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** During the month of July, EIUPanthers.com will take a look back at 14 events, moments and players that helped shape the 2023-24 academic year. **

Eastern Illinois had four different student-athletes win Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year honors for their respective sports as the Panthers had success throughout the year.  Adam Swanson, Giovana Larregui López, Macy McGlone and Kendall Grover all took home top honors for their sport.
 
Swanson was solid throughout his senior year in both cross country and track and field as he won two OVC Runner of the Year awards for two different sports.  Swanson opened the year winning OVC Runner of the Year in cross country leading the Panthers to their fourth straight OVC title.  He was the individual medalist in the event and named Runner of the Championship.  Swanson was again stellar during the OVC Indoor Track season winning OVC Track Athlete of the Year and then winning OVC Athlete of the Championships with the most points scored in the meet.  Swanson posted three second place finishes in relay and individual events while scoring in a fourth event.
 
Larregui López earned her second straight OVC Player of the Year honor as she led the Panthers to both the OVC regular season and tournament titles with EIU making its second-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.  She was named the OVC overall Female Athlete of the Year while earning honorable mention All-American honors.  On the court she ranked fourth in the NCAA in service aces (67), 29th in points scored (556.5) and 34th in total kills (468). Her offensive numbers for the year ranked in the EIU single-season top five all-time for service aces, kills and points. 
 
McGlone had double honors in women's basketball winning both OVC Player of the Year and OVC Defensive Player of the Year.  She became only the second player in OVC history to win both awards in the same season leading EIU to a tie for second in the OVC regular season standings.  On the court McGlone was dominant ranking second in the NCAA in double-doubles with 26 which set a EIU school record and was the second most in a season in OVC history.  During the season she set the school single season record for rebounds pulling down 392 (previous record of 361 set in 1981-82). Her total rebounds ranked second in the NCAA following the regular season and conference tournament play while rebounding average of 11.9 per game ranked fifth in the NCAA.  The rebounding total was the third most in a season in OVC history.  Her numbers on the court placed her second on the EIU single season record book list in points scored (588), field goals made (236) and blocked shots (60).  McGlone ended season with 101 career blocks at Eastern Illinois which is seventh on the EIU career list after 27th in the NCAA for the season. 
 
Grover followed up her OVC Freshman of the Year award winning season in 2023 with a co-OVC Player of the Year honor in 2024 as she helped lead EIU to a regular season OVC title.  Grover ranked among OVC leaders in most offensive categories hitting .354 with 18 doubles, ten home runs, 46 RBI, 20 stolen bases and 47 runs scored during the season.  She led OVC in home runs while ranking second in league in RBI, doubles, hits and runs scored.  She was third in the league in stolen bases earned third team All-Region honors.

2023-24 Year In Review
No. 14 – EIU Welcomes New Head Coaches
No. 13 – Former Panthers Make Major League Debut
No. 12 – Freshmen Make A National Splash 
No. 11 – Ramsey Hunt Earns All-American Honors 
No. 10 – Giovana Larregui Lopez Named OVC Female Athlete Of The Year 
No. 9 – Men's Cross Country Wins Fourth Straight OVC Title 
No. 8 – Women's Cross Country Gives EIU Distance Title Sweep
No. 7 – Volleyball Wins OVC Title, Makes NCAA Tournament
No. 6 – Softball Wins OVC Regular Season Title
No. 5 – EIU Has Four Conference Coach Of The Year Winners