2019-20 Student-Athlete Award Winners

End-of-the-Year Award Winners

Cal State Dominguez Hills Athletics is excited to announce the continuation of our annual student-athlete end-of-the-year awards, featuring the Jennifer Winkelspecht, Mike Sharp Most Inspirational, Male and Female Athlete of the Year and the Presidential awards. Throughout the month of June we will introduce the nominees for each award and will announce all winners after. The head coach of each program nominated their student-athlete for each award.

DR. HAL CHARNOFSKY AWARD WINNER

 

The Charnofsky Award is given to those who have distinguished themselves, not only as talented athletes, but as dedicated scholars as well. The award is named after the late Dr. Hal Charnofsky, a long-time faculty athletics representative at CSUDH, who passed away in 2002. The winners will represent CSUDH on the CCAA ballot for the conference's level of the Charnofsky Award.

JD Hauenstein
JD Hauenstein (click image to go to bio)

JD Hauenstein

Men's Soccer Senior

  • CCAA All-Academic
  • Earned gold status (3.0-3.49 grade-point average) on the Cardinal & Gold Wall.
  • Played in 16 games with 4 starts. Recorded one assist.
JD exemplified the true meaning of student-athlete. He was an example both on and off the field. He is a true Toro through and through, and has set the bar high for future Toros.
Head Men's Soccer Coach Eddie Soto
JD Hauenstein
JD Hauenstein
JD Hauenstein
Sara Kattainen
Sara Kattainen (click image to go to bio)

Sara Kattainen

Women's Soccer Senior

  • Recorded 1 goal and 2 assists
  • Played in all 18 games with 16 starts logging 
  • Team went 8-8-2 overall, 5-4-1 in conference play. Qualified for the CCAA Tournament
  • CCAA All-Academic
  • Earned gold status (3.5-3.99 grade-point average) on the Cardinal & Gold Wall.
Sara is one of the best all-around people I have met and coached. One of her best characteristics is being very adaptable to change. Not only is she one of the top outside backs in the league, but she is an even better student with straight A's.
Head Women's Soccer Coach Marine Cano
Sara Kattainen
Sara Kattainen
Sara Kattainen

JENNIFER WINKELSPECHT AWARD WINNER

 

The Winkelspecht Award, named after former volleyball student-athlete Jennifer Winkelspecht who passed away before the 1995 season, is given to the Toro who most exemplifies great personal character, has had their achievement recognized by the student-athlete educators and peers, excels in their role on the team, and displays this character beyond the field and classroom. 

Kenadi Mitchell

Volleyball Junior

  • Served as President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)
  • Earned cardinal status (3.0-3.49 grade-point average) on the Cardinal & Gold Wall.
  • Volunteers with KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now) in Los Angeles, Midnight Mission and the Ronald McDonald House in Long Beach.
  • One of the captains of the volleyball program.
  • Played in 75 sets during the season, having finished third on the team with 114 kills and 39 total blocks. 
Kenadi Mitchell
Kenadi Mitchell (click image to go to bio)
Kenadi is honest, trustworthy, caring and has been a pleasure to coach.
Head Volleyball Coach Jen Adeva
Kenadi Mitchell
Kenadi Mitchell & Renee Wheeler
Kenadi Mitchell

MIKE SHARP MOST INSPIRATIONAL AWARD WINNERS

 

The Mike Sharp Most Inspirational Award acknowledges the student-athlete who best inspires his/her teammates to excel in competition with enthusiasm and humility, lead by example, maintain integrity, and persevere with hope and courage.

Sha'Rese Medley
Sha'Rese Medley (click image to go to bio)

Sha'Rese Medley

Dance Senior

  • Head Captain
  • Competed this past season grieving the loss of her brother, who tragically passed away.
  • Came back to compete after having a seizure, which left her with a shoulder dislocation injury that would nag her throughout the season.
  • She dislocated her shoulder once more during a practice before Nationals competition, but did not let it hinder her as she casually popped it back into place, inspiring her teammates to push their limits.
  • Led the team at Nationals to 7th place in college gameday and 11th in college hip hop.
Sha'Rese spent the last three years on the team with her final and most recent as head captain. Her leadership is noted by the fact that she was chosen captain by a peer-vote amongst her teammates. She has persevered through unimaginable traumatic experience with quiet determination and unwavering commitment to the team.
Head Dance Coach Cilecia Foster
Sha'Rese Medley
Sha'Rese Medley
Sha'Rese Medley
Jermesha Randall
Jermesha Randall (click image to go to bio)

Jermesha Randall

Cheer Junior

  • Is the caretaker of her mother and grandfather, both who are battling cancer, and her younger nephew. Despite juggling multiple jobs, school, cheerleading and family, she remains dedicated to each one. 
  • Dedicates her CSUDH cheer career to honor her best friend who tragically passed away while cheering at a football game during her senior year of high school. Her best friend was set to become a Toro cheerleader.
  • Leads by example. She is the top fundraiser of the program and was responsible for recruiting half of the participants for Youth Day, which had a big turnout overall.
  • Praised by her coaches for her stunts, jumps, elaborate routines and crowd encouragement. 
Jermesha is not only an exemplary student-athlete, she is also the epitome of resilience and dedication. She has overcome much adversity, and all the while would show up to games and events with a bright smile and positive attitude.
Head Cheer Coach Cameron Thurman
Jermesha Randall
Jermesha Randall
Jermesha Randall

MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNER

 

The Male Athlete of the Year exemplifies the excellence befitting a CSUDH student-athlete. While these student-athletes excelled as individuals by etching their names alongside and sometimes above other Toro greats, they also made their team and teammates better by their encouragement, intensity and setting examples on the court or field of play.

Colten Kresl

Men's Basketball Junior

  • All-CCAA Second Team
  • Became the 11th player in program history to record 1,000 career points.
  • Broke both the career and single-season 3-point records. He collected 84 treys to pass John Nojima's 34-year-old record of 74 and surpassed Jonathan Toliver's (2005-09) career mark of 188.
  • Averaged a team-high 16.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, a team-best 4.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
  • Ranked seventh in scoring and third in assists in the CCAA.
  • Third in the conference in 3-pointers made (84) and 3-point percentage (.398).
  • Helped the team reach the CCAA Tournament for the fourth straight year.
  • CCAA Player of the Week (Feb. 24 - Mar. 1)
Colten Kresl
Colten Kresl (click image to go to bio)
I've seen so much growth in Colten since he stepped foot on campus three years ago and am excited to see him be one of the best players in the CCAA next season. He is cementing himself in the Toro record books with elite company.
Head Men's Basketball Coach Steve Becker
Colten Kresl
Colten Kresl
Colten Kresl

FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNER

 

The Female Athlete of the Year exemplifies the excellence befitting a CSUDH student-athlete. While these student-athletes excelled as individuals by etching their names alongside and sometimes above other Toro greats, they also made their team and teammates better by their encouragement, intensity and setting examples on the court or field of play.

Chenoa Au
Chenoa Au (click image to go to bio)

Chenoa Au

Softball Senior

  • CCAA All-Star
  • Helped team to a 16-8 overall record and third place in the CCAA with a 9-5 conference record.
  • Ranked in the top-10 in the CCAA in several categories, including first in triples (3), fifth in stolen bases (14), sixth in RBI (20) and ninth in home runs (3).
  • Logged a .333 batting average and a .573 slugging percentage
  • CCAA Player of the Week (Feb. 24- March 1)
Chenoa was always a motivation to her teammates through her hard work in the weight room, on the field and in the classroom. She was definitely the most competitive person on our team.
Head Softball Coach Jim Maier
Chenoa Au
Chenoa Au
Chenoa Au

PRESIDENTIAL AWARD WINNER

 

The Presidential Award is given to the student-athlete who goes above and beyond the call of duty not only in the classroom and in competition, but also who is active in the community and proud to represent Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Sara Kattainen

 

On the Field:

  • Recorded 1 goal and 2 assists
  • Played in all 18 games with 16 starts logging 
  • Team went 8-8-2 overall, 5-4-1 in conference play. Qualified for the CCAA Tournament

 

In the Classroom:

  • CCAA All-Academic
  • Earned gold status (3.5-3.99 grade-point average) on the Cardinal & Gold Wall.

 

In the Community:

  • Member of CSUDH Pre-Health Society, volunteering at health events on- and off-campus
  • Volunteers as a soccer coach in camps, mainly for children from impoverished areas, in her home country of Finland
Sara Kattainen
Sara Kattainen (click image to go to bio)
Sara is one of the best all-around people I have met and coached. One of her best characteristics is being very adaptable to change. Not only is she one of the top outside backs in the league, but she is an even better student with straight A's.
Head Women's Soccer Coach Marine Cano
Sara Kattainen
Sara Kattainen
Sara Kattainen

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