PHOTO GALLERY (by Ben Turner)
CHARLESTON, Ill. – During its annual senior BBQ on Tuesday evening, Eastern Illinois athletics recognized the 79 members of its 2009 senior class along with five individuals who were honored for their athletic, academic and community service performances during their time as Panther student-athletes.
Earning awards on Tuesday evening were Rachel Galligan, Brett Nommensen, Michelle Anderson, Brian Morrell and Adam Gartner.
Galligan, a senior post player on the women's basketball team, was named the EIU Senior Female Athlete of the Year. The Bloomington, Ill., native helped guide the Panthers to back-to-back Ohio Valley Conference championship game appearances. She finished her playing days as the EIU career leading scorer with 1,891 career points. She was a three-time first team All-OVC selection in basketball and a first team All-OVC selection in outdoor track as a sophomore. Galligan was also named a Lowe's Senior Class second team All-American this past year.
Nommensen, a senior outfielder on the baseball team, was named the EIU Male Senior Athlete of the Year. The Fox River Grove, Ill., native helped lead EIU to a 2008 OVC Tournament championship and appearance in the NCAA Regional in Lincoln, Neb. Last season he was a first-team All-OVC honoree and All-Regional selection hitting .402 for the year. This year Nommensen was on a tear at the plate leading the nation in batting average, on-base and slugging percentage before an injury in early April. He was a mid-season first team All-America selection by Baseball America and helped lead EIU to its first national ranking as a NCAA Division I program.
Anderson, a senior member of the golf team, was named the EIU Female Scholar Athlete of the Year. The Rochester, Ill., native has been a four-year member of the Panthers team helping them place fifth at the most recent OVC Conference championship. A 3.91 student majoring in elementary education, Anderson was an OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll selection and earlier in 2009 helped EIU win the Loyola-Chicago women's tournament.
Morrell, a senior pitcher on the baseball team, was named the EIU Male Scholar Athlete of the Year. The Quincy, Ill., native has been one of the Panthers top relief pitchers over the past two seasons helping EIU secure the 2008 OVC Tournament championship. A 4.00 student majoring in biological sciences, Morrell was a second team Academic All-American in 2008 and named one of six Ohio Valley Conference Scholar Athletes of the Year.
Gartner, a senior on the men's soccer team, was named the EIU Extend-A-Paw Award Winner. The Iowa City, Iowa, native was a key part of the Panthers soccer team for four seasons. In 2008 he was a Lowe's Senior Class Award finalist and named third team Academic All-American. He was named second team All-Missouri Valley Conference in 2007 and honorable mention in 2008. During his career he has been an active member in the Charleston community helping coach youth league teams.
