Updated: December 8, 2020 
Published December 8, 2020 
For the fifth year in a row, the winner of UAA’s athlete of the year award is a woman — and for the second time in five years, she’s a member of the school’s successful women’s basketball program.
Yazmeen Goo, a 5-foot-10 point guard, is the 2020 Bill McKay Athlete of the Year award, presented annually since 1985.
Goo wrapped up a four-year career as an All-America honorable mention pick for the Seawolves. She was also a first-team all-Great Northwest Athletic Conference pick and a second-team all-West Region, honors earned during a season in which she averaged 10.1 points, 3.9 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. Her 56.8% shooting from the field was the best in school history by a guard.
She was a key player for the Seawolves, who finished the season 31-2 and were ranked fourth in the national when COVID-19 ended the NCAA season during the first week of the postseason.
Goo, who is from Daly City, California, was a top contributor for four seasons and a starter for three. During that time, the Seawolves went 118-12. As a senior she made the GNAC all-academic team with a 3.39 GPA in justice.
Other candidates for the Athlete of the Year award were Luc Brown (hockey), Georgia Burgess (women’s skiing), Emmah Chelimo (women’s cross country), Isabelle Fox (gymnastics), Felix Kemboi (men’s cross country), Wesley Kirui (men’s track & field), Caroline Kurgat (women’s track & field), Jack Macdonald (men’s basketball), Sigurd Roening (men’s skiing) and Eve Stephens (volleyball).
Goo is the fifth straight woman to win the award, following runner and two-time winner Caroline Kurgat (2019, 2018), volleyball player Morgan Hooe (2017) and women’s basketball player Megan Mullings (2016). Before that, men won the award in four consecutive years.
UAA has honored a top athlete every year since 1985. Women have won it 20 times; men have won it 17 times. On two occasions, the award was shared by two athletes.
UAA’s other major athletic award for 2019-20 — the Dresser Cup for academic achievement — was shared by four athletes — skiers Natalie Hynes, Michaela Keller-Miller and Dominic Unterberger, and track runner Marie Ries. All finished the spring semester with cumulative GPAs of 4.0.
Claiming the 2020 Alaska Born and Raised Award, was skier Anna Darnell of Anchorage. The award goes to a graduating senior who has lived in Alaska more than half of their life and graduated from an Alaska high school. This is the second year the award has been presented.
Bill MacKay Athlete of the Year
2020 — Yazmeen Goo, women’s basketball
2019 — Caroline Kurgat, track and field
2018 — Caroline Kurgat, cross country
2017 — Morgan Hooe, volleyball
2016 — Megan Mullings, women’s basketball
2015 — Cody Thomas, track and field
2014 — Micah Chelimo, track/cross country
2013 — Micah Chelimo, track/cross country
2012 — Taylor Rohde, men’s basketball
2011 — Ruth Keino, track/cross country
2010 — Calli Scott, volleyball
2009 — David Registe, track and field
2008 — Luke Cooper, men’s basketball
2007 — Rebecca Kielpinski, women’s basketball
2006 — Kemmy Burgess. men’s basketball
2005 — Mandy Kaempf, skiing/cross country
2004 — Peter Bullock, men’s basketball
2003 — Tobias Schwoerer, skiing/cross country
2002 — Tobias Schwoerer, skiing/cross country
2001 — Ed Kirk, men’s basketball
2000 — Edda Mutter, skiing
1999 — Jim Hajdukovich, men’s basketball
1998 — Zuzana Razusova, skiing
1997 — Tie: Frode Lillefjell, skiing/cross country; Elena Tkacheva, gymnastics
1996 — Allegra Stoetzel, women’s basketball
1995 — Tie: Jason Kaiser, men’s basketball; Karen Hoey, gymnastics
1994 — Kerry Robitaille, gymnastics
1993 — Jen Szczerbinski, volleyball
1992 — Jon Pauole, swimming
1991 — Paul Krake, hockey
1990 — Teri Frankie, gymnastics
1989 — Michael Johnson, men’s basketball
1988 — Robin Graul, women’s basketball
1987 — Hansi Gnad, men’s basketball
1986 — Teri Frankie, gymnastics
1985 — Tiina Kantola, skiing/cross country
Dresser Cup (for academics)
2020 — Tie: Michaela Keller-Miller, skiing; Natalie Hynes, skiing; Marie Ries, track; Dominic Unterberger, skiing
2019 — Michaela Keller-Miller, skiing; Yvonne Jeschke, track; Casey Wright, skiing
2018 — Olivier Mantha, hockey; Casey Wright, skiing
2017 — Olivier Mantha, hockey
2016 — Tie: Marie-Sophie Boggasch, gymnastics; Simone Penker, gymnastics
2015 — Anna Berecz, skiing
2014 — Teancum Stafford, MBB
2013 — Ida Bjerka, skiing
2012 — Jaime Bronga, skiing
2011 — Jaime Bronga, skiing
2010 — Max Treinen, skiing
2009 — Raphael Wunderle, skiing
2008 — Tie: Heather McIntyre, track; Raphael Wunderle, skiing
2007 — Mandy Kaempf, track
2006 — Stacy Edwards, cross country
2005 — Stacy Edwards, track
2004 — Stacy Edwards, cross country/track
2003 — Tobias Schwoerer, skiing, cross country
2002 — Tiffany Massey, volleyball
2001 — Tie: Jason Feeken, skiing; Stephanie Johnson, women’s basketball
2000 — Jana Jagercikova, skiing
1999 — Morten Kjerland, skiing
1998 — Steve Carroll, cross country
1997 — Elena Tkacheva, gymnastics
1996 — John Smith, cross country
1995 — Jens Beck, swimming
1994 — Wendi Jobe, women’s basketball
1993 — Tommy Rutledge, cross country
1992 — Danicia Thomas, volleyball
1991 — Greta Fadness, women’s basketball
1990 — Carroll Pope, cross country
1989 — Carroll Pope, cross country
1988 — John Davis, cross country
1987 — Kristena Wyatt, skiing
1986 — Chriss Homan, hockey
1985 — Tiina Kantola, skiing/cross country
Alaska Born and Raised Award, presented by GCI
2020 — Anna Darnell, Anchorage, skiing
2019 — Hannah Wandersee, Kodiak, women’s basketball