University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
McClintick, Francis Win Conference Medals
June 28, 2016 | Men's Water Polo, Gymnastics, Bruin Athletics
NCAA champions and scholar-athletes Daniel McClintick (water polo) and Danusia Francis (gymnastics) were named UCLA honorees for the 2015-16 Pac-12 Tom Hansen Conference Medal.
A 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.
On Wednesday, July 6 at 7pm PT, Pac-12 Networks will air Pride of the Pac, a one-hour special honoring the conference's 24 recipients of the prestigious Tom Hansen Conference Medal.
McClintick led his Bruin water polo team to a perfect 30-0 record in 2015, UCLA's first undefeated season since 1969, and to two straight NCAA Championships. The three-time All-American was the Most Valuable Player of the 2014 NCAA Tournament after scoring a game-high four goals in the Bruins' 9-8 win over USC in the championship game. He was also named to the all-tournament team in 2015 and finished his UCLA career ranked 10th on the all-time school scoring list with 142 goals. McClintick, who took the lead in organizing a run to defeat ALS at the 2016 Los Angeles Marathon, earned MPSF All-Academic honors three times, earned the 2016 UCLA AS2 S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Award and graduated in June with a degree in Political Science.
Francis concluded an outstanding collegiate career with postseason sweeps of the NCAA, NCAA Regional and Pac-12 balance beam championships. She hit 133 of 135 routines without a fall during her four years, including an incredible 74 routines in a row to finish her career. Francis also reached perfection twice in her career on balance beam, once in 2014 and again in 2016. A nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year, Francis earned All-America honors six times and was a four-time All-Pac-12 selection. In the classroom, she earned Pac-12 All-Academic honors in each of the last three seasons and was a NACGC/W Scholastic All-American in 2013. Francis, who earned UCLA's Athletics' Bruin Leadership Award in 2016, graduated in June with a degree in English.
McClintick is the fourth UCLA men's water polo player ever to win the conference medal, and Francis is the eighth UCLA gymnast and third in the last four years.
Conference medal winners have been named every year since the 1960-61 academic year. In 2009, the Pac-12 renamed the award the Tom Hansen Conference Medal in honor of Hansen, who retired at the end of June 2009 after serving for 26 years as Commissioner of the Pac-10.
2015-16 Pac-12 Tom Hansen Conference Medal Winners
Arizona - Rafael Quintero, Diving; Bonnie Brandon, Swimming
Arizona State - Michael Bercovici, Football; Elisha Davis, Basketball
California - Tyrone Wallace, Basketball; Rachel Bootsma, Swimming
Colorado - Connor Winter, Cross Country; Alexis Keating, Golf
Oregon - Daan Maasland, Tennis; Cheridan Hawkins, Softball
Oregon State - Seth Thomas, Wrestling; Ruth Hamblin, Basketball
Stanford - Conrad Kaminski, Volleyball; Ivana Hong, Gymnastics
UCLA - Daniel McClintick, Water Polo; Danusia Francis, Gymnastics
USC - Max de Vroome, Tennis; Samantha Bricio, Volleyball
Utah - Brandon Taylor, Basketball; Breanna Hughes, Gymnastics
Washington - Brian Clay, Football; Melanie Wade, Volleyball
Washington State - Joe Dahl, Football; Kourtney Guetlein, Soccer
Players Mentioned
