May 4, 1999
All-America track runner Bobby True (Glendale Heights, Ill./Glendbard West) and tennis standout Stacy Schapiro (Miami, Fla./Killian) were among the University of Illinois student-athletes honored tonight at the Ninth Annual University of Illinois Scholar-Athlete Awards Banquet, held at the Assembly Hall. Schapiro and True were named winners of the Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor.
True has earned three individual All-America honors and two as a member of relay teams during his tenure on Gary Wieneke's track team. A four-time Big Ten champion, True has proven to be one of the Conference's best-ever middle distance runners. He has run the Big Ten's fastest time ever in the indoor 800 meters (1:46.96) and is the NCAA record holder in the indoor 600 meters (1:17.35). This season, True was named the Big Ten Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year and Athlete of the Big Ten Indoor Track and Field Championships.
Schapiro is the true example of a student-athlete. She has played at the top two positions in singles and doubles for the Fighting Illini each of the past four years, and has helped Illinois finish third at the 1999 Big Ten championships. Schapiro ranks third in career singles victories with 83 wins. An exceptional student, Schapiro is a two-time member of the ITA (Intercollegiate Tennis Association) Scholar-Athlete Team.
The Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor is awarded annually at each conference school to a male and female senior student-athlete who has demonstrated proficiency in scholarship and athletics.
More than 500 people were in attendance at the banquet which recognizes graduating student-athletes and others who have excelled athletically and academically. Other honorees included:
Fighting Illini Newcomers of the Year
(Best athlete performing in her/his first year of competition at Illinois)
Freshman Allison Curtin (Taylorville, Ill./Taylorville), Basketball
- Big Ten All-Freshman Team; Broke Illinois freshman scoring and steals record
Freshman Cory Bradford (Memphis, Tenn./Raleigh Egypt), Basketball [co-winner]
- Big Ten Freshman of the Year; Broke Illinois freshman scoring record
Freshman Jason Van Swol (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way), Track and Field [co-winner]
- Big Ten Indoor Freshman of the Year; Big Ten indoor 800-meter run champion
Fighting Illini Spirit Award Winners
(Athletes who exemplify the spirit, courage, effort and dedication of the Fighting Illini)
Senior Trisha Henry (Marietta, Ga./George Walton), Swimming
- Overcame cancer to return to competition on the Illini swim team
Junior Travis Romagnoli (Aurora, Ontario/Cardinal Carter), Gymnastics
- Defending NCAA champion became emotional team leader after breaking hand
Outstanding Scholar-Athlete Award Winners
(Letterwinner with the highest grade point average in each class of school)
Sophomore Josh Whitman (West Lafayette, Ind./Harrison), Football, 3.98 GPA
Sophomore Colleen Farrell (Arlington Heights, Ill./Benet Academy), Swimming, 4.00 GPA
Junior Scott McClennan (St. Catherines, Ont./Winston Churchill), C. Country/Track, 3.53 GPA
Junior Emily Wang (Huntsville, Ala/Huntsville), Swimming, 3.96 GPA
Senior Jakub Teply (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Lake Mary), Tennis, 3.91 GPA
Senior Nicola Homenock (Naperville, Ill./Regina Mundi), Swimming, 3.77 GPA
Fighting Illini Outstanding Team GPA Awards
(Highest cumulative GPA for a team)
Women's Tennis, Coach Sujay Lama, 3.53 Cumulative GPA
Men's Tennis, Coach Craig Tiley, 3.31 Cumulative GPA
Dike Eddleman Athlete of the Year Award Finalists
(Awarded to the female and male student-athletes who have distinguished themselves in athletic achievement. The winners will be determined following the completion of the spring seasons.)
Sophomore Darcy Adler (Tucson, Ariz./Salpointe Catholic), Swimming
Junior Susan Blauser (Cranberry, Pa./Cranberry), Basketball
Senior Cristy Chapman (Willow Hill, Ill./Newton), Volleyball
Sophomore Phaedra Dixon (Chicago, Ill./Whitney Young), Gymnastics
Sophomore Simone Kung (Skokie, Ill./Niles West), Tennis
Senior Collinus Newsome (Denver, Colo./South), Track and Field
Freshman Cory Bradford (Memphis, Tenn./Raleigh Egypt), Basketball
Senior Oliver Freelove (Bromley, England/Seven Oaks), Tennis
Senior Jimmy Journell (Springfield, Ohio), Baseball
Sophomore Leo Oka (Scarborough, Ont./Thornlea Secondary), Gymnastics
Senior D.A. Points (Pekin, Ill./Pekin Community), Golf
Senior Karl Roesler (Shorewood, Ill./Providence Catholic), Wrestling
Senior Bobby True (Glendale Heights, Ill./Glenbard West), Track and Field
Decade Award
(Presented to former UI female student-athletes who were award winners 10 years ago)
Chris Schwarz, Volleyball (1989 Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor winner)
Silver Anniversary Award
(Presented to a former UI male student-athlete who was an award winner 25 years ago)
Howard Beck, Gymnastics (1974 Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor winner)
