SALEM, ORE. -- Dylan Jones (Sr., Santa Maria, CA/Ernest Righetti HS) from the football and men's track and field teams, along with Jack Nelson (Sr., Portland, OR/Jesuit HS) from the football team and Michaela Freeby (Sr., Milwaukie, OR/Rex Putnam HS) from the women's cross country and women's track and field teams, were honored as the top senior student-athletes at Willamette University during the 2014-15 Athletics Awards Night on Monday, May 4 at Cone Field House.

Jones and Nelson shared the J.H. Booth Award as the top senior male student-athlete. Freeby was chosen for the Jean Williams Award as the top senior female student-athlete.

In addition, all of the senior student-athletes at Willamette were honored by the Athletics Department. Athletes with four full seasons on an intercollegiate team received the traditional Willamette blanket by Pendleton, while students with less than four seasons on a team received a framed Willamette letter award. Several special awards also were announced.

J. Henry Booth Award

The Booth Award is presented annually by the Athletics Department to a graduating senior male student-athlete who has developed and demonstrated strong leadership skills and outstanding athleticism, while maintaining a high rank of scholarship during his collegiate career.

Dylan Jones rushed for a school record 1,599 yards on 237 carries in 2014 to lead NCAA Division III with 177.7 rushing yards per game. He scored 18 rushing touchdowns and ranked fifth in Division III with 12.0 points per game.

He was named Northwest Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2014 and was chosen First Team All-NWC. He rushed for more than 120 yards in all nine of Willamette's games and gained over 160 yards in five games. He was named NWC Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week three times for outstanding performances against Whitworth, Linfield and Puget Sound.

He gained a school record 350 rushing yards on 30 carries against Whitworth on Oct. 11, 2014. He set another school record with a 98-yard touchdown run against Linfield three weeks later. Against Puget Sound, he rushed for 223 yards on 32 carries.

Jones was one of four finalists for the Gagliardi Trophy, which goes to the most outstanding football player in NCAA Division III each season.

In his career with the Bearcats, Jones carried the ball 484 times for 2,857 yards and 34 touchdowns. He finished just two yards away from the school record of 2,859 career rushing.

As a track and field athlete, he ran on Willamette’s 4 x 100-meter relay team that won NWC championships in 2013 and 2014. He was second in the NWC in the 100-meter dash in 2013 and was third in 2014. He was fourth in the NWC in the 200-meter dash in 2013.

Jones is majoring in Environmental Science. He has volunteered with United Way and helped organize the annual Bearcat Day.

Jack Nelson was named First Team All-America by D3football.com in 2014 after earning First Team All-West Region honors. He also was named First Team Capital One Academic All-America by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

He achieved a total of 315 career tackles to set a Willamette record. In four seasons, he registered 191 unassisted tackles and 124 assists. He also earned 25.0 tackles for loss, including 9.5 quarterback sacks. He intercepted four passes, broke up eight passes, forced two fumbles and recovered two fumbles.

As a senior in 2014, Nelson led the Northwest Conference with 104 tackles, 63 solo tackles and 41 assists. He ranked 18th in NCAA Division III with 11.6 tackles per game and was 16th in the nation with 7.0 solo tackles per game. He earned 9.0 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. He was named NWC Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week for his efforts against California Lutheran University, Lewis & Clark College and Linfield.

Nelson was chosen First Team All-NWC in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Prior to earning First Team All-West Region honors this season, Nelson was named Third Team All-West Region in 2013.

He led the Bearcats in tackles for three consecutive seasons. In 2012, he earned 72 total tackles. In 2013, he provided Willamette with 112 total tackles, while ranking ninth in NCAA Division III with 12.4 tackles per game and  seventh in the nation with 7.4 solo tackles per game.

In 2014, Nelson helped Willamette limit opponents to 145.0 rushing yards per game and just 3.6 yards per carry. The Bearcats forced opponents into 21 turnovers with 11 interceptions and 10 fumble recoveries

Nelson was a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award in 2013 and 2014. The Cliff Harris Award is presented to the nation's top small college defensive player.

At Willamette, Nelson is majoring in Economics. He has contributed work to the Marioin-Polk Food Share and has helped with the United Way Days of Caring.

Jean Williams Award

The Williams Award is presented annually by the Athletics Department to a graduating senior female student-athlete who has developed and demonstrated strong leadership skills and outstanding athleticism, while maintaining a high rank of scholarship during her collegiate career.

Michaela Freeby is ranked #1 in NCAA Division III this spring in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase with a personal record time of 10:30.09. Her top time is several seconds faster than the #2 runner and is about five seconds faster than defending NCAA Division III champion, Lisa Cheadle of Washington University (St. Louis, Mo.).

She also is listed at #23 in Division III in the 1,500-meter run. Her top time is 4:35.18.

Freeby won the 2015 NWC championship in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. She also won the NWC steeplechase title in 2012 and 2013. She was the NWC champion in the 1,500-meter run in 2013.

She has competed at the NCAA Championships all four years in cross country and will compete for the fourth consecutive year in track and field later this month.

In cross country, she earned All-America honors by taking eighth place at the 2012 NCAA Championships. In track and field, she was named All-America following a fourth place finish in the steeplechase in 2013.

As a cross country runner, Freeby won the NWC individual championship in 2013, while helping Willamette achieve the NWC team title. She also helped the Bearcats win NWC team championship in 2014. She took first place as an individual standings at the NCAA West Regional in 2013, was second in 2014 and placed ninth in both 2011 and 2012.

Freeby was chosen as the NCAA West Region Female Athlete of the Year in cross country in 2013.

On Willamette’s all-time lists she is second in the steeplechase and fourth in the 5,000-meter run. She is ninth all-time in the 800-meter run. In addition she is third all-time at Willamette in both the 5-kilometer and 6-kilometer cross country events.

She has earned All-Academic honors from the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) all four years in cross country and all four years in track and field. She has been a captain all four years in both sports at Willamette.

Freeby is majoring in Biology. She has volunteered with a summer school lunch program and was a Bearcat Day volunteer. She helped organize the Talbert 5k/10k Run.

Additional Honors and Awards

The Athletics Department honored all 76 of its seniors during the Athletics Awards Night.

Former Willamette Director of Athletics David Rigsby ('00) was named Alumnus of the Year. Rigsby is currently Willamette's associate vice president of advancement. Long-time radio and webcast announcer Mike Allegre was selected for the Sue J. Rauch Distinguished Service to Willamette Athletics Award. Dr. Jason Duncan from the Biology Department was selected for the Julie Abendroth, Ed. D., Professor of the Year Award.

Molly Bond (Sr., Clarkston, WA/Asotin HS) from the WU women's track and field team was named the Women's Senior Scholar-Athlete and Tyler Higley (Sr., Aloha, OR/Aloha HS) from the men's track and field team was chosen as the Men's Senior Scholar-Athlete for having the highest cumulative grade point averages among the graduating seniors.