The George Silveria Memorial Student/Athlete Career Award was established in 1966 by the Booster Club Board of Directors to honor and serve as a memorial for George Silveria. George was a graduate of San Luis Obispo District Junior College in 1948. He was the captain of the Championship football team in 1947, an executive member of the student body, a very good student and, extensively involved in the community. He truly exemplified the meaning of student/athlete and was well respected by his teammates, coaches, teachers, and peers. George served in World War II and died of Leukemia in 1961.
The George Silveria Memorial Student/Athlete Career Award was established in 1966 and takes into consideration the student/athletes' career as an athlete, their involvement in the college and community, sportsmanship, citizenship, 'coachability' and leadership on and off the field.
The George Silveria Memorial Student/Athlete Career had been given annually and from 1966 to 2002 as the only honor presented by Cuesta Athletics. Cuesta began giving a men's and a women's award in 1978 and did so until 2003, when Cuesta established the Outstanding Athlete of the Year Award, which allowed the George Silveria Award to stand on its own as a career award. It was decided that the merits emphasized with the award were not restricted by gender and the athletic department returned to only one award per year. This is the 56th year of Cuesta College Athletics and the 56th year of the George Silveria Award.
The 2022 George Silveria Athletic Career Award winner is Aquatics Star Layne Porter (Santa Maria: Righetti HS). Layne was a two-time all-Western State Conference (WSC) First Team selection in Water Polo and earned all-State honors in both 2019 and 2021, while leading the Cougars to a pair of conference titles and playoff berths. He was know for his vision and anticipation in the pool, as well as his unparalleled playmaking abilities. He led the team in assists both seasons and ranks 2nd all time at Cuesta with 102 careers assists, while also ranking among the team leaders for steals on defense. Layne is the ultimate team player, he did not seek the spotlight, but was always in the right place to help his team to make everyone around him better.
Layne also spent the Spring of both 2020 and 2021 as a member of the Cuesta Men's Swim and Dive team. The 2020 season was cut short in March, but Porter returned to earn all-WSC honors and help lead the Cougars to a conference title in 2021. Porter finished 2nd at the WSC Championships in the 100-Individual Medley and earned all-WSC Honorable Mention in all of the Backstroke events, the 50, 100 and 200.
Layne is the second member of his family to win the Silveria Award. His Father, Kelly Porter, was a two-time All American in water polo for the Cougars and earned the award in 1988. Layne's sister Chloe Porter is also currently a member of Cuesta's Women's Water Polo and Swim and Dive teams.
George Silveria Career Award
1966 Ray Salyer (FB, MBB, BB)
1967 Mark Anderson (MXC, MTF)
1968 Jim Sunderland (Wrest)
1969 Richard Abney (FB, Wrest)
1970 Steve Mowrey (Golf)
1971 Larry Ramos (FB, Wrest)
1972 George Palmer (Wrest)
1973 Camillo Alarcio (FB, Wrest)
1974 Paul Kinne (FB, BB)
1975 Rusty Kuntz (FB, MBB, BB)
& Dave Rusco (MBB, BB)
1976 Kevin Hunstad (FB, Wrest)
1977 Randy Roeder (FB, BB)
Male Female
1978 Edmund Alarcio (FB, MTF) Laura McCarthy (WXC, WTF)
1979 Shawn Kuhn (MBB, Golf) Celeste Martyn (WXC, WTF)
1980 Steve Mitchell (MBB, MTF) Catherine Belcher (WXC, WTF, SB)
1981 Gregg Fambrough (MWP, MSD) Joanne Cooper (VB)
1982 Tom McKeown (MXC, MTF) Heidi Hausner (VB, WSD)
1983 Matt Armbruster (MXC, MTF) Karen Canfield (SB)
1984 Bill Lucia (MWP, MSD) Toni Venturini (VB)
1985 Sean Chambers (MBB, MTF) Kelly Buzza (WXC, WTF)
1986 Hank Peterson (MWP, MSD) Tracey Ross (WXC, WTF)
1987 Karl Blum (MWP, MSD) Cathy Jones (WXC, WTF)
1988 Todd Bates (MWP, MSD) Jennifer Bland (WSD)
& Kelly Porter (MWP, MSD)
1989 Brad Dodge (MT) Vanessa Hornbuckle (VB, WBB)
& Kathryn Krieger (WXC, WTF)
1990 Steve Long (MWP, MSD) Monica Castro (WT)
1991 Dean Jefferis (MWP, MSD) Melissa McCormick (WSD)
& Cee Cee Yancy (WBB)
1992 Geoff Bradshaw (MTF) Alyssa Van Schmus (WTF)
1993 Kipp Ortenberger (MXC, MTF) Erin Breeze (VB, WBB)
1994 Kipp Ortenberger (MXC, MTF) Wendy Ward (VB, WBB)
1995 Mike Barrow (MWP, MSD) Courtney Peters (WT)
1996 Shannon Lamb (MWP, MSD) Carrie Musolff (VB, WBB, WT)
1997 Marco Hanlon (BB) Anicia Bonds (WBB, WTF)
1998 Mark Merlo (MWP, MSD) Ashley Messer (VB, WBB)
1999 Chris Lund (MWP, MSD) Ashley Messer (VB, WBB)
2000 Sergio Reyes (MXC, MTF) Mary Benson (WWP, WSD)
2001 Patrick Furelos (MWP, MSD) Melinda Flores (WXC, WTF)
2002 Doug Leach (MWP, MSD) Courtney Christy (WWP, WSD)
2003 Katie Dacus (WWP, WSD)
2004 Christina Reyes (WXC, WTF)
2005 Bryan Etnrye (MWP, MSD)
2006 Chris Stehula (MXC, MTF, MSD)
2007 Becca Reyes (WXC, WTF)
2008 Ian Starkie (MWP, MSD)
2009 Tammy Barksdale (WWP, WSD)
2010 Kayla Cribbs (VB, WBB)
2011 Evan Norton (MWP, MSD)
2012 Alexandria Bernard (WWP, WSD)
2013 Erin Casey (WWP, WSD)
& Matt Giancanelli (MWP, MSD)
2014 Riley Cooks (WVB, WTF)
2015 Rachel Gruetzmacher (WWP, WSD)
2016 Aly Voth (WXC, WTF)
2017 Sean McDermott (MXC, MTF)
2018 Austin Barton (MWP, MSD)
2019 Hannah Katches (VB, WBB, WTF)
2020 Gabriel Browning (MWP, MSD)
2021 Satoshi Shinkawa (MWP, MSD)
2022 Layne Porter (MWP, MSD)
