Pair of Tribe Student-Athletes Recognized by NSCA

Seniors Gwen Hunter (field hockey) and Drew Atchison (football) were named Strength and Conditioning All-Americans.

04/25/08 3:30PM

Colorado Springs, Colo. - William and Mary senior athletes Gwen Hunter (field hockey) and Drew Atchison (football) were recently named recipients of the National Strength and Conditioning Association’s (NSCA) annual All-American Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year award. The NSCA All-American Athlete of the Year program is in its 29th year and recognizes student-athlete’s dedication to strength training and conditioning. Hunter and Atchison were nominated by William and Mary speed, strength and conditioning coach John Sauer, CSCS.

Hunter, a senior goalkeeper from Seaville, N.J., departs the College as one of the best goalkeepers in the field hockey program’s history. She established a W&M school record for games started by a goalkeeper (60), and started every contest in the cage over the last three seasons. Hunter ranks fifth in W&M history in career shutouts (13) and saves (309), while also ranking among the top 10 in career goals against average. Each of the last three seasons, she was named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association National Academic Squad. During the 2007 campaign, Hunter garnered CAA and ECAC Player of the Week honors after leading the Tribe to a 1-0 win over Northeastern. She finished her senior campaign with 90 saves and a goals against average of 1.80.

“Gwen is an exceptional athlete and her dedication to training had a major role in her results on the field,” Sauer said. “Due to her drive for excellence and self motivation, we had confidence that Gwen would perform every rep, weight and technical aspect of a lift to the very best of her ability. Gwen was also highly regarded by her teammates as she was selected as a captain.”

Atchison, a senior tight end from Charlottesville, Va., was an honorable mention All-American selection by the Sports Network and a second-team All-Virginia honoree by VaSID during his senior campaign in 2007. He ended year third on the Tribe in receptions (34) and his 475 receiving yards was the team’s second-highest total, while his six TD recep-tions was the tops on the squad. His six TD receptions tied him for the top figure among Colonial Athletics Association tight ends, while his average of 13.97 yds/catch was also the top figure among league TEs. Atchison participated in the 83rd East-Wets Shire Game in January.

“Drew joined the football program as a walk-on two years ago,” Sauer said. “He was a former pitcher on our baseball team. When he first started training he weighed 205 pounds, but proceeded to add over 45 pounds to his frame during that time. In addition to the increase body weight, his strength numbers improved a great deal. Drew is a tremendously disciplined and hardworking young man. It has been very rewarding, to me personally, to see how far he was come in such a short time.”

The athletes are also recognized for their academic and personal accomplishments and their integrity as student-athletes. Power Systems, Inc., is the official sponsor of this program.