June 11, 2002

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - Washington State's Lamont Thompson and Erica Perkins are among the 20 student-athletes selected as the 2001-02 Pacific-10 Conference Medal Winners, Commissioner Tom Hansen announced, Tuesday.

The Conference Medal is awarded annually to each member institution's outstanding senior male and female student-athlete based on the exhibition of the greatest combination of performance and achievement in scholarship, athletics, and leadership. The Conference Medal Winners will be honored at the State Farm Pride of the Pac-10 Luncheon held in Los Angeles in conjunction with the Pac-10 Men's Basketball Tournament next March.

Thompson, a free safety on the Cougar football team from Richmond, Calif., was taken in the second round (41st pick overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. Thompson shined in his senior season, earning Associated Press first team All-America, The Sporting News second team All-America, Football News third team All-America and All-Pac-10 first team honors. In addition, he was named one of 12 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award.

Thompson was named MVP of the 2001 Sun Bowl after he recorded two interceptions, five pass deflections and 10 tackles in the Cougars' 33-27 win over Purdue. At the conclusion of his collegiate career, Thompson had a WSU and Pac-10 record 24 interceptions. In addition, his 257 total tackles placed him in a tie for 13th on the WSU list.

Perkins, is the only WSU tennis player to participate in the NCAA Individual Singles Championships, accomplishing the feat three times (1999, 2001, 2002) and her 87 career singles victories are a Cougar record. The Seattle, Wash., native was named to the 2002 Verizon Academic All-District VIII Women's At-Large First Team by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

In addition, Perkins and sophomore Stacy McKenna combined to set a WSU single season record for doubles victories with 24 in 2002. With a berth to the NCAA's this season, the pair became the second tandem at WSU to participate in the NCAA Individual Doubles Championships (McKenna-Ana Maria Moura, 2001).

Following are the Pac-10 Medal Winners listed by school:

School	         Men				Women
Arizona		Brandon Nash, Football		Jennie Finch, Softball
Arizona State	Brandon Strong, Track & Field	Kelly McDonald, Track & Field
California	Dennis Gates, Basketball	         Anne Walker, Golf
Oregon		Joey Harrington, Football	         Chalise Baysa, Soccer
Oregon State	Todd Deacon, Golf		         Gina Schmidt, Volleyball
Stanford	         Chris O'Riordan, Baseball	         Ellen Estes, Water Polo
UCLA		Bryan Green, Track & Field	         Stacey Nuveman, Softball
USC		Andrew Park, Tennis		Aniko Pelle, Water Polo
Washington 	Kyle Benn, Football		Anna Mickelson, Rowing
Washington St.    Lamont Thompson, Football	         Erica Perkins, Tennis