GAC annual awards announced

Arkansas Tech University’s Ryan Spurlock and Henderson State University’s Taylor Loeb, both of Maumelle, were named the Great American Conference freshmen of the year on Saturday night.

Spurlock had a 74.27 scoring average and had four top-10 finishes on the season for the Wonder Boys.

Loeb had four top-12 finishes on the season for the Lady Reddies and finished third at the HSU Invitational.

Members of the men’s first-team included Henderson State’s Drew Greenwood, Arkansas Tech’s Luke Cornett and Austin Smith and Harding’s Alex Williamson. It was the third time Greenwood and Williamson earned first-team honors.

Southwestern Oklahoma State’s Stevan Idstram was the men’s player of the year.

Southwestern Oklahoma State’s Gloria Choi was named the women’s player of the year. She was joined on the first team by Arkansas Tech’s Pia Nunbhakdi and Anna Fransden and Henderson State’s Luisa Gartmann.

Luke Calcatera of Arkansas Tech was named the men’s coach of the year. Calcatera won the award for the third time and has Arkansas Tech ranked second in the Central Region.

Arkansas Tech’s Amy Anderson was honored as the women’s coach of the year for the third consecutive year and the fourth time in the past six seasons. She guided the Golden Suns to a No. 24 national ranking and the No. 1 spot in the Central region.