By definition, UAA multi-event track and field standout Cody Thomas is a man of many talents, possessed with speed, strength and athleticism that have earned him abundant rewards.
Friday night, he added another significant honor to his portfolio.
The junior from New Zealand, who in the last year has captured two All-America awards and twice ruled conference meets, was named the Bill MacKay Athlete of the Year.
Thomas' award marked the third consecutive year an athlete from coach Michael Friess' track team and/or cross-country running team has seized the honor. He's the fourth such athlete to bag the title in the last five years.
Thomas was selected from a field of 11 notable athletes by a committee of UAA athletic department staff, members of the sponsoring Benton Bay Athletic Lions Club and local media.
He received the Athlete of the Year award at UAA's annual all-sports banquet on campus.
Thomas last spring was voted the Great Northwest Athletic Conference's men's outdoor track and field Athlete of the Year and its Most Outstanding Male Performer at the conference meet. All he did was win the decathlon and score points in six individual events. He went on to finish seventh in the decathlon at the NCAA Division II outdoor national championships with a school-record 7,189 points, which ranks No. 2 all-time in the GNAC.
Thomas followed that by earning co-GNAC Athlete of the Year for indoor track earlier this year, helping the Seawolves to their first conference men's indoor title. He won his third straight indoor GNAC heptathlon with a school-record 5,488 points and was named Most Outstanding Male Athlete at the conference meet, in which he also scored points in four individual events.
Thomas finished second in the heptathlon at the NCAA Division II indoor championships.
Among his many highlights: running the 100 meters in 10.92 seconds, soaring 22 feet, 8.5 inches in the long jump and clearing 6-6 in the high jump.
Also on Friday, senior alpine skier Anna Berecz of Hungary won the Dresser Cup, the school's top academic honor for athletes. She owns a 3.99 grade-point average in her dual major of languages and psychology and is the seventh skier in the last eight years to earn the award.
UAA also honored the most valuable players from each team as well as other team award winners.
Reach Doyle Woody at dwoody@alaskadispatch.com, check out his blog at adn.com/hockey-blog and follow him on Twitter at @JaromirBlagr
UAA All-Sports Banquet
Bill MacKay Athlete of the Year – Cody Thomas, Jr., Blenheim, New Zealand, multi-events in track and field.
Men's basketball – MVP: Travis Thompson. Best Defensive Player: Boomer Blossom. Most Improved: Brian Pearson. Most Inspirational: Dom Hunter. Bob Zundel Rebounders Award (sportsmanship): Brian McGill. Jim Hajdukovich Award (ironman): Travis Thompson. Academic achievement: Jackson McTier (3.7 GPA).
Women's basketball – MVP: Megan Mullings. Most Improved: Sierra Afoa. Most Inspirational: Jenna Buchanan.
Hockey – MVP: Olivier Mantha. Defensive Player of the Year: Derek Docken. Rookie of the Year: Olivier Mantha. Most Improved: Tanner Johnson and Connor Wright. Most Inspirational: Olivier Mantha. Coaches' Award: Austin Sevalrud. Humanitarian Award: Brett Cameron. Leon Thompson Fan Favorite: Olivier Mantha. Jack Peterson Award (Highest GPA by senior): Scott Allen (3.26).
Skiing – MVP: Clement Molliet. Most Improved (Nordic): Mackenzie Kanady. Most Improved (Alpine): Hughston Norton. Most Inspirational: Sean Alexander.
Volleyball – MVP: Morgan Hooe. Best Defensive Player: Quinn Barker. Most Improved: Taliyah Edwards. Most Inspirational: Brooke Pottle. Coaches' Award: Sarah Johnson.