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Athletes of the Year May 30, 2008 Meagan Swenson of Salem Academy and Jordan Bishop of West Salem High School were honored as the Salem-Keizer area's athletes of the year in the final meeting of the 2007-08 school year of the Salem Sports and Breakfast Club. Swenson received the Harold Hauk trophy, and Bishop the club's Oliver Huston award in the event at Willamette University's Goudy Commons.
Swenson and Bishop were chosen as the top female and male performers from among an impressive list of candidates at all schools in the local area. Other female nominees included Kristin Belleque of Blanchet, McNary's Hannah Braun, Rachelle "Rocky" Knuth of North Salem, McKay's Anna Marchbanks, Cody Miles of Sprague, South Salem's Rebecca Rhodes, and Kyley Sexton of West Salem. Male athletes also nominated for the award included South Salem's Matt Cox, Paul Herriott of McNary, Jordan Lane of Salem Academy, Blanchet's Andy Ottolia, Gil Salcido of McKay, North Salem's Scott Starkey, and Tony Wilson of Sprague. The Sports and Breakfast Club also honored its two coaches of the year. The Chuck Bowles awards went to Western Oregon softball coach Pam Knox at the college level, and McNary track and girls basketball coach Molly Gehley for local high schools. Special awards for contributions to the local athletic community were also given to long time sports supporters Mike Hart, Dick Norton, and Tom Warrren.
Mark Gilman can be contacted at mark@fullaccesssports.com
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Swenson, a four year varsity performer in volleyball, track and basketball, helped guide her Lady Crusaders basketball squad to the 2A state championship in March. Swenson was a three-time All-Tri River Conference basketball first teamer, and was named to the first team all-state team the last two seasons. She also received all-league and all-state honors in volleyball, and has top 10 finishes in three different running events at the State track meet. Meagan served as team captain for Salem Academy's volleyball and basketball teams. Her classroom performance also was impressive, as she will graduate with a 3.91 grade point average. 
Bishop's stellar career at West Salem High includes a similar long list of accomplishments. He helped the Titans to the 6A football semifinals, and was named a first team all-state performer at wide receiver, cornerback and on special teams as a kick returner. He also was a first team all-conference player as a junior and senior On the baskeball court, he was a two-time Central Valley Conference first team player, and was nominated as a McDonald's All-American for his senior season. He was invited to play in the Oregon-Washington basketball series. In track and field, Bishop has earned medals in the long jump and high jump the past two years, as well as the 400 meter dash and the 4X400 meter relay. This spring, he claimed the 6A long jump title at Hayward Field in Eugene. Bishop has signed to play football next year at Oregon State University.