All-American Drew Lehman Chosen As Ferris State's Willie Bouyer Leadership Award Winner
Note: This is the third of four major FSU Athletics Awards that will be presented this week for the 2014-15 campaign. The final award, the Dean Davenport "Bulldog Of The Year" Award, will be announced on Tuesday.
Big Rapids, Mich. - Senior guard Drew Lehman (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic) of the Ferris State University men's basketball program has been chosen as this year's recipient of the FSU Athletics Department's Willie Bouyer Leadership Award for the 2014-15 campaign in an announcement made today.
The Willie Bouyer Leadership Award, which is regarded as one of the most prestigious of the FSU Athletics Department's four annual major honors, is named in memory of Ferris State's first All-America football student-athlete Willie Bouyer. Bouyer was tragically killed in his hometown of Detroit in 1977. The recipient is chosen by a FSU Athletics Department committee.
Candidates for the award are judged on their strong inspirational leadership and dedication to fellow Ferris State student-athletes. The nominees also should be involved outside of athletics in other college and community activities along with participating on a varsity athletics team for at least two years. The Willie Bouyer Leadership Award was reinstated upon the conclusion of the 2002-03 season following a seven-year absence.
"We are blessed at Ferris State to have such exceptional young men and women leading our programs on a daily basis," said FSU Athletics Director Perk Weisenburger. "As difficult a selection as this was, Drew Lehman clearly distinguished himself by how he performed and led our basketball program back to championship success this past year.
"For the past four seasons, Drew has worked as hard as anyone in getting better and becoming a leader and contributor," he added. "As a result, he and his teammates enjoyed one of the truly great seasons in Bulldog men's basketball history. Drew's commitment and dedication were one of a kind and he left us with so many memories as well as an ever-lasting championship legacy."
The 6-0 Lehman recently inked his first professional basketball contract with the Thor Thor Basketball Club in Iceland's top professional Domino's League. As a collegiate senior and team captain this past season, Lehman was named to the 2015 Division II Bulletin All-America squad after leading the Bulldogs to the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Tournament Championship and an NCAA Division II National Tournament appearance. He became only FSU's fifth All-American ever in program history and first since past standout Justin Keenan achieved laurels from various sources in 2010 and 2011.
"I could write a book about all the good things Drew Lehman has done both on and off the floor," said FSU head coach Andy Bronkema. "He finished his Bulldog career as a Hall of Fame type player and person. There's no question he's highly deserving of this prestigious honor. His character was on display every day while his strong work ethic and positive attitude were infectious for our program."
The Bulldog senior guard was a first-team All-Midwest Region selection this past season by both the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and Daktronics after guiding the Bulldogs to the school's 10th NCAA Tournament appearance in his final campaign.
In 2014-15, Lehman averaged a personal career-high 18.3 points per game while ranking among the league leaders in scoring, assists and three-point field goals. He reached double-figure scoring 27 times this season and compiled 20 points or more in 15 games, including twice with 37 points or more. Lehman tallied a personal-best 38 points as the Bulldogs beat Lake Superior State in the 2015 GLIAC Tournament Championship Game on March 8 in Sault Ste. Marie, earning the GLIAC Tourney Most Valuable Player honor.
Lehman wrapped up his Bulldog career ranked 11th on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,463 career points and finished third in career three-point field goals with 174 over his four seasons of action. The four-year letterwinner also concluded his career ranked 10th in career assists with 298 total. This season, Lehman finished with 585 total points in 32 games, which ranks ninth on the school's single-season leaders list. His 74 three's as a senior also marks the fifth-best seasonal performance in Bulldog annals.
A two-time All-GLIAC honoree, Lehman claimed first team all-conference status this past year. He wrapped up the year third in scoring, fifth in three-pointers made, sixth in assists and 10th in steals for all games played among league players in the 2014-15 campaign.
Lehman led the Bulldogs to a 23-9 overall record this past season in his final campaign. In addition to the NCAA Tourney appearance and winning the GLIAC Tournament Championship this year, the Bulldogs' season was also highlighted by several other accomplishments including a top 20 national ranking, a 15-game regular season win streak, an exhibition victory over NCAA Division I Bowling Green and several signature wins such as the team's first-ever victory at Findlay's Croy
Gymnasium. FSU also led the GLIAC in attendance during the regular season.
In addition to his All-America accolades, Lehman was also invited and participated in two All-Star games at the end of the season. He earned Most Valuable Player honors after hitting the game-winning shot in the closing seconds at the Champions of Character West Michigan All-Star Game before scoring in double figures and having a strong showing in the Reese's Division II Collegiate All-Star Game as one of the nation's top 20 players in Evansville, Ind.
Lehman has also been active off the court as one of the team's Ferris State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) representatives, one of the squad's top performers in the classroom and active in various team charitable and community service initiatives.
"We're proud of all Drew has accomplished both on and off the floor and thrilled he's been chosen to receive this honor," said Bronkema. "There are annually a number of outstanding student-athletes at Ferris State who are worthy candidates to receive this award so it is a tremendous honor for him to be this year's recipient."
Lehman is the fourth men's basketball student-athlete in school history to receive the Willie Bouyer Leadership Award, following in the footsteps of previous honorees Kurt Stevens (1985-86), Jeffrey Shanahan (2005-06) along with Matt DeHart (2010-11).
The other 2014-15 finalists for the Willie Bouyer Leadership Award included Dan Chilcote (Men's Basketball), Laurent Galarneau (Men's Tennis), Katie Mavis (Women's Basketball), CJ Motte (Hockey), Courtney Rehm (Volleyball), Riley Wood (Women's Soccer) and Justin Zimmer (Football).
Willie Bouyer Leadership Award Recipients
2014-15 - Drew Lehman (Men's Basketball)
2013-14 – Simon Denis (Men's Ice Hockey)
2012-13 – Samantha Fordyce (Volleyball)
2011-12 – Ashley Huntey (Volleyball)
2010-11 – Matt DeHart (Men's Basketball)
2009-10 – Casey Haines (Men's Ice Hockey) and Kurt Valley (Men's Golf)
2008-09 – Holly Bruntjens (Softball)
2007-08 – Raquel Hansen (Women's Golf) and Katie Kraai (Softball)
2006-07 – Danielle Baucher (Women's Volleyball) and Raquel Hansen (Women's Golf)
2005-06 – Brittny Godlewski (Women's Volleyball) and Jeffrey Shanahan (Men's Basketball)
2004-05 – Brittny Godlewski (Women's Volleyball) and Navreet Gill (Softball)
2003-04 – Melissa Worsley (Softball) and Derrick McIver (Men's Ice Hockey)
2002-03 – Steve Picucci (Mens' Cross Country and Men's Track & Field)
1995-96 – Benny Roe (Football)
1994-95 – Tim Christian (Men's Ice Hockey)
1993-94 – Jere Getzinger (Wrestling and Football)
1992-93 – Dave Morin (Baseball)
1991-92 – Erica Thomas (Women's Basketball)
1990-91 – Mark Kamppinen (Baseball)
1989-90 – Doug Mooney (Wrestling) and Jody Johnson (Softball)
1988-89 – Jim Beson (Football and Wrestling)
1987-88 – Sam Sweet (Men's Track and Field)
1986-87 – Paul Surmont (Cheerleading – Bulldog Mascot)
1985-86 – Kurt Stevens (Men's Basketball)
1984-85 – Steve Piotraczk (Football), Katy Kelley (Women's Basketball)
1980-81 – Fred Kirkland (Football and Men's Track & Field)