The UCSD Guardian Female Athlete of the Year
Her dominating play helped her team to a 21-2 record and a Division II championship, and the Guardian is proud to name women’s soccer player Cindy Dostalek as its Female Athlete of the Year.
Dostalek, a forward, was unstoppable on the playing field.
She was second on the team with 33 points and was second in goals with 12. She tied for second in assists with nine and was also first on the team in shots taken with 76. Dostalek started all 23 games this year.
Dostalek was recently named UCSD’s Woman of the Year at the UCSD Athletics Recognition Night, and she is one of 12 UCSD Athletes of the Year.
Earlier this year, she was named to the All-California Collegiate Athletic Association First Team.
Fittingly, Dostalek concluded her Triton soccer career with the winning goal in the championship game.
For her unparalleled accomplishments on the field, her honors off the field, her dedication to her sport, and her championship style and attitude, the Guardian sports staff honors Dostalek as the 2000-2001 Female Athlete of the Year.
Congratulations Dostalek.
Honorable Mention
Leea Harlan, softball:
As the Tritons’ star pitcher, Harlan finished the year with a 1.48 ERA, 135 strikeouts and a 17-8 record. She was also deadly at the plate, batting .274 with 20 RBIs and 18 runs scored. She was the heart of a determined softball team that finished 34-17 overall and just narrowly missed making it to the playoffs.
Emma Kudritzki, water polo:
She led team in goals scored with 62, more than twice as many as scored by her runner-up. Kudritzki also contributed 25 steals and 15 assists, helping to lead the Tritons to third place in the Women’s Western Water Polo Championships and a stellar 20-13 record.
Jennifer Watanabe, swimming:
Watanabe is a perennial Guardian Athlete of the Year candidate, having won the award last year due to her impressive performance in last year’s NCAA Championship meet. This year, she captured the Division II National Championship in the 200-meter individual medley, 400-meter individual medley, the 200-meter backstroke, and was a member of the championship-winning 400-meter medley relay.
The UCSD Guardian Male Athlete of the Year
Rarely does one player mean as much to a team as Bobby Saadati did to the UCSD men’s soccer team. Because of this and his extraordinary play, Saadati has been selected as the Guardian Male Athlete of the Year.
Sadaati kicked 10 goals this year, more than three times as many as his next-closest teammate. He also managed to dish four assists — second on the team. He was clearly the team’s leader with 24 overall points.
If it was game day, Sadaati was there, starting all 18 Triton matches. He carried the team to an 11-5-2 record, a California Collegiate Athletic Conference South Division crown and a trip to the CCAA semifinals. Without his play, the team would not have enjoyed nearly as much success.
Sadaati, a midfielder, was named to the All-CCAA First Team and is one of UCSD’s Athletes of the Year.
Due to Saadati’s leadership and the mauling of his opponents at the Division II level, the Guardian names him its Male Athlete of the Year.
Honorable Mention
Jason Boettner, water polo:
The UCSD men’s water polo team had an outstanding year, earning a national ranking and making it as far as the National Championship Final, where it unfortunately lost to UCLA. Boettner was a major contributor to the team, racking up 45 goals and 40 assists during the season. He also garnered 42 steals, by far the most by anyone else on the team, and was instrumental in their fabulous season.
James Nielsen, track and field:
Though Nielsen did not have as much success this year at Division II as he had in previous years at Division III, he did have a great showing. Nielsen captured the title in the 5,000-meter run at the Cal-Nevada Championships and in the CCAA Championships. At nationals, he finished ninth to close out his Triton career. Nielson was also named a UCSD Athlete of the Year despite being unable to compete in cross country due to an injury.
Jonathan Samuels, water polo:
Samuels was another key component in the men’s water polo team’s national second-place finish. He led the team in goals with 67, which was 22 more than the second-highest scorer on the team, and in blocks with nine. He also picked up 29 steals and 17 assists.
