LA MIRADA, Calif. --- For the second-straight year, Biola Athletics is taking to social media and its website to announce its annual EDDIES awards. Since we were unable to announce our finalists and celebrate student-athletes in person with an end-of-year banquet, we will take the next two weeks to do so online and via social media to look back at the most memorable performances of Spring 2021.

The process begins today as we announce five finalists for the 2021 Female Newcomer of the Year award. Freshmen and first-year transfer student-athletes are eligible for the newcomer of the year award. Please note: newcomers are eligible for other awards and may also be finalists for other awards, such as student-athlete of the year and breakout performance of the year. The winner will be announced on July 12 via our @BiolaAthletics social media accounts. 

2021 Female Newcomer of the Year Finalists:
Emily Alvarez - Track & Field - Graduate Student
Alvarez, a graduate student transfer from Westmont College, provided an immediate impact for Biola Track & Field. During the 2021 season Alvarez set the school record in the 400m hurdles with a time of 59.55 seconds while also securing a school record in the 4x100m relay and 4x400m relay. 

Although Alvarez suffered from a foot injury and was unable to compete at the PacWest Championships, she still managed to be ranked seventh in the nation in the 400m hurdles, qualifying her for the 2021 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

After weeks of rest and training through an injury, Alvarez proved ready for nationals, where she would go on to finish ninth in the nation and earn All-American second team honors. 

Anna Boyer - Soccer - Freshman
Boyer, a Pacific Northwest native, saw time as Biola's goalkeeper this season as a true freshman. Anna split time with returning goalkeeper, Briana Ruelas, as the year was used to give Anna as much experience as possible in the limited season of games. 

Boyer trained well throughout the year, which helped her to be prepared for each game that she saw playing time in. The shortened season allowed Boyer to gain confidence in her ability and further her desire to continue to develop into a formidable goalkeeper for the remainder of her career. 

Boyer appeared in four official contests for Biola, racking up just shy of 200 minutes between the pipes. She earned one victory and finished with nine saves, including a season-high four in one scoreless half at Concordia Irvine. It was an impressive performance in a game BU lost 4-0. 

Grace Kling - Swim & Dive - Freshman
Not only did Kling contribute to a perfect season overall for the Eagles, but she helped the program go undefeated against all five of its dual meets against NCAA Division I programs. In her Biola Swim & Dive PCSC Championship debut, Kling secured a first place finish in the 200-breaststroke, anchored the 400-medley relay win and took second place 100-breaststroke (1:05.75).

On the biggest stage at the NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving Championships, Kling finished 19th in the 100-breaststroke with a time of 1:04.18. Kling would go on to earn a top-10 finish and NCAA All-American honors in the 200-breaststroke with a 2:16.97. Kling also set the individual school record in the 200-breaststroke.


Meghan Tolman - Swim & Dive - Freshman 
A perfect season for BU Swim & Dive would not have been possible without Meghan Tolman. The local product from Brea, California, made her presence known in the first meet of the season where she picked up wins in the 50-freestyle (:24.32) and 100-breaststroke (1:05.52) while also contributing to BU winning the 400-medley relay. 

Her season would blossom from there as she earned NCAA All-American honors, set school records and won multiple PCSC Championships while leading her team to its first team conference title. Not only did Tolman qualify for nationals, she set a new school record during her preliminary race in the 100-breaststroke with a time of 1:02.18. Tolman would go on to finish eighth in the event and pick up Biola's first-ever NCAA DII All-American first team honor. 

After the NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships, she came back to SoCal, where she won PCSC titles in the 50-freestyle and 100-breaststroke and also finished second in the 100-freestyle. In addition to individual performance, Tolman helped two relays to top-2 finishes.

Brady Turnquist - Golf - Freshman
Turnquist's collegiate career started off with an individual tournament title on a course she grew up playing. The freshman was the top finisher at the Eagle Invitational at the Grand Golf Club in Del Mar, carding a final score of 148 (71-77). Turnquist played in all seven tournaments this spring, shooting a 77.20 average over 15 rounds. 

Just as she started with a bang, she ended strong as Biola's top finisher at the PacWest Conference Championship. She handled the Hawaiian island course admirably, shooting a three-round tally of 224 (74-73-77) to finish fifth overall and earn all-tournament and all-conference honors. Turnquist's season scoring average was just one-fifth of a stroke higher than team-leader Sami Penor. She was the team's top finisher at three of the seven tournaments this spring.


EDDIES Release Schedule 
July 5 - Finalists Announced - Female Newcomer of the Year 
July 6 - Finalists Announced - Male Newcomer of the Year
July 7 - Finalists Announced - Breakout Performance of the Year
July 8 - Finalists Announced - Female Student-Athlete of the Year
July 9 - Finalists Announced - Male Student-Athlete of the Year
July 12 - Winner Announced - Female Newcomer of the Year
July 13 - Winner Announced - Male Newcomer of the Year
July 14 - Winner Announced - Breakout Performance of the Year
July 15 - Winner Announced - Female Student-Athlete of the Year
July 16 - Winner Announced - Male Student-Athlete of the Year
July 19 - Winner Announced - Dr. Dave Holmquist Career Achievement Award