Spring Break
Eastern Sports: A year in review
Kevin Murphy / Sports Editor
Issue date: 5/4/09 Section: Sports
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Here's a list of the Daily Eastern News' Top 10 stories from the year in sports, as well as some of the top athletes.
1. The greatest scorer ever
Rachel Galligan, Eastern's senior forward on the women's basketball team, reached an elite status this season.
The Bloomington native became Eastern's career scoring leader and helped the Panthers return to the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Championship game for the second straight season, a first in program history.
Galligan finished with 1,891 points, breaking Nancy Kassebaum's Eastern record of 1,807 career points. Her 794 career rebounds ranks fourth all-time, and she's the career leading in free throws made, free throws attempted and blocked shots.
2. Riordan rocks
Eastern senior Carrie Riordan did what no other Eastern golfer has done before, winning the OVC Tournament April 25 in London, Ky.
Riordan had finished in the top 10 the previous two seasons at the OVC's. She finished ninth her junior year and tied for fifth her freshman year.
3. A legend dies
Kevin Duckworth, a former Eastern and Portland Trail Blazer center, died in August at the age of 44 after a congestive heart failure.
This season the Eastern men's basketball team wore a black ribbon with No. 00 on it to honor the former star.
Duckworth was Eastern's most recognizable name in the NBA. Eastern's all-time leader in rebounds at 867 and blocked shots with 123, Duckworth scored 1,569 career points and ended his career ranking in the top 10 in all three categories at both Eastern and in the Mid-Continent Conference.
He was an all-conference player in 1986 and was named to the Mid-Continent Conference Dream Team.
Duckworth was a second-round selection by the San Antonio Spurs, but spent most of his NBA career as a member of the Portland Trail Blazers. He was twice selected to the NBA All-Star game and named the NBA's Most Improved Player in 1988.
4. Titles galore
After a year of not winning a single OVC title, the Eastern men's and women's track and field teams rebounded to sweep the indoor and outdoor team titles.
This is the second time in three years the track and field teams have swept all four teams titles.
Red-shirt freshman Zye Boey and senior David Holm competed at the NCAA Indoor National Championships. The last time an Eastern track athlete qualified for nationals was in 2000. Boey is seeking a chance at outdoor nationals as well.
5. Receiving national attention
The Eastern baseball team received its first national ranking in program history in April.
The Panthers (34-10, 12-3 OVC) were ranked in the Collegiate Baseball's Top 30 poll.
The Panthers are receiving votes in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Top 30 poll and USA Today/ESPN Top 25 coaches' poll.
6. Unblemished
The Eastern rugby team completed its second undefeated season in school history with a 10-0 mark in 2008. The 2002 team also went undefeated with an 11-0 mark. The Panthers completed the season with six shutouts.
They had close calls to start out the season with a 12-10 win and a 26-21 win. But from there, it was all Panthers, including a 38-5 victory against NCAA West Chester on the road in the second-ever NCAA contest. The Panthers lost to West Chester 20-19 last season. The Panthers finished the season with five shutouts. They outscored its opponent 634-29 this season.
7. Another historic season
The Eastern women's basketball team completed another historic season. The Panthers finished 24-9 and 15-5 in the OVC and made the OVC Tournament Championship game for the second consecutive year. Once again, Eastern lost, this time in double overtime.
The Panthers had won 20 straight games at Lantz Arena, which ranked fourth nationally at the time.
8. Surpassing Expectations
The Eastern men's basketball team reached the OVC Tournament for the first time since 2005. The Panthers finished 12-18 and 8-10 in the OVC, the most wins since the 2004-2005 season.
The Panthers look even better for next year, graduating only one senior. They return four of five starters who will be led by junior guard Romain Martin and junior guard T.J. Marion, both who earned OVC honors.
9. Walters a Chief
Former Eastern defensive end/linebacker will be entering the Kansas City Chiefs mini-camps and practice camps this summer. He signed a three-year, six figure contract as an undrafted free agent.
Walters was the only Eastern player to play in a national All-Star game, playing in the Texas vs. the Nation All-Star game. He was also a Second Team All-American.
10. No playoffs for football
The Eastern football team did not make the playoffs. They finished 5-7 and 3-5 in the OVC missing the playoffs for the first time in three seasons.
Five players did earn OVC honors, but only one will be returning next season. Look for another Florida transfer Mon Williams and Chevon Walker to compete back and forth.
Top Athletes of each sport
Volleyball - Lauren Sopcic, senior, middle blocker
Sopic was the most consistent player of a team that went 5-24. Sopic played in 25 matches and was on the EIU Challenge All-Tournament team.
Men's Cross Country - Derek Ericson, sophomore,
Ericson finished eighth at the OVC's and was the No. 2 runner all season, stepping up when senior Brad Butler could not run at the OVC meet because of an injury.
Women's Cross Country - Erin O'Grady, junior
O'Grady was the consistent No.1 runner and finished 18th at the OVC meet.
Men's Soccer - Brad Peters, senior, forward,
Peters earned All-Missouri Valley Conference First Team honors for the third straight year. He scored 10 goals, the first Panther in the program's Valley era (1996-present) to notch three seasons of 10-plus goals. He led the MVC in goals and points and was a Third Team NSCAA All-Midwest Region honoree.
Women's Soccer - Pam Melinauskas, senior, forward
Melinauskas was a First Team All-OVC performer and helped the Panthers reach the OVC Tournament.
Football - Pierre Walters, senior, defensive end
Walters was a Second-Team All-American and earned OVC First Team honors as well.
Rugby - Samantha Manto, senior, wing
Manto led the Panthers to a 10-0 record, their first undefeated season since 2002. She will leave the program as the record holder in points (665), trys (133) and runs of more than 20 yards (113).
She qualified for the 60-meter hurdles finals and helped the distance medley team finish second at conference for track.
Men's Basketball - Romain Martin, junior, guard
Martin surpassed the 1,000-career point mark and was a Second Team All-OVC. Martin was also a Second Team All-District National Association of Basketball Coaches honoree.
Women's Basketball - Rachel Galligan, senior, forward
Galligan finished with 1,891 points, breaking Nancy Kassebaum's Eastern record of 1,807 career points. Her 794 career rebounds ranks fourth all-time, and she is the career leading in free throws made, free throws attempted and blocked shots.
Men's Swimming - Joe Ethington, senior
Ethington earned Second Team All-Summit League honors. He finished sixth in the 100-yard freestyle. Ethington also helped the 400-yard freestyle relay finish third as the Panthers finished third at the Summit League.
Women's Swimming - Laura Nilsen, junior
Nilsen earned Second Team All-Summit League honors. She finished fifth in the 100-yard backstroke. Nilsen also helped the 400-yard freestyle relay finish fifth as the Panthers finished fifth at the Summit League.
Men's Indoor Track - David Holm, senior, distance runner
Holm reached nationals in the 800-meter dash. He has the best 800-meter in indoor school history and won the 800-meter run at the OVCs.
Women's Indoor Track - Kandace Arnold, junior, thrower
Arnold won the 20-pound weight throw at the Ohio Valley Conference meet. She also won the shot put at the OVC meet as the Panthers took their second indoor title in school history and third team title overall. Arnold's weight throw attempt at the meet was a school record.
Softball - Amber May, sophomore, pitcher
May helped the Panthers get off to a 7-0 start and win the New Mexico State Tournament Classic Title. She earned OVC Pitcher of the Week honors that week. She has a 17-17 record, and she sports a 2.61 ERA. Her 186 strikeouts this season rank second all-time in a single season.
Baseball - Brett Nommensen, senior, centerfielder
Before breaking a bone in his wrist in early April, Nommensen helped the Panthers off to hot start. He led the nation in on-base and slugging percentage and became a legitimate major league prospect.
Men's Outdoor Track - Zye Boey, red-shirt freshman, sprinter
Boey was the OVC Male Athlete of the Year, the OVC Athlete of the Championships and won the 100-meter and 200-meter dash titles. He also finished second in the 100-meter dash at the Drake Relays.
Women's Outdoor Track - Chandra Golden, junior
Golden won the 400-meter hurdles and the 110-meter hurdles.
Women's Tennis - Juliana Frey, freshman
Frey was one of two Panthers to post an above .500 record. Frey went 7-4 at No. 3 singles. She was 5-4 in the OVC. She teamed with sophomore Cara Huck to post a 7-4 doubles record including a 3-1 mark at No. 2 doubles.
Men's Tennis - Vuk Milicevic, senior
Milicevic went 14-2 with senior Jordan Nestrud at No. 1 singles. Milicevic and Nestrud highlighted their year with a win against the No. 74-ranked Jacksonville State doubles team. Milicevic also went 14-8 in singles finishing 12-7 at No. 3 singles.
Men's Golf - Gino Parrodi, freshman,
Parrodi was a member of the OVC All-Newcomer Team as the Panthers finished seventh at the OVC Tournament.
Women's Golf - Carrie Riordan, senior
Riordan won the OVC Tournament, the first Panther in program history to do it. She posted three top 10 scores at the OVC Tournament in her final three seasons.
Eastern athletes to watch for next season:
Maggie Kloak, basketball
Kloak will enter her senior season as the player responsible for replacing Rachel Galligan. She showed signs of being a dominant post player this season as Galligan's primary backup.
Mon Williams, football
Williams is a Florida transfer who was part of the heralded class featuring Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow and was the No. 9 ranked running back in the nation coming out of high school.
Zye Boey, track
Boey burst onto the scene in 2009, breaking school records and winning the 100- and 200-meter dash at the OVC Indoor and Outdoor Championships and qualifying for nationals.
-Compiled by Sports Editor Kevin Murphy. He can be reached at 581-7944 or at kjmurphy@eiu.edu.
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