Air Force Academy

May 12, 2006

USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Air Force women's tennis player Kat Bushey is the recipient of the 2006 Cissie Leary Sportsmanship Award for the Central Region, presented by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. The award is presented to the individual who has demonstrated inspiring commitment and dedication to her team, which has enhanced her team's performance and exemplified the spirit of college tennis.

Bushey was selected from the region's 32 teams and is one of eight finalists for the national sportsmanship award, which will be announced on Monday, May 22.

"Kat is well deserving of the Cissie Leary Award," said Air Force head coach Kim Gidley. "Her leadership style is different from others in that she takes the time outside of practice to help others grow as individuals and as a team. Time outside to help others, not to make them a better tennis player, but to be better team players, to be better students, to be better militarily, and to be better people."

The senior from Wilmington, Del., played No. 1 singles and doubles for the Falcons her final two years at Air Force. This past season, she posted a 21-19 overall singles record and was 14-12 in dual matches. Her specialty was doubles, however, as she paired with freshman Christine Abayan for a 29-13 overall record, setting a new school Division I record for most victories in one season. The duo was 18-9 in dual matches at the No. 1 position, including a 4-4 mark against Mountain West Conference opponents.

Bushey, who won the 2005 MWC Sportsmanship Award, earned her first all-conference honor this season as she was selected to the singles team by the league's nine head coaches.