Bronco fans have crowned Jay Ajayi as 2012-13 Bronco Freshman of the Year, Leon Rice as the Bronco Coach of the Year and Jason Chamberlain as the Bronco Male Athlete of the Year. We move on to Bronco Female Athlete of the Year. There is a great field to choose from:
Emma Bates: Started out the season indoors, when she won the mile at the Jackson Invite, and won the 800 at the Bronco Classic with a time of 2:11.14. It was the first time Bates had ever run the 800, and the time was the second-best indoor time in Boise State history. At the Mountain West Indoor Championships, Bates won the 3,000-meter run with a time of 9:36.46 and was second in the mile with a school record of 4:42.49 to score 18 team points for Boise State. Bates was 14th in the NCAA Indoor Championships in the 5,000 with a time of 15:28.11 to earn Second-Team All-America honors for the third time in her two-year career. Emma then turned her attention to the outdoor season, and was third in the 10,000 at the prestigious Mt. SAC Relays. At the Mountain West Championships, Bates captured the title in 36:09.92. She easily qualified for the NCAA Regional Championships, and at those regionals, Bates was fourth in the 5,000 with a school record 16:04.03 and fifth in the 10,000 with a time of 35:01.18.
Both of those finishes qualified Bates for the NCAA National Outdoor Championships. Bates finished third in the nation in the 10,000 with a school record 33:37.13 to earn All-America honors. Two days later, she finished seventh in the 5,000 with a school record time of 15:59.35 to earn a second All-America honor. Bates became the first female double-winner of All-America status in the same meet and the sixth member of the track and field program, joining men's members Steven Muse (1987 & 1988), Cory Nelson (1999), Mark Homeier (2000), Jarred Rome (2000) and Ryan Grinnell (2008 indoor and outdoor). Bates scored eight points for Boise State at the Nationals, and was the only woman who scored points for the Lady Broncos. Those eight points by Bates placed Boise State 32nd in the country.
Devon Bridges: The heavy hitter on the Bronco softball team, Bridges improved her overall game to lead the team in batting average this season as well with a .381 average. She clobbered 12 home runs and 10 doubles, drove in 50, and scored 25 runs. Bridges led the team in Mountain West play in batting (.421), on-base percentage (.522), slugging percentage (.825), hits (24), RBI's (16), home runs (6) and doubles (5). Bridges ranked in the Top Three in the Mountain West in all of those categories except batting average, which she finished fourth. Bridges was named All-Mountain West at the conclusion of the season.
Rachel Heaney: Won seven titles during the year in the 200-yard butterfly, including the prestigious Mizzou Invitational and at the Mountain West Championships. Heaney set a school record at the conference championships of 1:57.39 and also placed fourth in the 400-yard individual medley with a time of 4:17.04. Heaney was invited to the NCAA National Championships, where she finished 39th in the 200 butterfly with a time of 1:59.07, and 42nd in the 400 IM (4:19.33). Heaney now owns the 10 fastest all-time marks in the 200 butterfly.
Emma Bates: Started out the season indoors, when she won the mile at the Jackson Invite, and won the 800 at the Bronco Classic with a time of 2:11.14. It was the first time Bates had ever run the 800, and the time was the second-best indoor time in Boise State history. At the Mountain West Indoor Championships, Bates won the 3,000-meter run with a time of 9:36.46 and was second in the mile with a school record of 4:42.49 to score 18 team points for Boise State. Bates was 14th in the NCAA Indoor Championships in the 5,000 with a time of 15:28.11 to earn Second-Team All-America honors for the third time in her two-year career. Emma then turned her attention to the outdoor season, and was third in the 10,000 at the prestigious Mt. SAC Relays. At the Mountain West Championships, Bates captured the title in 36:09.92. She easily qualified for the NCAA Regional Championships, and at those regionals, Bates was fourth in the 5,000 with a school record 16:04.03 and fifth in the 10,000 with a time of 35:01.18.
Both of those finishes qualified Bates for the NCAA National Outdoor Championships. Bates finished third in the nation in the 10,000 with a school record 33:37.13 to earn All-America honors. Two days later, she finished seventh in the 5,000 with a school record time of 15:59.35 to earn a second All-America honor. Bates became the first female double-winner of All-America status in the same meet and the sixth member of the track and field program, joining men's members Steven Muse (1987 & 1988), Cory Nelson (1999), Mark Homeier (2000), Jarred Rome (2000) and Ryan Grinnell (2008 indoor and outdoor). Bates scored eight points for Boise State at the Nationals, and was the only woman who scored points for the Lady Broncos. Those eight points by Bates placed Boise State 32nd in the country.
Devon Bridges: The heavy hitter on the Bronco softball team, Bridges improved her overall game to lead the team in batting average this season as well with a .381 average. She clobbered 12 home runs and 10 doubles, drove in 50, and scored 25 runs. Bridges led the team in Mountain West play in batting (.421), on-base percentage (.522), slugging percentage (.825), hits (24), RBI's (16), home runs (6) and doubles (5). Bridges ranked in the Top Three in the Mountain West in all of those categories except batting average, which she finished fourth. Bridges was named All-Mountain West at the conclusion of the season.
Rachel Heaney: Won seven titles during the year in the 200-yard butterfly, including the prestigious Mizzou Invitational and at the Mountain West Championships. Heaney set a school record at the conference championships of 1:57.39 and also placed fourth in the 400-yard individual medley with a time of 4:17.04. Heaney was invited to the NCAA National Championships, where she finished 39th in the 200 butterfly with a time of 1:59.07, and 42nd in the 400 IM (4:19.33). Heaney now owns the 10 fastest all-time marks in the 200 butterfly.
Lauren Lenhardt: Averaged 15.7 points per game (fourth in the Mountain West) for the Lady Broncos while battling double teams all season to lead the team. She hit 176-398 (44.2%) of her field goal tries, 26-96 from three-point territory (27.1%) and a solid 78-94 (83.0%) of her free-throws. Lenhardt also averaged 7 rebounds a game (4th in the MWC), was a force inside with 40 blocked shots, and had 23 steals and 16 assists to lead Boise State to the conference semifinals. Lenhardt shot 89.3% in conference games to lead the Mountain West. At the end of the season, Lenhardt was named to the All-MWC Second Team for the second straight year. Lenhardt finished her career as the #6 all-time scorer and #10 rebounder in school history.
Caitlin Mann: Won all-around titles against Utah State (39.325), CSU-Bakersfield (39.20) and BYU (38.625) while helping the Bronco gymnasts to a perfect 6-0 dual record. Mann also captured a floor title (9.90) against Utah State, two beam titles (9.875 against Bakersfield and a 9.750 vs. BYU), and two more individual titles against BYU: 9.850 on the vault and another 9.850 on bars. Mann was spectacular in leading Boise State to an upset win over Denver in the WAC Championships. She tied for the beam title with a 9.850, was second in bars (9.90), 7th in vault (9.90) and 8th in floor exercises (9.825) to capture the WAC title in all-around with a career-best of 39.475. Mann was named WAC Gymnast of the Year, then placed 7th in the all-around at the NCAA Regional Championships with a 39.10.
Marlena Pietzuch: Sported a 20-14 singles record, mostly at #1 singles for the Lady Broncos, and was 12-11 in doubles with sister Manuela this season. At the Mountain West Championships, Pietzuch earned All-Conference honors in doubles for the third straight year, and was also named All-Mountain West in singles.
Marisa VanderMalle: In cross country, VanderMalle finished second in the Roger Curran Invitational. She was third at the Mountain West Championships with a time of 20:55.29 on the 6-k course, earning All-MWC honors and helping the Bronco women finish fourth. VanderMalle then helped the Lady Broncos tie their best finish ever at the NCAA Regionals with a 10th-place finish. Marisa was 36th with a time of 20:39. VanderMalle then competed on the indoor track & field team, and won the mile at the Bronco Classic in 4:55.02. At the Mountain West Championships, Marisa earned All-Conference with a great kick in the 5,000 meters to place second. Her time of 16:49.04 was the second-fastest time in school history. VanderMalle joined her teammates outdoors, and won the 3000-meter steeplechase in 10:31.77, the second-fastest time in school history. VanderMalle proceeded to break the school record in the steeplechase at the Mountain West Championships, winning the conference title with a time of 10:25.24. But she wasn't done. At the NCAA Regional Championships, Marisa broke the school record with a time of 10:01.12 to finish 10th and qualify for the NCAA National Championships. At the Nationals, VanderMalle finished 19th with a time of 10:26.54.
Hayley Young: Finished 7th at the Price Invitational and 6th at the Folino Invitational. Young then won the Cowgirl Classic by seven strokes with a three-round total of 214 to lead Boise State to its first team title in 13 years. At the Mountain West Championships, Young tied for seventh individually and led her team to a second-place finish to tie for the second-best conference finish in school history. Boise State tied a school record for the best score at a conference championship with a 916, and Young was named Second Team All-Mountain West. Young's average score of 75.19 set a school record. Her eight Top 25 finishes this year tied the school mark set by Daniela Wall-Thompson in 1994-95, and her three Top 10 finishes this season tied the school record set by Acey Erlandson in 1999-2000. Young finished her career as arguably the most successful female golfer in school history.
Caitlin Mann: Won all-around titles against Utah State (39.325), CSU-Bakersfield (39.20) and BYU (38.625) while helping the Bronco gymnasts to a perfect 6-0 dual record. Mann also captured a floor title (9.90) against Utah State, two beam titles (9.875 against Bakersfield and a 9.750 vs. BYU), and two more individual titles against BYU: 9.850 on the vault and another 9.850 on bars. Mann was spectacular in leading Boise State to an upset win over Denver in the WAC Championships. She tied for the beam title with a 9.850, was second in bars (9.90), 7th in vault (9.90) and 8th in floor exercises (9.825) to capture the WAC title in all-around with a career-best of 39.475. Mann was named WAC Gymnast of the Year, then placed 7th in the all-around at the NCAA Regional Championships with a 39.10.
Marlena Pietzuch: Sported a 20-14 singles record, mostly at #1 singles for the Lady Broncos, and was 12-11 in doubles with sister Manuela this season. At the Mountain West Championships, Pietzuch earned All-Conference honors in doubles for the third straight year, and was also named All-Mountain West in singles.
Marisa VanderMalle: In cross country, VanderMalle finished second in the Roger Curran Invitational. She was third at the Mountain West Championships with a time of 20:55.29 on the 6-k course, earning All-MWC honors and helping the Bronco women finish fourth. VanderMalle then helped the Lady Broncos tie their best finish ever at the NCAA Regionals with a 10th-place finish. Marisa was 36th with a time of 20:39. VanderMalle then competed on the indoor track & field team, and won the mile at the Bronco Classic in 4:55.02. At the Mountain West Championships, Marisa earned All-Conference with a great kick in the 5,000 meters to place second. Her time of 16:49.04 was the second-fastest time in school history. VanderMalle joined her teammates outdoors, and won the 3000-meter steeplechase in 10:31.77, the second-fastest time in school history. VanderMalle proceeded to break the school record in the steeplechase at the Mountain West Championships, winning the conference title with a time of 10:25.24. But she wasn't done. At the NCAA Regional Championships, Marisa broke the school record with a time of 10:01.12 to finish 10th and qualify for the NCAA National Championships. At the Nationals, VanderMalle finished 19th with a time of 10:26.54.
Hayley Young: Finished 7th at the Price Invitational and 6th at the Folino Invitational. Young then won the Cowgirl Classic by seven strokes with a three-round total of 214 to lead Boise State to its first team title in 13 years. At the Mountain West Championships, Young tied for seventh individually and led her team to a second-place finish to tie for the second-best conference finish in school history. Boise State tied a school record for the best score at a conference championship with a 916, and Young was named Second Team All-Mountain West. Young's average score of 75.19 set a school record. Her eight Top 25 finishes this year tied the school mark set by Daniela Wall-Thompson in 1994-95, and her three Top 10 finishes this season tied the school record set by Acey Erlandson in 1999-2000. Young finished her career as arguably the most successful female golfer in school history.
