Mountain West Announces 2018-19 Athletes of the Year

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Fresno State baseball standout Ryan Jensen and Boise State track and field star Allie Ostrander were honored today as the recipients of the 2018-19 Mountain West Athletes of the Year.

Established by the Mountain West Joint Council in May 2010, the MW Athlete of the Year Awards are bestowed annually to one male and one female student-athlete, who have achieved athletic excellence during the past academic year. In addition to superior athletic achievement, criterion for the MW Athlete of the Year Award requires that nominees be in good academic standing throughout their season of competition, demonstrate good character and conduct on and off the playing field.

Jensen, who was drafted by the Chicago Cubs with the 27^th pick overall in the 2019 MLB Draft, is the first Bulldog to receive the MW Male Athlete of the Year Award since quarterback Derek Carr (2013-14) and second overall. The right-handed pitcher was named the 2019 Mountain West Pitcher of the Year and the MW Championship MVP after leading Fresno State to its first MW championship. The native of Salinas, California, posted a 12-1 mark in 16 appearances as a junior and won his last nine starts. He led the league with 100.0 innings pitched and was second in strikeouts with 107. He finished fourth in the MW in opposing batting average (.217) and fifth in ERA (2.88). After the season, Jensen earned Second-Team All-American honors by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) and Rawlings Sporting Goods.

Ostrander is the MW Female Athlete of the Year for a third consecutive season. She is the first three-time MW Athlete of the Year in league history and the fourth Bronco overall to be named MW Athlete of the Year. The Kenai, Alaska, native finished the 2018-19 season winning her third-consecutive national championship in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, becoming the first female in NCAA history to win three consecutive titles in the event. Ostrander is just the 15^th female in collegiate history to win three-straight titles in a single event. As a junior, she earned first-team All-America honors in cross country and during the indoor track and field season (3,000-meter and 5,000-meter), while adding a second-team All-America distinction during the outdoor season (5,000-meter) and was named a semifinalist for The Bowerman.

MW Male and Female Athletes of the Year All-Time List of Honorees

2018-19

Ryan Jensen, Baseball, Fresno State

Allie Ostrander, Women's Outdoor Track and Field, Boise State

2017-18

Rashaad Penny, Football, San Diego State

Allie Ostrander, Women's Outdoor Track and Field, Boise State

2016-17

Josh Kerr, Men's Track and Field, New Mexico

Allie Ostrander, Women's Track and Field, Boise State

2015-16

Patrick Corona, Men's Cross Country/Track and Field, Air Force

Courtney Frerichs, Women's Cross Country/Track and Field, New Mexico

2014-15

Garrett Grayson, Football, Colorado State

Emma Bates, Women's Cross Country/Track & Field, Boise State

2013-14

Derek Carr, Football, Fresno State

Emma Bates, Women's Cross Country/Track & Field, Boise State

2012-13

DJ Peterson, Baseball, New Mexico

Shanieka Thomas, Women's Track & Field, San Diego State

2011-12

Kurt Felix, Men's Track & Field, Boise State

Whitney Gipson, Women's Track & Field, TCU

2010-11

Jimmer Fredette, Men's Basketball, BYU

Danielle Minch, Women's Volleyball, Colorado State

Fresno State baseball standout Ryan Jensen and Boise State track and field star Allie Ostrander were honored today as the recipients of the 2018-19 Mountain West Athletes of the Year.

Established by the Mountain West Joint Council in May 2010, the MW Athlete of the Year Awards are bestowed annually to one male and one female student-athlete, who have achieved athletic excellence during the past academic year. In addition to superior athletic achievement, criterion for the MW Athlete of the Year Award requires that nominees be in good academic standing throughout their season of competition, demonstrate good character and conduct on and off the playing field.

Jensen, who was drafted by the Chicago Cubs with the 27^th pick overall in the 2019 MLB Draft, is the first Bulldog to receive the MW Male Athlete of the Year Award since quarterback Derek Carr (2013-14) and second overall. The right-handed pitcher was named the 2019 Mountain West Pitcher of the Year and the MW Championship MVP after leading Fresno State to its first MW championship. The native of Salinas, California, posted a 12-1 mark in 16 appearances as a junior and won his last nine starts. He led the league with 100.0 innings pitched and was second in strikeouts with 107. He finished fourth in the MW in opposing batting average (.217) and fifth in ERA (2.88). After the season, Jensen earned Second-Team All-American honors by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) and Rawlings Sporting Goods.