July 31, 2012 > Jenel Lopez and Chris Herzog named Athletes of the Year Jenel Lopez and Chris Herzog named Athletes of the Year Submitted By Marty Valdez Jenel Lopez (women's swimming) and Chris Herzog (men's golf) were named Female and Male Athletes of the Year at the 2011-12 Cal State East Bay Athletics Student-Athlete Banquet in June. Lopez, a junior college transfer from Cerritos JC, consistently ranked in the top 30 in Division II for the 50, 100, and 200 Free Style events. She went on to break school records in the 50, 100, and 200 events, as well as anchoring four school-record setting relays. Lopez achieved three NCAA "B" cuts during the 2011-12 Season and was the Pioneers' top scorer at the Pacific Coast Swimming Conference Championships. Herzog, a JC transfer from Butte College, posted a scoring average of 74.48 during the regular season and led the Pioneers to their first-ever NCAA Regional appearance. Herzog played in nine tournaments, compiling one win, four-top 10 finishes and seven top-20 performances. His win at the Pioneer Shootout was the first individual victory in team history which led him to CCAA Player of the Week honors on March 12. Women's volleyball player Morgan Hirzel received the "Pioneer Spirit Award". Women's soccer player Tenaya Davis and Herzog were the recipients of the CCAA Dr. Hal Charnofsky Scholar Athlete Award. The award is given to CCAA student-athletes who excel on the playing field and in the classroom. Post-season honors were handed out to 28 Pioneer student-athletes, while eight athletes earned conference player of the week recognition.