March 17, 2009
ATLANTA – Yellow Jacket senior Jason Haniger has been named to the Watch List for the 2009 Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award, the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission announced Tuesday.
“It’s a great privilege to represent Georgia Tech on this list,” Haniger said prior to Tuesday’s game at Kennesaw State. “I am also humbled to be considered for this prestigious award and honored to be mentioned among this list of great college catchers.
Forty-four catchers were nominated for the award by their coaches, and the list will be narrowed to ten semifinalists May 14, 2009. The finalists will be announced June 3, 2009 prior to the NCAA Super Regionals and Major League Draft, with the winner being announced at the 12th Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet June 26, 2009.
“What an honor for Jason,” head coach Danny Hall said. “And he’s very deserving. He has been underrated for all that he brings to this team, but I’m happy that the Coleman Company has recognized him for his hard work.”
The recognition comes two years after Matt Wieters was a finalist for the same award. The former Tech All-American has gone on to become one of the top prospects in the minor leagues after being selected in the first round of the 2007 MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles.
The honor is the latest in a list of awards for Haniger, who just last week learned that he was the only baseball player in the Atlantic Coast Conference to receive an 2009 ACC Postgraduate Scholarship.
Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award Watch List
Buck Afenir SR, University of KansasBilly Alvino SR, High Point UniversityJeff Arnold JR, University of LouisvilleBrett Basham SR, University of MississippiMatt Behren SR, University of Northern IllinoisDan Benedetti SR, St. John's UniversityGriffin Benedict SR, Georgia Southern UniversityDan Burkhart SO, Ohio State UniversityRyan Cisterna SR, University of ArkansasNick Criaris SR, Florida Atlantic UniversiityDavid Doss SR, University of South AlabamaAaron Dudley JR, The University of ToledoScott Dunwoody SR, University of DaytonJeffrey Farnham SR, New Mexico State UniversityStephen Flora SR, Texas A&M - Corpus ChristiTaylor Freeman JR, McNeese StateMicah Gibbs SO, Louisiana State UniversityAndrew Giobbi JR, Vanderbilt UniversityJason Haniger SR, Georgia TechBryan Holaday JR, Texas Christian UniversityErrol Hollinger SR, Liberty UniversityRichard Jones JR, The CitadelMark Kelly SR, Southern Illinois UniversityReid Kraiser SR, UNC AshevilleGreg Lagreid SR, Washington State UniversityRyan Lipkin JR, University of San FranciscoMyckie Lugbauer JR, Univesity of MaineTommy Medica JR, Santa Clara UniversityMarc Mimeault SR, Georgia State UniversityMike Murray JR, Wake Forest UniversityRafael Neda SO, University of New MexicoJeff Nolet, SR, University of VermontBryce Nugent SO, Marist CollegeJoe Oliveira SR, University of the PacificRyan Ortiz JR, Oregon State UniversityJohn Parham SR, Cal State NorthridgeJosh Phegley JR, Indiana UniveristyBrandon Romans SR, University of Central FloridaTony Sanchez JR, Boston CollegeTobias Streich SO, West Virginia UniversityDallas Tarleton SR, Elon UniversityMichael Thomas JR, Southern UniversityJohn Turk JR, The University of AkronMatt Williams SR, Duke University
–GT–
