conference record in winning the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 49.01 and helped the 400-yard freestyle relay team take first place. Boucher won the 200-yard freestyle in 1:49.68 and the 100-yard butterfly in 54.57 and helped the Bronco 200-yard free relay team (1:34.34) win against UCLA. Amber led the Broncos to victory in the 400-yard (3:26.86) and 800-yard freestyle (7:32.66) relays at the San Diego Relays.
Boucher won the 100-yard butterfly (55.59) and the 200-yard freestyle (1:50.28) and helped the 200-yard medley relay team (1:44.52) and the 400 freestyle relay team (3:28.57) defeat Oregon State.
With her team down by one point to San Diego State entering the final event, Boucher helped the Boise State 400-yard freestyle relay team set a Mountain West Conference record (3:17.55) to win the title. Amber set a new Mountain West record in winning the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 22.31, won the 100-yard butterfly in 52.30 and was second in the conference in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 48.51. She also helped the 400-yard medley and 800-yard freestyle relay teams as they set new Mountain West records with times of 3:35.59 and 7:13.40, respectively and helped the Bronco 200 freestyle relay team to a title with a Championship record of 1:30.14.
Boucher finished 22nd in the 100-yard butterfly, 23rd in the 100-yard freestyle and 39th in the 50-yard freestyle at the NCAA Championships. Boucher helped the 200-yard freestyle relay team swim a 1:29.83, a top 15 time in the nation.
Devon Bridges
With the Broncos needing a series sweep at perennial NCAA team San Diego State, Bridges blasted two home runs in the opener in a 6-1 Boise State win.
Bridges proved her freshman season was no fluke. Bridges batted .342 this season, 9th in the Mountain West, with 14 home runs (5th in the conference) and 40 runs batted in. She was named to the All-Mountain West Conference team.
Amy Glass
Amy scored a sensational 9.950 to win the competition at the NCAA Regionals and she was third on the floor (9.90) and third in the uneven bars with a solid score of 9.85. Against the best in the Region, Amy had a 39.450 all-around to place fourth.
Glass qualified for the NCAA Championships, and scored a 9.9 on the balance beam for sixth in the nation, 9.8 on vault to take 30th, a 9.825 on bars to place 20th and a 9.75 on floor for 34th place. Her 39.275 all-around score placed her 15th. Glover's balance beam score of 9.90 and her all-around score set school records for the best performances at the championship meet.
Glass was named the AAI Winner at the NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championship banquet. The award is essentially the sport's equivalent to the Heisman Trophy in football. It is given annually to the top senior student-athlete in the nation by a vote of the sport's head coaches from around the country. Glass edged talented gymnasts such as Kat Ding of George, Megan Ferguson of Oklahoma, Leslie Mak of Oregon State, Jaime Pisani of Arkansas and Geralen Stack-Eaton of Alabama.
Tara Glover
In conference play, Tara hit an unbelievable .622 with an on-base percentage of .638. Both rank second in conference history and her 1.067 slugging percentage is third-best all-time in the Mountain West. Glover's 28 hits against MW foes ranks seventh all-time, cracking the list with only 12 games when all other spots are occupied by players with at least 18 games. Tara recorded a hit in 11 of the 12 games, including 10 multi-hit games. In conference games, Glover led the league in hits, batting average and stolen bases (6), while ranking second in runs (17), doubles (six) and slugging percentage. Tara also hit four homers and a triple.
Glover was named Co-Mountain West Player of the Year and was also honored by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Pacific Region Second Team. One week later, Glover became the first softball All-American as she was named to the Third Team by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
Lauren Lenhardt
Lenhardt had 18 points and seven rebounds as Boise State won its first-ever Mountain West Conference tournament game, 68-63 over Colorado State. Lenhardt was 7-14 from the field including a three-pointer, and was 3-3 from the free-throw line to advance the Broncos to the semifinals. Lenhardt had 18 points and 10 rebounds in the conference semifinal 51-50 loss to New Mexico.
Stephanie North
North won the 100-yard freestyle (52.10) and helped the Boise State 200-yard medley relay and the 400-yard medley relay (3:36.19) teams beat Seattle with a time of 1:45.40. At the acclaimed Missouri Invitational, North helped the 400-yard freestyle relay team take first place. She helped the Bronco 200-yard free relay team (1:34.34) win against UCLA and anchored both the Bronco 400-yard (3:26.86) and 800-yard freestyle relay (7:32.66) teams in their wins at the San Diego Relays. Stephanie won the 50-yard freestyle (23.64) and the 100 free (51.48) and helped the 200-yard medley relay team (1:44.52) and the 400-yard free relay team (3:28.57) defeat Oregon State.
North won first in the 100-yard freestyle (48.34), the 200-yard freestyle (1:47.01), finished second in the 50-yard freestyle at the Mountain West Conference Championships with an NCAA qualifying time of 22.33 and also anchored the 400-yard medley and 800-yard freestyle relay teams as they set new Mountain West records with times of 3:35.59 and 7:13.40, respectively, and anchored the 200-yard free relay team to a win with a time of 1:30.14. Then, with her team down by one point to San Diego State entering the final event, North anchored the Boise State 400-yard freestyle relay team set a Mountain West Conference record (3:17.55) to win the title.
North finished 19th in the 100-yard freestyle (48.85), 40th in the 200-yard freestyle (1:47.38) and 47th in the 50-yard freestyle at the NCAA Championships with a time of 22.81. She also anchored the 200-yard freestyle relay team as they posted a mark of 1:29.83, a top 15 time in the nation.
Brittany Potvin-Green
Brittany scored a 9.925 on vault and won the floor exercises with a 9.9 in a win over Southern Utah. Her great all-around of 39.575 also was the best of the evening. Potvin-Green turned in a sizzling 9.950 to win the floor and a 9.925 to win the vault in another win over BYU. Brittany won the all-around against the Cougars with a 39.600
Brittany scored a 39.075 all-around to help Boise State place third at the NCAA Regionals, good for eighth place in the competition.
Mele Vaisima
Vaisima won the weight throw at the Mountain West Conference Championships with a toss of 69-feet, 8 and 1/4 inches, just three feet shy of the conference record. Mele placed 15th in the shot put with a throw of 42-10.25. Vaisima was sixth in the weight throw at the NCAA Championships with a throw of 65-10 1/4 to earn three team points and place Boise State 48th nationally.
Vaisima opened the outdoor season with a bang, winning the hammer throw at the Idaho Cup with a superb mark of 183-feet, which gave her automatic qualification to the NCAA National Championships. She was also fourth in the shot put (41-3). Mele was fourth in the hammer at the BYU-USC-Boise State Triangular with a throw of 193-6 and was fourth in the shot with a throw of 44-feet, 6.25-inches. Vaisima threw 60.62 in the hammer to finish second and she was fourth in the discus at the UTEP Invitational (46.19 meters). Vaisima finished second in the hammer (201-06) and was fourth in the discus (150-3) at the prestigious Oregon Relays.
Vaisima finished ninth in the hammer at the Mountain West Conference Championships with a mark of 177-9. Mele was 27th at the NCAA Regionals with a throw of 189-6.
Aubray Zell
Aubray pitched another 4-0 shutout in a win over Portland State. Zell pitched a complete game to down San Diego State 6-1.
Zell had a 20-11 record this season with a sterling 2.28 E.R.A. (2nd in the Mountain West). Her .230 opposing batting average led the conference as Aubray had 170 strikeouts (2nd in the Mountain West) against only 39 walks. She was the Mountain West's workhorse with 200.2 innings pitched and led the league with 20 wins. She was named to the All-Mountain West Conference team.
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