Eastern Illinois athletics is wrapping up 20 years as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference. As part of that process EIU athletics is inviting Panther fans to help us select the top 20 players of Eastern Illinois OVC era (1996-97 through 2015-16). As part of this process a committee helped narrow down the distinguished list of EIU student-athletes to the Top 40 athletes across all of EIU's OVC sponsored sports. Taken into consideration while selecting this list of 40 athletes were Player of the Year honors, All-American honors and multiple time first team All-OVC honors. Please take a few moments to vote and help EIU athletics celebrate 20-years as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference. The top 20 athletes selected will be released on the EIUPanthers.com website during the month of June. Listed below are quick accolades on the 40 student-athletes listed. Voting can take place at this link
OVC 20-Year Voting
Athletes listed in alphabetical order:
Kandace Arnold (Women's Track): 2010 OVC Overall Female Athlete of the Year... NCAA Nationals Qualifier in Shot Put... Holds OVC and School Record in Shot Put... Multiple-time first team All-OVC...
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...
Zye Boey (Men's Track): Five time OVC T&F Athlete of the Year... multiple time Indoor & Outdoor All-American... Olympic Trials competitor in 2012...
Meleah Cutler (Volleyball): Two time first team All-OVC... All-Region
Henry Domercant (Men's Basketball): 2002 OVC Overall Athlete of the Year... OVC Basketball Player of the Year... multiple time first team All-OVC... OVC all-time leading scorer... ranked in top 5 in NCAA in scoring 3 times...
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...
Rachel Galligan (Women's Basketball): Three time first team All-OVC...
Jimmy Garoppolo (Football): 2014 OVC Overall Male Athlete of the Year... OVC Player of the Year... 2013 Walter Payton Award Winner... holds several OVC career and single season passing records...
Erica Gerth (Volleyball):2005 OVC Overall Female Athlete of the Year... OVC Player of the Year in 2004... All-Region...
Reynae Hutchinson (Volleyball/Softball): First team All-OVC in both softball and volleyball
Kyle Hill (Men's Basketball):Two time first team All-OVC... ranked in top five in nation in scoring in 2001...
Rick Kaye (Men's Basketball): Multiple time first team All-OVC...
Olivia Klaus (Women's Basketball): 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...
Cara LeMaster (Women's Soccer): Three time first team All-OVC...
Beth Liesen (Women's Soccer): 2003 OVC Soccer Player of the Year... OVC career leader in goals and points...
Erik Lora (Football): 2012 OVC Overall Male Athlete of the Year... OVC Player of the Year... multiple time first team All-American... set NCAA single season record for pass receptions...
Sean Lyons (Baseball): Two 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...
Amber May (Softball): 2011 OVC Pitcher of the Year... multiple time 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...
Kyle O'Brien (Men's Track/Cross Country): 2003 OVC Overall Male Athlete of the Year... OVC Runner of the Year in 2002... multiple time first team All-OVC...
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...
Jade Riebold (Women's Track): Four time OVC T&F Athlete of the Year... placed 2nd & 3rd in NCAA in pole vault... holds OVC record in pole vault
Carrie Riordan (Women's Golf): 2009 OVC Individual Medalist at Golf Championships... multiple time All-OVC...
Tony Romo (Football): Three time OVC Football Player of the Year... 2002 Walter Payton Award Winner... first team All-American...
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...
J.R. Taylor (Football): Two time first team All-OVC... first team All-American...
Mick Viken (Men's Track): Two-time OVC T&F Athlete of the Year... multiple time All-American in pole vault... OVC record holder in pole vault...
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
