For Immediate Release

eureka, illinois

December 8, 2008

E-Tribe Banquets held; fall team award winners announced

Eureka College fall sports head coaches Randy Crady (men's and women's soccer), Matthew Smiley (football), Sandi Kelley (volleyball) and Kevin Brucker (men's and women's cross country) announced their team awards at the annual E-Tribe Fall Sports Banquets Sunday.

The Eureka football team set an 11-year high in points scored led by back-to-back Offensive MVP Nick Lindsey (Homer, Ill./Heritage). Lindsey finished as the No. 3 rated quarterback in the SLIAC in his junior season, while also gaining the sixth most rushing yards. Junior linebacker Matt Knake (Freeburg, Ill./HS) was the Defensive MVP after leading the team with 87 tackles and 14 tackles for loss. He ranked third in the league in both categories for the year. The Special Teams MVP was senior Dan Askew (Farmer City, Ill./Blue Ridge). Askew served as place kicker, punter and made numerous tackles on kick coverage. He also led the team with 31 pass receptions.

Red Devil linemen were well represented in the postseason awards as well. Offensive guard Josh Harkness (Carman, Ill./West Central) was named Offensive Rookie of the Year, while defensive lineman Matt Tieman (Champaign, Ill./St. Thomas More) was the Defensive Rookie of the Year. Tieman had 50 tackles, the third most on the team. He started the season at linebacker before shifting to defensive line where he soon earned SLIAC Player of the Week honors. Harkness helped EC to a No. 23 ranking in the country in rushing yards per game. Eureka gained 2,029 yards on the ground in nine games played.

Junior center Jordan Vignoni (Lancaster, Calif./Quartz Hill) earned the Andy Nicks Award as the team's best offensive lineman. He graded out as the top blocker according to the EC coaching staff. The Andy Nicks Award for defense went to Sean Smith (Mendota, Ill./HS). The senior defensive end had 36 tackles, 9.5 for loss and led the team with three sacks. Other award-winners were:

Man of Character: Chris Wakid (Danvers, Ill./Eureka)

Best Scout Team Offensive Player: Michael Quinn (Morris, Ill./Providence Catholic)

Best Scout Team Defensive Player: Justin Lamb (Carterville, Ill./Herrin)

The EC women's soccer team, which finished with a 9-11 record overall and in sixth place of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, had a repeat MVP as KT Zapushek (Metamora, Ill./HS) received the award for the second consecutive year. The junior midfielder made Second Team All-Conference, led the Red Devils in game-winning goals (5) and ranked second in goals (14), assists (5) and points (33). The Best Newcomer Award went to Amy Scammahorn (Decatur, Ill./Warrensburg-Latham). A junior transfer, she was cited for her intense play. Scammahorn had six points and was one of five Red Devils with multiple goals on the season. The Most Improved Award went to Erika Thomas (East Peoria, Ill./HS). One of five first-year starters, Thomas was a part of the EC defense that allowed almost one full goal less per game than last year.

The Eureka men's soccer squad had Co-MVPs: senior Jake Jacobson (Eureka, Ill./) and junior Brian O'Malley (Peoria, Ill./Notre Dame). Both players started all 20 games for the Red Devils, who improved from 0-17 to 4-16 this season. Jacobson recorded one goal and two assists, but his main contribution came as captain of the much improved EC defense. O'Malley ranked fourth in the conference in goals, earned Second Team All-SLIAC honors and set EC school records with 16 goals and 38 points in a season and five goals and 10 points in a match. Midfielder David Crady (Germantown Hills, Ill./HS) was named the team's Best Newcomer. The sophomore transfer ranked third on the team in points with four goals and six assists. The Most Improved Award was handed to Matt Spellious (Streator, Ill./HS). One of nine freshmen to start a match, Spellious appeared in 17 games helping the EC defense cut down its goals allowed by 1.29 per game.

The EC volleyball team named Co-MVPs this season. Junior Heather Myers (Eureka, Ill./HS) and sophomore Kylie Bahorik (Washington, Ill./Peoria Christian) each received All-Conference recognition this season and were named Co-Most Valuable for the Red Devils team. Myers rated as the top hitter for EC with 2.5 kills/set and a .245 percentage. Bahorik led the squad in assists (695) and double-doubles (21). Myers and Bahorik rank in the top five in kills and assists respectively on Eureka's all-time lists. The Best Newcomer Award went to Brittany Feger (Heyworth, Ill./HS), who was second on the team in kills (1.88 kills/set) and percentage (.206). Other volleyball award-winners were:

Hardest Worker: Kaurie Lindenmeyer (Arcola, Ill./HS)

Team Leader: Laura Willman (Metamora, Ill./HS)

Spirit Award: Marisa Durley (Roanoke, Ill./Roanoke-Benson)

Mary Ackerman (Morton, Ill./HS) repeated as women's cross country MVP in her sophomore season. Ackerman, who earned Academic All-Conference honors as well, posted the quickest time for Eureka in all six competitions this season. The Best Newcomer Award was given to Geanna Hiller (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard South). She had the second best time to the Red Devils in the first three meets of the year before suffering a season ending injury. Miranda Brozak (Streator, Ill./HS) was named Most Improved. She saved her best three finishes for the end of the season as she worked her way from fourth on the squad in the opening meet to second.

The men's cross country MVP Award went to Jason McCleery (Rushville, Ill./Rushville-Industry). He recorded the best time for Eureka in all five meets in which he competed. Brandon Hovey (Morton, Ill./HS) received Best Newcomer honors after he ranked in the top two for EC in all six meets of his freshman season. Junior Jason List (Mason City, Ill./Illini Central) was the team's Most Improved runner. He sliced over two minutes off his 8K time to post a personal best in the SLIAC Championships to end the season.

The following senior student athletic trainers were also recognized with senior awards from head athletic trainer, Randy Henkels: Jon Hochstetler, Nicole Pitts, Sean Smith and Josh Schnauber.

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For More Information Contact:

Bryan Moore
Sports Information Director
Eureka College
300 E. College Avenue
Eureka, Illinois 61530
309-467-6456
bmoore@eureka.edu