Winter sport athletes receive honor of Boxer Club Athletes of the Month as their seasons come to an end

January was tough month for Pacific University’s men’s basketball team and women’s swim team, winning a combined one competition the entire month. However, there were two athletes that were able to shine through their teams struggles.

Marcus Wallace and Maya Okamura were named Boxer Athletes of the Month for the of January, leading their teams in many individual statistics.

Wallace not only leads the Boxers in scoring, but also leads the Northwest Conference. Scoring 20.6 points per game, Wallace is shooting the ball at 45.1 percent from the field. Not only that, but Wallace is putting up these numbers at only 22.5 minutes per game.

The next four leading scorers in the conference all average over 30 minutes per game. Wallace also leads the Boxers in steals at two per game. The impressive player started all but one game for the Boxers this season and will return for the following season representing Pacific. Wallace previously played for Monterey Peninsula College.

In aquatics, Okamura lead the Boxers swim team all season, winning many individual races at meets. In the month of January Okamura placed first in the 200-yard breaststroke against Linfield College, the 400-yard individual medley and 200-yard breaststroke against Willamette University, as well as the 400-yard individual medley and 100-yard breaststroke against George Fox University in the final dual meet of the season.

Okamura finished her senior season by placing ninth in the 400-yard individual medley and twelfth in 200-yard breaststroke at the Northwest Conference Championships this season, posting career bests in both.