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Eastern Illinois Athletics wrapped up its 20th year as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference in May.  As a way to celebrate the many accomplishments, both team and individual during that time period, EIU conducted an online poll during the month of May for fans to help select the Top 20 athletes of the Panthers OVC Era.  During the month of June we will unveil the top 20 athletes as selected by the more than 2,500 fan votes submitted.  The original list of 40 athletes was comprised by a committee looking at a variety of criteria including Player of the Year, All-American selection and multiple time first-team All-OVC honors.  
 
#11 Erik Lora (2009-13)
 
Lora rewrote the receiving record books for both Eastern Illinois and the Ohio Valley Conference during a standout career on the football field.  As a true freshman he was part of the OVC regular season championship team under head coach Bob Spoo.  After missing one season due to injury Lora thrived in the fast paced offense for two seasons under head coach Dino Babers winning back-to-back OVC titles.  As a junior he was named the OVC Offensive Player of the Year and OVC Overall Male Athlete of the Year for 2012-13.  During that season Lora set the FCS single season record for pass receptions hauling in 136 passes for 1,664 yards.  He finished fourth in voting for the Walter Payton Award earning consensus first team All-American honors.  As a senior Lora again was a consensus first team All-American as he placed seventh in voting for the Walter Payton Award.  In his final game as a collegiate receiver he set the FCS Playoff record for pass receptions with 18 against Towson in the NCAA quarterfinals.   Lora ended his career with 322 career catches for 4,006 yards, both of which rank as EIU and OVC career records.  His 35 career touchdown receptions rank first all-time in the OVC and second at EIU.   Lora currently ranks second all-time in FCS career receptions and 12th all-time in FCS career receiving yards. 
 
Lora has been in camp with three NFL teams (Minnesota, Detroit and Jacksonville) and coached football at the high school level.  Most recently he was a snowboard instructor.

EIU OVC Era Top 20 Countdown
#20 - Meleah Cutler (Volleyball / 1996-99)
#19 - Sean Lyons (Baseball / 1996-99)
#18 – Rick Kaye (Men's Basketball / 1995-98)
#17 – Jade Riebold (W Track / 2012-14)
#16 – Rachel Galligan (W Basketball / 2006-09)
#15 – Cara LeMaster (W Soccer / 1999-02)
#14 – Erica Gerth (Volleyball / 2001-04)
#13 – Kandace Arnold (W Track / 2007-10)
#12 – Reynae Hutchinson (Volleyball & Softball / 2010-14)
 
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