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For Immediate Release
Oct. 8, 2009
Eureka to introduce 2009 hall of fame class on friday
EUREKA, Ill. – The Eureka College athletics department will induct four individuals into the Eureka College Athletics Hall of Fame, Friday night at 6:30 p.m. during a ceremony at the Becker Auditorium inside the Cerf Center on the campus of Eureka College. The class of 2009 includes Sarah Gohl Isabel (Basketball/Tennis), Mindy Whitehouse (Basketball/Softball), Jacquie (Bruell) Taylor (Softball/Basketball) and Craig Negangard (Basketball).
The recipient of the 1998 NCAA Woman of the Year in the state of Illinois, Sarah Gohl Isabel left Eureka as the career assist leader for the women’s basketball program with 266. A captain during her senior season in 1997-98, Gohl led the Red Devils with 101 assists on her way to being named All-Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference Honorable Mention. Gohl Isabel also played near the top of the lineup for the Eureka College women’s tennis team, winning a total of 52 matches and earning NIIC Academic All-Conference honors. Gohl Isabel was a two-time EC Woman of the Year choice. A Reagan Scholar and the student body president during her time at EC, Gohl Isabel was accepted to Duke Law and is now an attorney at law in Atlanta, Ga. Gohl Isabel currently serves on the Eureka College Board of Trustees. Sarah and husband Robert reside in Smyrna, Ga. with children Taylor and Laurin.
A four-year member of the Eureka College women’s basketball team, Mindy Whitehouse earned a starting spot on the basketball team during her freshman season in 1990-91, helping the Red Devils to 16 wins that season. After two more successful seasons, she was a co-captain as a senior on the 1993-94 team that was inducted into the EC Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006. That season, the Red Devils won a school-record 22 games with Whitehouse as the leading scorer with 13.9 points per game. She also played two seasons of softball before an ankle injury forced her to focus only on basketball. Whitehouse is currently a surgical technician at OSF St. Joseph’s Hospital in Bloomington, Ill. and also serves as the head girl’s basketball coach at Ridgeview High School in Colfax, Ill. Whitehouse’s Ridgeview team earned third place at the 2009 IHSA Class 1A state tournament.
The all-time stolen base leader of the Eureka College softball program in just three seasons, Jacquie (Bruell) Taylor ranks in the Top-10 of Eureka’s career numbers in stolen bases (first), runs scored (fifth), triples (fifth), batting average (seventh), hits (seventh) and sacrifices (seventh). She was the EC Top Newcomer in 1999 and the team MVP in 2000, earning All-Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference honors in 1999 and 2000 and All-NIIC honorable mention accolades in 2001. In her three seasons on the EC softball team, the Red Devils posted a 57-46-2 record. Jacquie was also a member of the EC women’s basketball team and was named the Most Improved Player during her senior season in 2000-2001. In addition to her success on the court and on the field, Jacquie was named to the NIIC All-Scholastic Team in 2000 and 2001. She was also named a Scholar Athlete by the National Fastpitch Coach’s Association in 1999 and 2000. Shortly after graduating Cum Laude in 2001, Jacquie was hired by Caterpillar Logistics, where she is now an IT Analyst III.
A three-time All-Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference First Team selection in men’s basketball, Craig Negangard is the lone male athlete being inducted the Hall of Fame this year. Negangard wasted no time making an impact on the Red Devils upon his arrival in the fall of 2000, earning All-NIIC Honorable Mention accolades, leading the Red Devils in rebounds and finishing second on the team in scoring. Negangard was a driving force in turning around a Eureka College men’s basketball program that won only two games during his freshman season in 2000-2001. By the time he finished his four-year career, the 2003-2004 squad won 17 games. Along the way, Negangard averaged at least 15.4 points per game during his final three seasons and led the NIIC in rebounding during his sophomore season. Negangard earned NIIC Player of the Week honors five times during his career, culminating with the NIIC Player of the Year award as a senior in 2003-04. He finished his EC career with 1,500 points, fifth-most in school history, and 747 rebounds, the fourth-highest total in the history of the program. Craig is now a certified public accountant with May, Cocagne & King P.C. He and his wife Angie, another EC grad, have a son, Bowie.
“The Eureka College community is very proud and honored to welcome these four individuals into our Athletics Hall of Fame,” Director of Athletics Paul Bryant said. “The outstanding academic and athletic accomplishments of this group are the exact reflection of what our Hall of Fame represents. It is no surprise that each of these individuals have gone on to lead successful professional lives.”
The new Hall of Fame class will be recognized on the field at halftime of Saturday’s homecoming football game against Westminster at McKinzie Field. The football game is one of many homecoming events scheduled for Saturday in Eureka. The Eureka College homecoming parade will start at 10 a.m. along College Avenue, followed by an alumni luncheon at 11 a.m. in the Dickinson Commons. The Old Elm Trophy, presented to the most outstanding student organization during homecoming week, will be awarded after the third quarter of the football game. Following the game, a free outdoor concert will be presented by OD TAPO IMI at the Rinker Amphitheater.
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For More Information Contact:
Bryan Moore
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