By ISU Sports
NORMAL – Rachel Tejada and Tre Roberson won two of the seven awards conferred at The Reggies Sunday night, as Illinois State celebrated the success of its student-athletes during the 2014-15 academic year at the annual excellence awards ceremony, sponsored by State Farm Insurance Cos.
Tejada, a member of the soccer team, was the recipient of the Jill Hutchison Female Athlete of the Year Award, while Roberson, a member of the ISU football team, won the Milt Weisbecker Male Athlete of the Year Award.
Nominees for the Jill Hutchinson Female Athlete of the Year Award were Kaitlyn Early (volleyball), Samantha King (gymnastics), Regan Romshek (softball), Jianna Williams (track and field), Wenting Zhang (swimming and diving) and Tejada. Nominees for the Milt Weisbecker Male Athlete of the Year Award were Anderson Devonish (track and field), Tyler Gentilella (golf), Jacob Hendren (baseball), Daishon Knight (basketball) and Roberson.
Tejada finished her collegiate career last fall as the Missouri Valley Conference’s Player of the Year, marking the fourth-straight year of earning the honor. She garnered National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-America Second-Team honors, as well as NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region accolades. She helped the Redbirds to their third MVC regular-season title in four years, and their fourth-straight MVC Tournament banner. Tejada set Illinois State and MVC career records for goals, assists and points, and set an Illinois State single-season record for points in 2014.
Roberson led the Illinois State football team to a national championship game appearance in 2014, while earning All-Missouri Valley Football Conference First-Team honors after setting Illinois State single-season records for passing touchdowns, total touchdowns, passing efficiency, total yards, and rushing yards by a quarterback. He had arguably his best performance of the season in the national championship game against North Dakota State, throwing for three touchdowns and rushing for 161 yards and another score.
Sami King, a member of the ISU gymnastics team, was named the winner of the Linda Herman Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award on Sunday. Jacob Hendren, of the baseball team, took the Doug Collins Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award.
Nominees for the Linda Herman Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award were Kadi Ilves (tennis), Kelly McShea (cross country/track and field), Regan Romshek (softball), Rachel Root (swimming and diving), Eliza Smith (volleyball), Katy Winge (basketball), Tejada and King. Nominees for the Doug Collins Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award were Mark Spelman (football), Rolando Torrellas (tennis), Knight and Hendren.
King finished her career at Illinois State last spring as a four-time NCAA Regional qualifier. A four-time all-conference selection as well, King was equally impressive in the classroom throughout her collegiate career. She earned the MVC President’s Council Academic Award, Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award and was named to both the MVC and AFNI honor rolls as a senior. She additionally earned Capital One Academic All-District honors. King completed work on a degree in exercise science this spring with a perfect, 4.00 cumulative grade-point average (GPA).
As a member of the Illinois State baseball team, Hendren was stellar from the mound and in the classroom. He posted a 10-2 pitching record and a team-leading 2.80 ERA, while striking out 99 in an Illinois State single-season record of 106 innings pitched. Hendren was named a Louisville Slugger third-team All-American, in addition to MVC Newcomer of the Year. He was a first-team all-conference selection and earned MVC All-Defensive team laurels. In the classroom, Hendren’s 3.83 cumulative GPA as a mathematics major helped him earn Capital One Academic All-America and All-Region honors. An MVC Scholar-Athlete First-Team selection, Hendren was named to both the MVC and AFNI honor rolls, and earned the MVC’s Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award.
The winner of the Impact Award, honoring a student-athlete committed to excellence, leadership, academics and community, was Paul DeJong, a member of the baseball team. Other nominees for the award were Hayley Guyton (women’s golf), CJ Hamilton (men’s track and field) and Cecilia Holmes (swimming and diving).
The Dr. Jim Johnson Phoenix Award was shared by Octavia Crump, of the women’s basketball team, and Pat Meehan, of the football team. The award, named in honor of the longtime Illinois State professor and academic coordinator, is presented annually to a student-athlete who has overcome academic challenges. Abby Kachanuk (women’s track and field) and Devonish were also nominees for the award.
The Good Neighbor Award went to McShea, a member of the women’s track and field and cross country teams, who was also a nominee for the Linda Herman Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award. The Good Neighbor Award is presented to a student-athlete who has demonstrated commitment to excellence in athletics, service to others and personal conduct. Other nominees for the award were Dennis Colon (baseball), Stephanie Gallant (softball), Guyton and King.
Sunday’s awards were presented by members of the administrative staffs at both Illinois State and State Farm, and included Illinois State President Dr. Larry Dietz and Director of Athletics Larry Lyons.
Illinois State student-athletes posted a combined GPA of 3.16 during the Fall 2014 semester, as 301 student-athletes were named to the AFNI Honor Roll. Redbird student-athletes turned in a GPA of 3.15 in the Spring 2015 semester, as 257 were named to the honor roll.
In addition to their success in the classroom, Illinois State student-athletes provided over 2,500 hours of community service during the 2014-15 academic year.
