Knox College closed the 2007 spring athletics season with its annual Spring Sports Banquet Monday night in the Lincoln Room in Seymour Union. Awards were presented by Knox College President Roger Taylor, Knox Director of Athletics Chad Eisele and Faculty Representative Larry Welch. Head coaches also announced their 2007 team award winners and their 2007-08 team captains.

Rebekah Richardson (East Peoria, IL) received the Sandburg Mental Toughness Award, given to the senior student-athlete judged to have dealt most effectively with adversity during his or her Knox career. During her junior indoor track and field season, Richardson's father passed away. She managed to take care of family business, stay involved on the team during the following months and advanced to the Midwest Conference Outdoor Track Championship finals in the javelin. This year as a senior, she was a team captain and a stable, responsible leader for the Knox track and field team in the aftermath of a tragic personal loss.

Juniors Monyca Fisher (Zion, IL) and Katie Schneider (Evanston, IL) shared the David Robinson Fan of the Year Award, given to the persons deemed to have given Knox teams the most sincere and comprehensive support during the given year. Fisher, a member of the women's tennis and softball teams, and Schneider, a member of the softball team, were recognized as attending more athletic events than any other students. The two care deeply about the success of Knox College athletics and are true fans.

Junior Jaran Rutledge (Mundelein, IL) received the Cleaveland Bridgman Award, given to the male student-athlete selected as the outstanding performer in an individual sport during the given year, and the Harley Knosher Country Companies Male Athlete of the Year Award, given to the outstanding male student-athlete of the year. Rutledge was the first Knox College wrestling All-American. After losing his first match at nationals, he won four straight matches to finish third overall at heavyweight and lead Knox to a 25th-place national showing. He finished with a 36-5 record and won individual titles at the Central College Invitational, the Northern Wrestling Association Tournament and the Great Lakes Regional Tournament.

Junior Pam Bell (St. Louis, MO) received the Michel Loomis Award, given to the female student-athlete selected as the outstanding performer in an individual sport in a given year. Bell earned her second all-conference medal in the high jump in 2007 by tying for second place at the Midwest Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships. Her jump of 5 feet, 0.25 inches was a lifetime best, ranks as the third-best jump in indoor team history and made her only the third female to clear 5 feet indoor for Knox. She has or is tied for seven of the top 10 indoor high jump marks in team history. During the 2007 indoor season, the junior placed her name among the top 10 Knox all-time performers in six different events – high jump, long jump, 55-meter dash, 200-meter dash, 4x200 relay and sprint medley relay.

Freshman Kate Moon (Kahoka, MO) received the Harley Knosher Country Companies Female Athlete of the Year Award, given to the outstanding female student-athlete of the year. Moon led the Knox College women's basketball in rebounding, averaging 6.7 rebounds per game. The first-year student was also second on the team in scoring at 9.3 points per contest. She also averaged 1.3 assists and led the team with 37 total steals. While appearing in all 23 games and making 17 starts, she scored in double figures nine times.

Erin Vorenkamp (Appleton, WI) received the Evelyn Bielfeldt Award, given to the senior female student-athlete with the most outstanding career in intercollegiate athletics. Vorenkamp was a three-year member of the Knox swimming and diving team. She had the top times of the season for Knox in three events this year – the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 59.36 seconds, the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:15.13 and the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 26.37 seconds. She was also a part of the 400-yard freestyle relay team that set a school record time of 4:02.54 at the conference meet. The team co-captain was named the team's Most Valuable Swimmer and is a member of the Midwest Conference All-Academic Team.

Ryan Meier (Normal, IL) received the J.W. Hilding Prize, given to the senior male student-athlete with the most outstanding career in intercollegiate athletics. Meier was a two-time Midwest Conference champion and a three-time all-conference golfer. He won the Southern Division Tournament twice and was a three-time academic all-conference member. The two-year team captain was named to the 2005 PING Coaches All-Region Team and was a member of the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Team.

Second-year assistant athletic trainer Tina Poliska received the David Agar Award, given to the person with the most outstanding contributions to athletics in a non-competitive capacity. Poliska does a fantastic job of taking care of many of the student-athletes with great care and interest in each athlete personally. She is well liked by all of the student athletes and has tremendous knowledge and expertise in the field. She is always willing to put forward the extra effort for the student-athletes in her care. She has a great attitude and a willingness to be helpful to all.

Kevin Megli (Sterling, IL) received the Dean S. Trevor Award for Men, given to the senior male student-athlete who exemplifies the traits of Dean Trevor, including competitive excellence, integrity, honesty and commitment to scholarship. Megli set several career records for the Knox College football team. He ended his career as the school's all-time leader with 660 carries and 3,177 yards rushing. He also tied the career mark for rushing touchdowns with 25. In his senior season alone, he rushed for more than 1,000 yards and scored 12 touchdowns. The team captain was named first team all-conference and received honorable mention to the Don Hansen's Football Gazette All-West Region Team.

Allyson Cooper (New Windsor, IL) received the Dean S. Trevor Award for Women. Cooper was a two-time All-Midwest Conference golfer. The team captain finished her career by placing fifth in the conference championships in the fall. She was selected as the team's Most Valuable Player. Throughout her career, she showed a great work ethic and dedication.

2007 Spring Banquet Awards

Sandburg Mental Toughness Award - Rebekah Richardson (Sr., East Peoria, IL)
David Robinson Fan of the Year Award - Monyca Fisher (Jr., Zion, IL) and Katie Schneider (Jr., Evanston, IL)
Cleaveland Bridgman Award - Jaran Rutledge (Jr., Mundelein, IL)
Michel Loomis Award - Pam Bell (Jr., St. Louis, MO)
David Agar Award - Tina Poliska
Harley Knosher Award for Men - Jaran Rutledge (Jr., Mundelein, IL)
Harley Knosher Award for Women - Kate Moon (Fr., Kahoka, MO)
Evelyn Bielfeldt Award - Erin Vorenkamp (Sr., Appleton, WI)
J.W. Hilding Prize - Ryan Meier (Sr., Normal, IL)
Dean Trevor Award for Men - Kevin Megli (Sr., Sterling, IL)
Dean Trevor Award for Women - Allyson Cooper (Sr., New Windsor, IL)

2007 Spring Banquet Team Awards

Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Head Coach: Chris Pio)
Most Valuable Outdoor Track Athlete - Zarir De Vitre (Sr., Bombay, India)
Most Valuable Outdoor Field Athlete - Joe Okine (Sr., Bellwood, IL)
Most Valuable Newcomer - Jared Jaggers (Fr., Princeton, IL)
Most Valuable Contributor - Zarir De Vitre (Sr., Bombay, India) and Erik DeLapp (Sr., Minneapolis, MN)
2007-08 Captains - Matthew Stockov (Jr., Canton, IL), Jared Jaggers (Fr., Princeton, IL) and David Footle (Fr., Roselle, IL)

Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Head Coach: Chris Pio)
Most Valuable Outdoor Track Athlete - Amy Thompson (Sr., Rollinsville, CO)
Most Valuable Outdoor Field Athlete - Donielle Augustson (Jr., Rio Rancho, NM)
Most Valuable Newcomer - Mary Purrazzo (Fr., Alsip, IL) and Gaby Fox (Fr., Hillsboro, OR)
Most Valuable Contributor - Chelsea Bagot (Sr., Long Grove, IL) and Amy Thompson (Sr., Rollinsville, CO)
2007-08 Captains - Pam Bell (Jr., St. Louis, MO), Jaclyn Anderson (So., Morton, IL) and Leah Heister (Jr., Bristol, CT)

Softball (Head Coach: Kathy Wagoner)
Most Valuable Defensive Player - Katie Dura (Jr., Edwards, IL)
Most Valuable Offensive Player - Kate Latshaw (So., Downers Grove, IL) and Ann Marie Albright (Jr., Louisville, CO)
Most Valuable Team Member - Monyca Fisher (Jr., Zion, IL) and Katie Schneider (Jr., Evanston, IL)
2007-08 Captains - Katie Schneider (Jr., Evanston, IL), Monyca Fisher (Jr., Zion, IL) and Ann Marie Albright (Jr., Louisville, CO)

Men's Tennis (Head Coach: Chad Eisele)
Most Valuable Player - Clark Smith (Sr., Yakima, WA)
Most Improved Player - Jesse Temple (Sr., Overland Park, KS)

Men's Golf (Head Coach: C.J. Rugh)
Most Valuable Player - Ryan Meier (Sr., Normal, IL)
Most Improved Player - Mark Janicik (Fr., Clarendon Hills, IL)
2007-08 Captains - Arjun Rao (Jr., Chennai T.N., India) and David Marquardt (Jr., Bloomington, IL)

Baseball (Head Coach: Jami Isaacson)
Most Valuable Player - Jake Ayers (Sr., Hanna City, IL) and Steve Hoosen (Sr., Galesburg, IL)
Most Valuable Defensive Player - Kevin Malone (So., Bushnell, IL)
Most Improved Player - Greg Leibach (Jr., St. Louis, MO)