WEBER STATE
FOOTBALL: Two Weber State seniors have been named to the SportsNetwork Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Preseason All-American Team, released Friday. WSU offensive lineman J.C. Oram was named to the First Team and linebacker Nick Webb was named to the Third Team.
Oramis a 6-4, 310-pound native of Marriott-Slaterville, who has been an anchor of the offensive line for the 'Cats for the last three seasons. He is one of six players from the Big Sky toearn First Team honors. Oram earned Second Team All-American honors from The Sports Network last season, along with First Team All-Big Sky honors. He has appeared in 36 career games for the Wildcats in three seasons and has started 32 career games. He has been a key part of WSU's offensive line that blocked for All-Conference players Cameron Higgins, Trevyn Smith, Vai Tafuna and Bo Bolen the last three seasons.
Webb, a 6-4, 245-pound linebacker, represented the Wildcats on the Third Team. The Salt Lake City native has played in 35 games in his three-year career with the Wildcats. In three seasons at Weber State he has recorded 186 career total tackles. He also has 117 unassisted tackles and 12.5 tackles for loss. Last season he ranked seventh in the Big Sky in total tackles with 99, including 69 unassisted tackles, the seventh most in WSU single-season history.
Both players were named to the Big Sky Preseason All-Conference Team earlier this week. The Big Sky led all conference with 16 selections to the preseason team.
Weber State will begin fall practice Aug. 5 with the season opener set for Sept. 3 at Wyoming.
BYU
MEN'S SOCCER: At Provo, in the final game of the 2011 PDL season the BYU Cougars defeated the LA Blues 23, 2-0. BYU finishes the season 4-8-4 with 16 points.
"It was a great year," said senior BJ Pugmire. "I had a lot of fun."
It was a storybook ending as BYU honored its two seniors, BJ Pugmire and Cory Cosgrave prior to the game who then delivered during the game. Pugmire scored the game winning goal on a Doug Clark pass in the box in the 23rd minute. He celebrated by running to midfield and recognized the crowd and his teammates.
"That was the longest run I made all game," said Pugmire. "That was the easiest goal of the year, I think. I just stuck my foot out."
BYU created numerous chances throughout the game, shooting 30 times and earning 11 corners on the night.
In the second half, Pugmire subbed out and Garrett Gee subbed in and scored his first career goal as a BYU Cougar in the 83rd minute to put the game away.
"I've waited all season for it," said Gee. "That's what you play for. It was pretty awesome."
Cosgrave was subbed out in the 90th minute to an applause from the crowd to cap off the Senior night.
"It (a shutout) is what you hope for," said Cory Cosgrave.
BYU will take some time off before starting fall practice and training for games in October.
DIXIE STATE
ATHLETICS: The Dixie State College of Utah Athletics Hall of Fame will grow by four members this fall, as three men and one woman will be inducted on Thursday, Sept. 15 during a ceremonial dinner at the Gardner Center at 6 p.m.
The 2011 class includes Greg Croshaw (football), Bruce Hurst (basketball and baseball), Marcus Banks (basketball) and Heather Mendenhall Dahl (women's soccer).
The Athletics Hall of Fame was created in 2007, has 15 inductees through the fall of 2010. With the addition of the 2011 recipients, the hall will have four women and 15 men.
Reservations are now being accepted for the Hall of Fame Dinner on Sept. 15 in the Grand Ballroom at the Kenneth N. Gardner Center. The evening will begin at 6 p.m., with dinner being served at 6:30 p.m.
The cost of the event is $55 per individual, with tables of eight available for $440. Reservations and payment are required in advance.
For questions about the dinner, contact DerekDawes in the Athletics Community Engagement office at 435-879-4295 or by email at dawes@dixie.edu
UTAH
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: At Puerto Montt, Chile, Michelle Plouffe is participating with the Canadian Junior Women's National Team at the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championships, hosted by Chile.
Canada defeated China, 76-49, in their opening game of the tournament. Plouffe had 12 points with seven rebounds.
Canada, which is in group A, will play Egypt on Saturday at 8 p.m.