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Sports News Last six months | Sports News Annual archives
April 21, 2008
Eickholt and Jellema given top awards at banquet
Wood given spirit award
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – In an evening that celebrates the accomplishments of the University of Southern Indiana student athletes during the last year, seniors Kristin Eickholt (softball ), Paul Jellema (men's cross country/track), and Kathy Wood (softball) were recognized as the top student athletes at the sixth annual USI All-Sports Banquet sponsored by Integra Bank Monday evening.
The Integra/USI Female Student Athlete of the Year, Eickholt is continuing her climb up the softball record books in 2008. The 2007 first team All-GLVC performer has moved into USI's number one slot all-time with 48 doubles and number two all-time in home runs and RBIs.
In addition to being named first team All-GLVC last season, Eickholt was named Academic All-GLVC for the third straight season. She also was named second team All-GLVC and All-Region in 2006.
Currently, the Van Wert, Ohio, native is third on the Eagles in hitting with a .331 batting average, third on the team with five home runs, and fourth on the team with 23 RBIs.
Previous winners of the award were Shannon Wells (2003, volleyball), Jenny Farmer (2004, cross country/track), Heather Cooksey (2005, cross country/track), Laura Ellerbusch (2006, volleyball) and Allison Shafer (2007 cross country/track).
The Integra/USI Male Student Athlete of the Year, Jellema has become one of the most dominant runners in the history of the USI program earning All-America honors in both cross country and track.
The 2007 GLVC Cross Country Runner of the Year finished his collegiate career last fall by earning All-America honors at the NCAA Division II National Championships in November when he placed 21st. The All-America award was the fifth of Jellema's two-and-a-half year career at USI.
The native of Dyer, Indiana, also was named All-Region twice in cross country and All-GLVC seventh times in cross country and track during his USI career. Jellema graduated from USI in December with a degree in Mathematics.
Previous winners of the award were Duncan Bray (2003 and 2004, soccer), Matt Keener (2005, baseball), Chris Thompson (2006, men's basketball) and Melvin Hall (2007, men's basketball).
The winner of the Integra/USI Screaming Eagles Spirit award, Wood has been an integral member of the softball program the past four seasons and is what a collegiate student athlete is supposed to exemplify.
The Lynnville, Indiana, native, earned second team All-GLVC honors last season despite suffering a torn ACL midway through the season. She missed less than a month with the injury and came back to hit .429 in conference games and lead the team into the GLVC Tournament.
This season, Wood is second on the team with a .382 batting average with a team-best seven triples and 35 runs scored.
The Exercise Science major also is a three-time Academic All-GLVC and a 2007 second team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District V softball player. She is a candidate for the President's Medal, the highest USI student honor for academics and service by a graduating senior.
Previous winners of the spirit award were Ginnie Roberts (2003, softball), Mike Arnold (2004, men's basketball), Brian Kendall (2005, men's cross country/track), Angie Davis (softball, 2006), and Geoff Van Winkle (2007, men's basketball).
Ray Simmons, USI Sports Information