Another year has flown by in the world of ASU athletics, and numerous Sun Devil athletes turned in amazing performances on the field, court, pool, track and about every other competitive playing surface. The task of choosing a handful of Sun Devils to make our list of “State Press Athletes of the Year” was nearly impossible, and arguments can be made for host of talented players. With that being said, here are the athletes that made our list. Let the debate begin.
Mike Leake
Arguably one the best collegiate pitchers in the nation, junior Mike Leake is another no-brainer. The right-hander has posted a 10-1 record this season and is ranked in the top-10 nationally in nearly every major pitching category.
After resisting the temptation of turning pro following a stellar sophomore campaign, Leake’s dominance on the mound this season has been key to ASU’s march toward the College World Series.
Mike Nixon
The now-senior linebacker has been Mr. Do-it-all for the ASU football team. In addition to maintaining a 4.05 GPA and earning Academic All-American honors, Nixon led the team in tackles (90) and interceptions (5) as a junior in 2008.
His 45-yard interception return for a touchdown against UCLA on Nov. 30 was part of a NCAA record-tying four-touchdown performance by the ASU defense.
Nixon also became the de facto team spokesman in the midst of a difficult season and was vital in helping to cultivate a young linebacker corps that will be crucial to the team’s future.
Kaitlin Cochran
ASU’s senior softball star has been rewriting the record books this season. A national title already on her resume, Cochran has set a single-season ASU record for home runs and also broke the mark for career homers. The senior also set the career-doubles record.
Cochran’s leadership has kept her team alive in the nation’s toughest conference. On Sunday, Cochran hit a grand slam to propel her squad to a much-need win.
Addison McGrath
Talk about making a splash. Arguably the greatest water polo player to ever play the game at ASU, McGrath wrapped up her career as the program’s all-time leading goal scorer with 237.
After becoming the first Sun Devil to be named to the MPSF conference’s first team last season, the senior earned the honor again in 2009 after a season in which she notched 63 goals and 22 assists.
McGrath finished the season strong with 11 goals at the MPSF Championships and 66 multiple-goal games in her career.
Briann January
Few have had as great an impact on the ASU women’s basketball team as January. After point guard Dymond Simon was lost for the season after suffering a knee ligament tear in the final game of the regular season, January was charged with the task of taking over at the point.
The team didn’t miss a beat. In fact, after January took over as floor general, the Sun Devils stormed their way to a second Elite Eight appearance in three seasons.
For her effort, the Indiana Fever made January the sixth overall pick in last month’s WNBA draft.
Anthony Robles and Chris Drouin
The ASU wrestling team had more than just working out to worry about last summer. After the program was cut, the team went on a furious fundraising campaign to reinstate it.
A few months later, Robles and Drouin, both sophomores, made it to the NCAA Championships, where both captured All-American honors.
Robles, who was born with one leg and was put under a national spotlight during the tournament, placed fourth in his weight class (125) while Drouin finished sixth in his (141).
Robles, who won an individual conference title this season, was named as the Pac-10 Wrestler of the Year following the NCAA Championships.
James Harden
It was not a hard decision to place “Big Game James” on the list. The 2009 Pac-10 Player of the Year decided to leave school early, but not before making basketball prevalent in Tempe again.
Harden helped lead the ASU men’s basketball team to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2003, and although he didn’t have his best games during the Big Dance, Harden’s impact on his team’s postseason run was unmistakable.
Harden averaged 20.1 points per game this season, and he will likely be a top-10 pick in June’s NBA draft.
