Senior Katie Macomber of the Muhlenberg soccer and track and field teams was the first recipient of the Helene Hospodar Award. Macomber received the award at the Cardinal & Grey Society Senior Dinner last week.

The award is given in memory of Helene Hospodar to a female senior athlete with a strong academic record who has demonstrated leadership both on and off the field or court and who epitomizes the concept of a “team player.”

Hospodar was a coach of field hockey, basketball, softball and lacrosse at Muhlenberg from 1963 to 1990 and served as advisor to the cheerleaders before retiring in 1997. Her family established the award after she passed away in September 2003.

Macomber, a midfielder in soccer and a sprinter in track, was praised by both of her coaches for her leadership abilities and selfless play. She helped both squads win Centennial Conference championships – soccer in 2001 and 2003 and track this past weekend.

Two members of the Muhlenberg softball team were voted to the All-Centennial Conference squad by the league’s coaches.

Sophomore pitcher Nicole Washburn earned second-team honors. Washburn was the staff ace in 2005, going 5-8 with a 2.93 ERA. She was particularly effective in CC games, compiling a 2.00 ERA and allowing opponents a .206 batting average. Washburn tossed back-to-back shutouts against Franklin & Marshall (three-hitter) and Swarthmore (one-hitter) and received no run support in her three CC losses.

Senior shortstop Becki Toth received honorable mention. It was the fourth time on the All-CC team for Toth, who hit .295 and drove in 10 runs. She became the Mules’ all-time hits leader this spring and finished her career tied for fourth in career runs scored (85) and ninth in career batting average (.366).