The California Pacific Conference and Commissioner Don Ott announced the conference's post season awards and the Keelhaulers of Maritime were awarded for their outstanding efforts during the regular season.  Juniors Andrew Medeiros and John Stiles earned First Team All Conference and Zac Kinman earned Freshman of the Year.  2nd year Head Coach Bryan Rooney was also named the Coach of the Year. The awards also reflect a definite positive step in the right direction as the team enjoyed one of the best seasons in school history.

Medeiros, a transfer from Napa Valley College, has started every game for the Keelhaulers and finished the league season averaging over 15 points and 4 assists per game.  "This is an honor that is well deserved for Andy. He has made a concerted effort to lead his teammates in a productive way and this award reflects his hard work" commented Head Coach Bryan Rooney.

Stiles, a junior from Murrieta, proved to be a very reliable inside presence for the Keelhaulers as he 14 points and nearly 8 rebounds per game.  He also shot over 80% from the free throw line on the year. "JD has really given us that killer instinct in scoring the ball inside.  When he is focused, he helps our team a great deal.  I am proud of him that he has earned this prestigious award, " Coach Rooney said.

Kinman, a freshman from Oroville, Washington, stepped in right away and proved to be one of the top defenders for Maritime.  He also demonstrated a very good shooting touch from three point land and he shot over 90% from the free throw line.  "I am glad the coaches in the conference saw it this way.  Zac did not put up gaudy numbers but more importantly when he was on the floor good things happened.  He is going to have a great career here at Maritime and this is a great start," concluded Rooney when informed of the selections.

"We are extremely proud of Andy, John, and Zac.  All three were very deserving of these honors.  If you asked each of them, I am sure they would respond that a key to their individual success has been having teammates that are so unselfish," Rooney stated.

When asked about the Coach of the Year award, Rooney remarked, "This award is very humbling due to the number of excellent coaches in our conference but also points out to others the outstanding young men I have the privilege to work with everyday and the tireless work ethic of our assistant coaches. Royster Martin, Justin Bayer, Simon Heller, Cody Gatton, and David Ward are all tremendous assets to our program."

While the individual awards were well deserved, as important is the win total of 17 that marks among the highest in school history.  The 2008-2009 Keelhauler squad also made school history as Maritime swept Menlo College, won for the first time at William Jessup University, and swept conference mainstay Holy Names University.  "We had a solid year this year due to the quality of young men that we had in the program.  They worked hard every day and really cared for one another.  If we continue to have similar student-athletes in our program, we have the opportunity to build on this year," Rooney remarked.

The Keelhaulers are back in action next year as they open up the 2009-2010 season with a trip to Southern California to participate in the Lancer Classic at California Baptist University.