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.  
 
As the countdown of the Top 20 Athletes of the EIU OVC Era wraps up this week, EIUPanthers.com takes a quick look at our honorable mention list of 20 student-athletes that were voted on by EIU fans.  All 20 of these student-athletes were highly decorated during their time in a Panther uniform and just missed making the Top 20 list. 
 
EIU OVC ERA HONORABLE MENTION TEAM

Athletes listed in alphabetical order:

Jason Bialka (Men's Track / Cross Country): Two time OVC Runner of the Year in 2000 & 2001... two time NCAA Qualifier in Cross Country... Multiple time All-OVC in track...

Devon Bissell (Women's Soccer): 2000 OVC Soccer Player of the Year... OVC career leader in assists... 

Dino Fanti (Football): 2015 OVC Defensive Player of the Year... first team All-American... multiple time All-OVC... 

Audra Frericks (Women's Soccer): Four time first team All-OVC... 

Julie Fonda (Softball): Three time first team All-OVC... 

Olivia Klaus (Women's Cross Country / Track): Three time first team All-OVC... placed 2nd at OVC Championships in 2012... 

Jordan Kreke (Baseball): 2009 OVC Baseball Player of the Year... first team All-OVC... 

John Larson (Baseball): 1999 OVC Pitcher of the Year... multiple time first team All-OVC... 

Jarrod Macklin (Men's Track): 2002 Indoor OVC T&F Athlete of the Year... mutliple time first team All-OVC... 

Matt Marzec (Baseball): 1998 OVC Baseball Player of the Year... multiple time first team All-OVC... 

Hannah Mennega (Softball): 2013 OVC Pitcher of the Year... multiple time All-OVC... 

Ta'Kenya Nixon (Women's Basketball): Four time first team All-OVC... OVC Defensive Player of the Year... 

Brett Nommensen (Baseball): Multiple time All-OVC... named to midseason National Baseball Player of the Year list prior to injury as a senior... 

Leslie Przekwas (Volleyball): Two time first team All-OVC... 

Nick Ricks (Football): 2002 OVC Defensive Player of the Year... first team All-American... multiple time first team All-OVC... 

Carrie Riordan (Women's Golf): 2009 OVC Individual Medalist at Golf Championships... multiple time All-OVC... 

Collin Seibert (Football): Three time first team All-OVC on offensive line... two time first team All-American... 
 
Gabe Spezia (Men's Track): Two time national qualifier and All-American in indoor hurdles... 

C.J. Weber (Men's Tennis): 2004 OVC Tennis Athlete of the Year... first team All-OVC... 

Ron White (Men's Track): 2002 OVC T&F Athlete of the Year... multiple time All-American in javelin... OVC record holder in javelin

Listed below are the student-athletes that have been selected 4-through-20.  The top three student-athletes as selected by fan voting along will be released June 28-30.

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)
#11 – Erik Lora (Football / 2009-13)
#10 – Amber May (Softball / 2009-11)
#9 – Beth Liesen (W Soccer / 2000-03)
#8 – Mick Viken (M Track & Field / 2011-14)
#7 – J.R. Taylor (Football / 1999-2002)
#6 – Zye Boey (M Track & Field / 2009-12)
#5 – Kyle Hill (M Basketball / 1998-01)
#4 - Kyle O'Brien (M Cross Country and Track / 2001-03)
---   EIU Success In the OVC (1997-2016)

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