NSU Asks Fans to Vote for Demon Honor!

Northwestern State University is asking Demon fans to vote on what moment was the top Demon Athletics highlight of 2013.  Check out the news release offered by the NSU Sports Information Department:

NATCHITOCHES -With excitement building about what could be a highly-successful 2013-14 athletic year for Northwestern State, Demon fans can vote at NSUDemons.com this month to select the most outstanding NSU sports accomplishment of a landmark-filled 2012-13 campaign.

Sixteen top achievements, dubbed "Demon Delights," have been chosen and paired in eight "first-round" voting matchups. In each, fans will have two days to choose their favorite, advancing it to the semifinal round, with winners there selected in a 36-hour span. The finalists will be open for voting for two days with the "2012-13 Demon Delight of the Year" selected on Aug. 1, just two days before the NSU football team reports to open preseason camp under first-year coach Jay Thomas.

Voting at NSUDemons.com begins Monday morning on the first quarterfinal matchup, where fans will decide between Janae Allen's stunning 10th-place finish in the women's discus last month, earning her All-America honors at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, or point guard Janelle Perez of the Lady Demon basketball team winning Southland Conference Freshman of the Year honors.

"We had a wonderful 2012-13 athletic year and it was not easy to settle on this list of 16 top achievements," said NSU director of athletics Greg Burke. "This is a great way to take one last look back at the fun and remarkable accomplishments by our student-athletes and coaches this past year, thanks in no small part to the great support by our fans and donors."

The 2012-13 highlights finished with a flourish with "3 in 3" - NCAA Tournament trips earned in March, April and May by the Demon basketball and Lady Demon tennis and softball teams - followed by five track and field athletes winning All-America honors at the NCAA Outdoors with top 16 national finishes.

"This is more about showing appreciation for what has been accomplished across the board in our athletic program in the past 12 months, than singling out one event above the rest," said Burke. "It's exciting to consider that in many cases, prospects are equally bright if not more so for more success in 2013-14."

The 16 "Demon Delights" of 2012-13 up for fan vote this month:

* Janae Allen soars to 10th in discus at NCAA T&F meet, earns All-America honors
* Janelle Perez earns Southland women's basketball Freshman of Year honors

* John Shaughnessy tabbed Southland Football Student-Athlete of Year, wins McCarty Citizenship award
* Andrea Nedorostova named SLC Women's Tennis Student-Athlete of Year

* Volleyball's landmark season includes most wins (20) in program's 31 seasons, 3 All-SLC picks
* Demon basketball beats SFA in Prather Coliseum with late rally capped by James Hulbin's 3-pointer

* Demon basketball holds off SFA to win Southland tourney, reach NCAA Tournament
* Lady Demon soccer's Jackie Strug chosen Louisiana Newcomer of the Year

* 4x100m team (Gabe White, Hanoj Carter, Kendal Taylor, Justin Walker) 12th at NCAA T&F, named All-Americans
* Lady Demon basketball scores home upsets of defending & eventual SLC champs McNeese, Sam Houston

* Red zone sack by Lesley Deamer, Phillip Harvey's direct snap TD run key football win over Lamar
* Lady Demon softball wins Southland Tournament at home, reaches NCAA Tournament

* Lady Demon tennis captures SLC Tournament, reaches NCAA Tournament
* Baseball gets complete-game gem from pitcher Bobby Baker to beat NCAA Tourney entry UCA

* Donald Pickett completes softball rebuilding with 40-15 season, named Louisiana Coach of the Year
* Basketball Centennial Celebration highlighted by Mike McConathy breaking state career coaching wins record