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SPORTS INFORMATION—2009
DEPARTMENT AWARDS HANDED OUT AT YEAR END BANQUET...
CLEVELAND, OH (April 29, 2009) - Case Western Reserve University Athletics handed out its annual department awards last night at the 2009 All-Sports Banquet in Horsburgh Gymnasium. Below are the descriptions of each award, the winners and the pictures of the honorees and their respective head coaches.
Dorothy L. Hoza Award – Given to the female freshman, sophomore, or junior student-athlete, who has made a strong contribution to the Women's Intercollegiate Sports Program, maintained a high level of academic achievement, shown leadership in the team and contributed service to the Department and University.
Justine Jeroski (Murrysville, PA) – Women's Cross Country & Track: Jeroski, a biomedical engineering major, has had an unbelievable year as an All-UAA selection on the cross country and track teams. She became a cross country All-American by placing in the top 35 at the NCAA Championships in November. She then won the 3,000 and 5,000 meter runs at the UAA Indoor Track and Field Championships to become a dual UAA Champion and earn indoor track’s UAA Runner of the Year honor. Jeroski is a member of the Case Association of Student Athletes and has been a regular participant in the University’s annual sports clinic Case for Community Day.
Emily R. Andrews Award – The award is given to the outstanding senior who has made a strong contribution to the Women's Intercollegiate Sports Program, maintained a high level of academic achievement, shown leadership in team, and contributed service to the department and University.
Kate Pollard (Westfield, IN) – Women’s Swimming and Diving: Pollard has been a member of the women’s swimming and diving team for four years as a key contributor in the freestyle, butterfly and breaststroke events. Her leadership skills earned her team captain status her senior season. As a sophomore and junior, Pollard ranked among the top 24 in the breaststroke in the conference with her impressive performances at the UAA Championships. Pollard is a biology major as well as a pre-med student and has been selected as a UAA All-Academic honoree on three occasions. Her research with the University’s pathology department earned her a trip to Hawaii where she presented her findings at the 19th Annual Symposium on the Autonomic Nervous System.
Arthur P. Leary Award – The award is given to the outstanding freshman, sophomore, or junior who has demonstrated leadership in the team, maintained good academic standing in the University, demonstrated good sportsmanship, and made a contribution to the department and University.
Lee Sasala (Kittanning, PA) – Football: Sasala played in and started all 11 games as a linebacker for the Spartans and was second on the team with 75 tackles while adding 1.5 sacks. He had a career-high 7.5 tackles and a sack in a win over Chicago in week eight and was the only Spartan to record at least three tackles in every game during the season. Along with earning UAA All-Academic honors, Sasala, who boasts a 4.0 GPA as a Pre-Med student, was also named ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV and an ESPN Academic All-American.
Philip K. “Nip” Heim Award – Is presented annually to the senior male student-athlete who has made the most outstanding contribution to Case Western Reserve University through the athletics program. The selection is based on if he demonstrated leadership in the team, maintained good academic standing in the University, demonstrated good sportsmanship, participated in at least two years in the Case athletics program, and demonstrated loyalty to team and University.
Zeyad Schwen (Cincinnati, OH) – Soccer: For four years Schwen has anchored the Spartans' defense, this year starting 17 games and earning second team All-UAA honors at the position for the fourth consecutive season. Schwen, who is a biomedical engineering major and class president, was honored as a first team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American and also earned a UAA All-Academic nod. He earned the UAA’s Athlete of the Week Award on Oct. 6 after leading a defensive shutout and scoring on a breakaway goal, the second of his career.
Bill Sudeck Outstanding Student-Athlete Award – This award honors the individual who best exemplifies the attributes of the Case Western Reserve University student-athlete in the spirit of legendary coach, mentor and friend William "Bill Sudeck. Coach Sudeck spent more than half his life - 46 years - shaping the young minds of cross country, basketball, and track and field athletes. The award is given to the student-athlete that has demonstrated and achieved significant athletic accomplishments, academic achievements, engagement in campus activities, and has shown leadership in athletics and in the classroom.
Mike Petro (Cincinnati, OH) – Cross Country & Track and Field: Senior Mike Petro has been an instrumental part of Case Western Reserve University’s cross country and track and field teams over the last four years. Petro has been a varsity member of the cross country team each of his four years on campus, which was highlighted by earning a spot on the Spartans' 2008 NCAA Championship team, the men’s first team trip to nationals since 2003. During the 2007 season, Petro ran a career best 25:42 at the regional meet at Calvin College finishing in 26th place and earning All-Great Lakes Region honors. As a track runner, Petro finished in the top eight in the 5,000 meter run at the 2007 Outdoor Track and Field UAA Championships among several All-American runners. The biomedical engineering major is a three-time UAA All-Academic honoree and is a recipient of the Case Alumni Scholarship. Petro is also one of the founding members of the Case Association of Student Athletes [CASA] and is credited with instituting the group’s constitution and bylaws.
Nancy Gray Rookie of the Year Award 
Erin Hollinger (Chardon, OH) – Women’s Basketball & Track and Field: Freshman Hollinger made an immediate impact in her rookie seasons, earning All-UAA honors as a forward on the court and a high jumper on the track. Hollinger scored 21 points in her first collegiate basketball game and went on to average 12.5 points-per-game on the season which led all freshmen in the conference. Once basketball season ended, she placed second in the high jump at the UAA Indoor Championships, which was her first collegiate track meet, and won the high jump at the UAA Outdoor Championships. Hollinger would earn UAA Athlete of the Week honors on three occasions.
Bill Sudeck Rookie of the Year Award 
Isaac Dukes (Ravenna, OH) – Wrestling: Freshman Dukes had one of the most impressive rookie seasons in Case Western Reserve University’s wrestling history, going 29-11 and winning the UAA’s Rookie of the Year Award in his freshman campaign. Dukes was ranked as high as eighth in the nation in his weight class during the season and was invited to wrestle at the NCAA Championships following his impressive performance at the regional meet. He started the season with a nine match winning streak and won the UAA’s Athlete of the Week award on Nov. 10.
Glenn and Peggy Nicholls Female Athlete of the Year Award 
Justine Jeroski (Murrysville, PA) – Cross Country & Track: Jeroski, a biomedical engineering major, has had an unbelievable year as an All-UAA selection on the cross country and track teams. She became a cross country All-American by placing in the top 35 at the NCAA Championships in November. She then won the 3,000 and 5,000 meter runs at the UAA Indoor Track and Field Championships to become a dual UAA Champion and earn indoor track’s UAA Runner of the Year honor. Jeroski is a member of the Case Association of Student Athletes and has been a regular participant in the University’s annual sports clinic Case for Community Day (also pictured, Glenn Nicholls).
Dr. David Hutter Male Athlete of the Year Award 
Bobby Bott (Grafton, OH) – Football: Bott played in and started 10 games, totaling 54 tackles and a UAA-leading seven interceptions for 138 yards and two touchdowns. He was named UAA Defensive Player of the Year and a first team selection on the AFCA NCAA Division III All-America Team. He was an All-UAA First Team selection on defense and was also a UAA All-Academic honoree. Three times he was named UAA Athlete of the Week during the season, including in week two when he intercepted two passes for 55 yards and returned a kickoff 84-yards for a touchdown against Rochester. Bott scored three touchdowns on the season and was one interception shy of the school’s all-time record (also pictured, Dr. David Hutter).
Patricia B. Kilpatrick Award – Four-year varsity participant with highest GPA.
Athena Chen (Athens, OH) – Women's Cross Country: Chen has a 4.00 GPA and will graduate in May with a degree in biomedical engineering.
David Bernholt (Versailles, OH) – Wrestling: Bernholt has a 4.00 GPA and will graduate in May with a degree in biology.
SPECIAL GUEST … Case Western Reserve Head Football Coach Greg Debeljak made a special presentation before the department awards were handed out last night. Debeljak presented 2009 University Athletic Association championship rings to longtime ball boys, Ronald and Donald Cunningham, who live in Wade Park near Case Field. The rings were paid for by the Spartan Football Parents’ Club. The Cunningham brothers have been working the Spartan sidelines since 1976.
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