We're taking a look at athletes whose skills have you talking for days after the big game. These are players who make you proud to wear white and blue. So don't write those letter to our editor just yet. When you read about the talents of these eight athletes, you're going to agree these Cougars are hot.
Erin Thorn - Women's Basketball
Last week, senior guard Erin Thorn ignited BYU's two-game winning streak, averaging 20.5 points and 6.0 assists in home wins against San Diego State and UNLV. The All-American is automatic from the field, connecting on 42 percent of her shots beyond the arc and 45 percent from the field. Thorn's 18.5 points per game is second in the MWC.
Travis Hansen - Men's Basketball
Senior guard Travis Hansen deflected San Diego State's last-second shot to preserve BYU's 66-64 win on Feb. 17. An MWC Player of the Year candidate, Hansen leads the Cougars with 16.8 points per game. In games against CSU, UNLV and SDSU, Hansen played tenacious defense. He held CSU's Brian Greene, UNLV'S Jermaine Lewis and SDSU's Tony Bland to a combine 5-23 shooting and 13 total points. The trio came into the game with a combine 13.0 points per game average on 45 percent shooting.
Rafael Paal - Men's Volleyball
Senior outside hitter Rafael Paal was named the AVCA/Sports Imports Division I/II Men's National Player of the Week this week after leading BYU to a 1-1 record against No. 2 Hawaii. Paal tied the school record for kills in a three-game match with 20 kills in a 3-0 win against Hawaii on Feb. 20.
Greg Machtaler - Men's Golf
Sophomore Greg Machtaler has four top-20 finishes this season. At the John H. Burns Invitational on Feb. 19-21, Machtaler finished as the low Cougar, shooting a 3 under par and putting him in a tie for 12th in the tournament.
Kip Kangogo - Men's Track
Sophomore Kip Kangogo is, needless to say, fast. He leads the nation in the mile with a time of 4:01.09 with the altitude adjustment, which qualifies him for the national indoor meet. His times in the mile lead the nation by over a full second. That performance notched him the Olympic Oval Invitational Male Athlete of the Meet award.
Michaela Mannova - Women's Track
Junior Michaela Mannova set a new MWC all-time record by almost eight seconds in a win at the Husker Invitational on Feb. 15. The Czech Republic native won the 3,000-meter run in a meet record time of 9:19.79. Also a star on the national-champion cross country team, Mannova was the top finisher for BYU and fifth overall in the championship run.
Carlos Lozano - Men's Tennis
Senior Carlos Lozano was named the MWC Player of the Week on Feb. 12. The Tlanepantla, Mexico, product went undefeated in both singles and doubles play in wins against Northern Arizona and No. 48 Arizona. Lozano is ranked 106th nationally in singles.
Dominique Reynolds - Women's Tennis
Senior Dominique Reynolds is a stronghold at the No. 1 spot for the women's tennis team. In an upset against No. 32 Wisconsin, Reynolds easily defeated Linda Mues 6-3, 6-1.
Brooke Cadiente - Softball
Brooke Cadiente is on an offensive explosion. The senior is tied for third in the league with a .343 batting average with teammate Oli Keohohu and has a .742 slugging percentage. Against McNeese State on Feb. 14, Cadiente smacked a two-out grand slam and knocked a solo shot in a 7-1 romp.
Men's Swim and Dive Team
At the MWC championships, the men's swimming and diving team annihilated all opponents, winning the championships with 908 points, 273 better than second place Air Force (635). The Cougars set four new MWC records at the championships and set three new school records. Senior Aaron Russell was named the MWC Diver of the Year after he set a new record on the platform with a score of 499.80. Coach Tim Powers was named MWC Men's Coach of the Year and diving coach Keith Russell notched the MWC Diving Coach of the Year award.