by DENVER, Colo. – Head coach Mike Dirks, freshman Aidan Thomas (Laguna Pueblo) and sophomore Garrison Smith were all recognized by the WAC Wednesday afternoon for their accomplishments in the 2021 season.
For the fourth time in his career, Dirks was named the WAC Coach of the Year. Dirks led the Aggies to its seventh WAC Championships in school history last weekend at the Boulder Creek Country Club in Boulder City, Nev. Dirks navigated 11 freshman and just one upperclassmen through a season unlike any other. At the WAC Championships the Aggies posted its best 54-hole score of the season and its best score since the Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate on Oct. 14, 2019.
Thomas was named the WAC Freshman of the Year and was named to the All-WAC First Team. Thomas led the team with a 72.14 scoring average. Thomas’s best meet was the WAC Championships where he fired a season-low 211 (-5) and finished fourth.
Smith finished the season strong for the Aggies including a third-place finish at the WAC Championships. This play earned Smith a spot on the All-WAC Second Team. Smith fired a career-low score of 210 (-6) at the WAC Championships. Smith started out the gates hot with a career-low 64 in the first round of the tournament. Smith ended the season with a 73.66 scoring average, the best of his career.
The Aggies will compete in its first NCAA Regional since 2015 on May 17-19 when they head to Albuquerque, N.M. The Aggies will be the No. 12 seed. Joining the Aggies in Albuquerque will be (in order of seed) Oklahoma, Arizona State, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, New Mexico, Stanford, Oregon State, Boise State, South Carolina, Nevada, San Diego, NM State, Oakland and Prairie View A&M.
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2020-21 All-WAC Teams
First Team All-WAC
Nathan Cogswell, Jr., Seattle U
Gabe Lysen, Gr., Utah Valley
Matt Polivka, Jr., Grand Canyon
Luca Portelli, Gr., UT Rio Grande Valley
Aidan Thomas, Fr., NM State
