When one sets out to determine an Athlete Of The Year award winner,
several factors are considered during the decision making
process. Obviously how an athlete fares on their field of
competition is one thing, but at The Apprentice School, how they
handle themselves in the classroom and on the job will most
certainly influence the final decision.
The selections for the 2008-2009 honor had senior seasons loaded
with accolades that distinguished themselves. One became the
first four-time All-American in his sport while the other rewrote
the record books and planted her name into future "All-Time Greats"
conversation.
For
the 2008-2009 athletic year, senior wrestler, Cecil Lee, and senior
women's basketball player, Rahshann Lewter, will be honored as The
Apprentice School Athletes Of The Year.
Rahshann Lewter
A Hampton High School graduate, Lewter became the seventh Lady
Builder in school history to break the 1,000-point mark this year
in a road win over Columbia Union College.
She finished her career ranked in the top five in 13 categories,
including leading in assists (476), minutes played (3,353) along
with being second in another seven categories. Lewter ended
her career fourth on the all-time scoring list (1,232 points) and
went out with history in her last game as she recorded the first
post-season triple-double for the Lady Builders with 12 points, 12
rebounds and 10 assists in a loss to Robert Morris University
Springfield.
Lewter, a Production Planner apprentice, earned more than her share
of accolades in her playing career. She was a three-time U.S.
Collegiate Athletic Association All-American and a two-time USCAA
All-Academic Team selection. Lewter joined Anita Allen as the
only three-time USCAA All-Americans in school history and also
became the first Lady Builder to earn Apprentice School Athlete Of
The Year honors since Allen did it in 2003-04.
Other accolades included a two-time Virginia Sports Information
Directors Association All-State College Division honor (second
team) and this year was named to the honorable mention All-State
College Division team by the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
All of this is done while participating in the Advanced
Apprenticeship program and obtaining her Associates of Business
Administration degree through The Apprentice School's partnership
with Thomas Nelson Community College.
"Rahshann
is one of the hardest working people that I know," said Apprentice
School Head Coach Lanica Williams. "As a player, she led our
team in so many different ways from scoring to distributing to
motivating others. As a student, she has worked diligently to
maintain over a 3.5gpa, is well respected on the job by her
supervisors and instructors and has all the intangibles that a
person needs in order to be successful. Rahshann is a very
bright and intellegent young lady, with a fire and competiveness,
who just epitomizes what it is to be a true student-athlete.
She has contributed greatly to the overall success of this program
and will continue to be the example of a model apprentice that I
use to recruit young ladies to the Apprentice School."
Cecil Lee
A native of Portsmouth, Va., Lee broke several barriers in route to
a record-setting season on the wrestling mat as his Builders won
their first National Collegiate Wrestling Association National
Championship.
A shipfitter apprentice who graduated in February, Lee finished his
senior season with a 4-1 victory over Tim Rose from Amherst College
to win the 2009 NCWA Heavyweight National Championship. That
win gave him a school record 46 victories for the season to break
the school mark held by assistant coach Micah Amrozowicz with
45. He became the ninth Builder wrestler to win a national
title and the first since 2002.
On the way to his 46 wins and national championship, Lee became the
second wrestler in the last 19 years to surpass 100 career
victories and he broke that mark in dramatic fashion. In an
elimination round matchup against NCAA Division I Wagner College he
recorded an 8-0 major decision victory for his 100th win
which gave the Builders a 24-20 team win at the Virginia Duals on
January 9, 2009.
The next event for Lee saw him break the school career wins mark
with a pinfall in 54 seconds over Kenneth Wade of Kennesaw State
University in the Builder Invitational on January 24, 2009.
For Lee's career portfolio he ended with 124 wins (first all-time),
a career winning percentage of 69.66% (tenth all-time) and 51 falls
(first all-time). Along with his single-season record of
46-9, he had 17 falls (fourth best in a single season).
"What can you say about a guy that wins a National Title, sets the
win and pin career record, the single season win record and is the
friendliest heavyweight around," said Apprentice School Head Coach
Bruce Shumaker. "Cecil worked hard and made it all happen
this season. He helped lead our team to a National
Championship and we could not be more proud of him for what he
accomplished."
