University of Connecticut Athletics
Four Huskies Earn NSCA All-America Accolades
4/1/2020 10:51:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey, Softball, Women's Ice Hockey, Baseball
STORRS, Conn. - The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) announced it's 2020 All-American Athlete of the Year recipients and four UConn student-athletes have been recognized with the national award. Senior Chris Winkel of the baseball team, redshirt junior  Emily Reid of the women's hockey team, senior Wyatt Newpower of the men's hockey team and junior Reese Guevarra of the softball team have been recognized this year for their athletic accomplishments and dedication to strength and conditioning.
Before the 2020 spring season was cancelled, senior captain Chris Winkel was hitting .348 with three doubles, one triple and five RBIs. During the Huskies' five game winning streak to finish the year, the UConn centerfielder was 11-18 (.611) and recorded four multi-hit efforts including a pair of three-hit contests.
"Chris is an exceptional athlete and leader for our baseball program. He has a tireless work ethic and a passion for improving his skills both on and off the field. Chris was in the top 10% of our testing protocol since his arrival on campus as a freshman but his consistent approach and hard work have kept him in the top echelon of our performance standards for four years. He exemplifies all of the personal attributes that we strive for in the strength and conditioning profession. He was named team captain as a junior and has set the standard very high for our baseball program."  – Joel DeMarco
Emily Reid helped the UConn women's hockey team post 19 wins and advance to the Hockey East Championship game. The assistant captain played in all 39 games for the Huskies and showed her toughness by ranking second on the team with 54 blocked shots. She added three goals and five assists including a goal at No. 6 Boston College to lead the Huskies to a 2-1 win.
"Emily is a fierce competitor who embodies the blue-collar attitude that defines our program. She faced major adversity as an incoming freshman with a torn ACL only to suffer a setback and have a second ACL surgery in the same knee. She persevered through her positive attitude and consistent effort. Her tenacity and competitive drive has catapulted her in overall team performance rankings from 21 to 2 overall. She shows up ready to work each day and is a persistent example of hard work and toughness for her teammates. While she has certainly developed physically, she also has developed into a valuable team leader and was named alternate captain as a RS Junior. Emily has truly maximized every day as a student-athlete and elevates the expectations for our program."  – Joel DeMarco
A 2019-20 team captain, became the fourth Husky in program history to earn Hockey East All-Star honors after a banner season for the Huskies, leading all UConn defensemen in scoring with 22 points on three goals and 19 assists. On the defensive end, he was second on the club with 42 blocked shots. Among Hockey East defensemen, Newpower was tied for sixth in scoring. He ranked ninth in the conference in blocked shots, averaging 1.24 per game. He finished the season as a +23 skater, ranking him fifth among all Hockey East skaters and was tied for sixth nationally. He was also named the Hockey East '47 Best Defensive Defenseman at the end of the season.
"Wyatt is a dominant, imposing, demanding, challenging leader in every aspect of his student-athlete career. How he got there is a story of commitment. Some students accept their role within a team even if it is not what they anticipated. Wyatt absolutely did not. As he found himself in his suit and tie in the stands on game day his work ethic only grew. Wyatt dedicated himself to staying each summer to train in our facilities, to improve in ways that commanded attention, to bring the younger guys on board, challenge them to be better than they thought possible, and he only continued to develop. As a senior captain, Wyatt is the guy who will support his teammate to the end of the earth, encourage the younger guys to keep working, throw his arm around you in support, and will be in your face firing you up when things are too quiet. Wyatt has had a transformative career and the steps he takes every day in the sports performance facilities have amplified a culture of passion, challenge, and success." ~Maureen Butler
Through 19 games in 2020, Guevarra was hitting .246 with 15 hits, 14 runs scored, two homers and 10 RBIs, while leading the team with 12 walks. The UConn outfielder closed the year by hitting safely in five of the last six games. Her contributions helped the team get off to a 15-6 start.
"Reese Guevarra is the student-athlete you look to when things are hard. She maintains a consistent intensity and effort that not just leads, but drives her teammates toward excellence. Reese does not have a standard of success as her standard is constantly rising. A junior who has ranked in the top of the team in strength and conditioning performance measures all three years, Reese continuously finds ways to improve herself and bring along her team. She is a well-respected teammate who represents herself, her team, her family, and her university well. She additionally represents her history as she has competed in the Asia-Oceania Olympic Qualifier for the Philippines. Academically, Reese has been an exceptional student, most recently earning a 4.0 semester as a Psychological Sciences major. Reese is energetic, inspiring, mature, and her passion, dedication and charisma are absolutely infectious." ~Maureen Butler
For additional information about the NSCA 2019 All-American Athlete of the Year visit www.nsca.com.
About the National Strength & Conditioning Association
The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is an international nonprofit professional association founded in 1978 and is dedicated to advancing the strength and conditioning profession around the world.
The NSCA advances the profession by supporting strength and conditioning professionals devoted to helping others discover and maximize their strengths. The organization disseminates research-based knowledge and its practical application by offering industry-leading certifications, research journals, career development services, and continuing education opportunities. The NSCA community is composed of more than 45,000 members and certified professionals who further industry standards as researchers, educators, strength coaches, personal trainers, and other roles in related fields.
Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the NSCA serves as a valuable resource for its members, the fitness industry, general public, and the media. The association provides a wide variety of resources and opportunities designed to strengthen, build, advance, and unify.
