Anika Apostalon, Zach Banner Named USC'S 2017 Pac-12 Medal Winners
June 27, 2017 | Football, Women's Swimming & Diving
Both student-athletes were presented the award for exhibiting the greatest combination of scholarship, athletics and leadership.
LOS ANGELES--Academic All-American and NCAA champion swimmer Anika Apostalon and All-American offensive tackle Zach Banner were named USC's 2017 recipients of the Pac-12 Tom Hansen Conference Medals.
Each year, the league awards Conference Medals to a male and female senior student-athlete at each participating institution who exhibits the greatest combination of scholarship, athletics and leadership.
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Apostalon was a nine-time All-American and eight-time NCAA individual scorer in her Trojan career. She was part of USC's 2016 NCAA and Pac-12 400-yard freestyle relay titles as well as the Women of Troy's first Pac-12 team champioinship in 2016. She also was a 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials semifinalist and was part of all five of USC's school record relays.
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Apostalon, a USC co-captain as a senior, had a 3.92 grade point average as a psychology major. She made the 2017 CoSIDA Academic All-American At-Large first team and was the 2017 Pac-12 Women's Swimming Scholar Athlete of the Year along with making the Pac-12 All-Academic first team. She also earned 2016 and 2017 College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America Scholar-All-American first team status.Â
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Banner started three seasons at left offensive tackle, earning All-American first team honors as a senior in 2016 when he also was a Senior CLASS Award finalist (for the nation's top senior in community/classroom/character/competition). A 2016 USC co-captain, he won the team's Community Service Award. He was a two-time All-Pac-12 first teamer and twice was named USC's Offensive Lineman of the Year.
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He received his bachelor's degree from USC in communication prior to his senior season and began work on a second bachelor's in sociology. He received the 2017 Southern California Sports Broadcasters Post-Graduate Scholarship.
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In 2009, the Pac-12 Conference Medal was re-named in honor of Tom Hansen, who retired in 2009 after serving for 26 years as Commissioner of the Pac-10.
USC'S ALLTIME PAC-12 MEDAL WINNERS
2016-2017:Â Â Zach Banner, Football; Anika Apostalon, Swimming
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2015-16:Â Â Max de Vroome, Tennis; Samantha Bricio, Volleyball
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2014-15:Â Â Cristian Quintero, Swimming; Zoe Scandalis, TennisÂ
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2013-14:Â Â Devon Kennard, Football; Natalie Hagglund, Volleyball
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2012-13:Â Â Matt Barkley, Football; Melanie Grindle, RowingÂ
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2011-12:Â Â Daniel Nguyen, Tennis; Amanda Smith, Swimming
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2010-11:Â Â Murphy Troy, Volleyball; Lizette Salas, GolfÂ
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2009-10:Â Â Jeff Byers, Football; Kally Lucas, Water PoloÂ
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2008-09:Â Â Mark Sanchez, Football; Rebecca Soni, Swimming
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2007-08:Â Â Kaes Van't Hof, Tennis; Allison Jaskowiak Kennedy, BasketballÂ
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2006-07:Â Â Pavol Valovic, Water Polo; Anca Anastasiu, Tennis
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2005-06:Â Â Juraj Zatovic, Water Polo; Blythe Hartley, DivingÂ
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2004-05:Â Â Ray Vincent, Swimming; Emily Adams, Volleyball
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2003-04:Â Â Ruben Torres, Tennis;Â Kelly Graff, Water PoloÂ
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2002-03:Â Â Erik Vendt, Swimming;Â Tracy Lindquist, VolleyballÂ
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2001-02:Â Â Andrew Park, Tennis;Â Aniko Pelle, Water PoloÂ
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2000-01:Â Â Nick Jones, Golf;Â Rebecca Moneymaker, RowingÂ
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1999-2000:Â Â Chad Morton, Football; Lisa Bartoli, Rowing
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1998-99:Â Â Adam Abrams, Football; Adrain Williams, Basketball
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1997-98:Â Â Jim Wren, Football; Jean Ellis Todisco, Swimming
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1996-97:Â Â Randy Flores, Baseball;Â Kristine Quance, Swimming
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1995-96:Â Â Balazs Kiss, Track & Field;Â Kelly Kuebler, Volleyball
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1994-95:Â Â Brett Hansen, Tennis; Meika Wagner, Volleyball
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1993-94:Â Â Brian Earley, Diving; Katie Haller, Volleyball
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1992-93:Â Â Travis Hannah, Football; Elin Bartell, Swimming & Diving
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1991-92:Â Â Greg Larson, Swimming; Tammy Story, Basketball
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1990-91:Â Â Bryan Ivie, Volleyball; Lisa Dorman, Swimming
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1989-90:Â Â NAÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
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1988-89:Â Â Chip Hobson, Swimming; Nancy Hillman, Volleyball
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1987-88:Â Â NAÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
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1986-87:Â Â Jeff Bregel, Football; Rhonda Windham, Basketball
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1985-86: Â Brian Henninger, GolfÂ
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1984-85:Â Â Wayne Carlander, Basketball
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1983-84:Â Â John Yacovelle, SwimmingÂ
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1982-83:Â Â Riki Gray, Football
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1981-82:Â Â NAÂ Â Â Â
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1980-81:Â Â Craig Furniss, Water PoloÂ
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1979-80:Â Â NAÂ
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1978-79:Â Â Bruce Furniss, SwimmingÂ
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1977-78:Â Â Rich Graybehl, Track & Field
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1976-77:Â Â John Naber, Swimming
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1975-76:Â Â Steve Furniss, Swimming
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1974-75:Â Â Pat Haden, Football
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1973-74:Â Â Dan Anderson, Basketball
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1972-73:Â Â Dave Brown, FootballÂ
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1971-72:Â Â Frank Heckl, SwimmingÂ
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1970-71:Â Â Â Andy Strenk, Swimming
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1969-70:Â Â Fred Khasigian, FootballÂ
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1968-69:Â Â Steve Sogge, Football
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1967-68:Â Â Stan Smith, Tennis
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1966-67:Â Â Gary Carlsen, Track
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1965-66:Â Â Roy Saari, Swimming
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1964-65:Â Â Lew Hoyt, TrackÂ
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1963-64:Â Â Bill Bond, TennisÂ
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1962-63:Â Â Ken Del Conte, Football
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1961-62:Â Â Murray Rose, SwimmingÂ
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1960-61:Â Â Ron Stillwell, Baseball