2008 Woodie Awards
Fair dues in '07-08
UIC Athletics awards
Andrew Smothers
Issue date: 5/5/08 Section: Sports
Media Credit: Daniel LimSenior soccer co-captain and UIC male athlete of the year Cesar Zambrano not only led his team to the NCAA Elite Eight with team-highs in goals and assists, but was drafted by the Colorado Rapids of the MLS on Jan. 24.
2007-08 was yet another banner year for UIC Athletics.
Women's tennis solidified their place as a dynasty, claiming their 100th consecutive Horizon League victory and yet another championship. Both gymnastics squads qualified multiple gymnasts to nationals, 14 in all. Baseball still dominates the League, a year after claiming their first victory in the NCAA tournament. And we all know the story of soccer, the Elite Eight qualifier and Horizon League tournament champions. With the spring semester about over, it's our turn to honor the very best of UIC Athletics from the past academic year.
Men's Team of the Year: Soccer
No team in UIC history has gone deeper than coach John Trask's men did this past November. Claiming their first Horizon League tournament championship under Trask was just the start to magical November. Victories at Saint Louis University, Northwestern, and Creighton proved UIC deserves a spot on the collegiate soccer landscape for years to come with masterful defense, incredible resilience, and timely scoring.
Women's Team of the Year: Tennis
The numbers are astounding: 103 consecutive League victories, 12 straight titles. This team hasn't lost to a Horizon League opponent since the Olympics were in Atlanta. It takes one thing to dominate year in and year out, but to never lose - that's a whole other deal. And with League player of the year freshman Ilinca Cristescu and so many other returning players, there's no reason to believe it's going to change any time soon.
Male Athlete of the Year: Cesar Zambrano, Soccer
Z was the heartbeat of the Flames midfield this year, co-captaining the squad while earning All-League honors for a third straight season. The fiery senior from Brother Rice managed the vital central midfielder role with ease, scoring a team-high six goals. After an amazing career at UIC, Zambrano was drafted by the Colorado Rapids in the MLS supplemental and currently plays for the Rapids reserve squad.
Female Athlete of the Year: Sarah Clynes, Softball
The wonder woman of UIC softball, Clynes leads the team in hitting and pitching, a year after being named the Horizon League co-Player of the Year. Clynes sits near the top of the League in almost every offensive category, while also dominating inside the pitching circle.
Men's Coach of the Year: Soccer Staff
We could give this award to just Trask, but that would be denying the greatest attribute of the soccer program, its depth. Trask and assistants Sean Phillips, Aleksey Korol, Tonci Skroce, and every other member of the soccer team deserve credit. 2006 All-American Skroce was instrumental in keeping the strikers focused during an early scoring drought and Phillips and Korol kept the team prepared and in peak condition for the NCAAs. Fair dues to the entire coaching staff.
Women's Coach of the Year: Shannon Tully, Tennis
Sure it sounds easy. Just sit on the sidelines while your team goes perfect for another Horizon League season, claims yet another championship, and watch all the accolades roll in. But it takes a great coach to keep players from getting complacent after passing the century mark. It also takes a great recruiter to ink undefeated All-League players like Lubica Nadasska, Kristen McPhillips, and Cristescu.
Male Freshmen of the Year: Charlie Trout and Robert Younger, Soccer
So by this point it may seem like soccer's going to win everything. I promise eventually we'll be able to move off the pitch, but quite frankly soccer could win everything. Trask's English experiment proved masterful as Trout and Younger crossed the pond and brought a new level of professionalism and integrity to the UIC program. Younger's impeccable defense solidified the entire backline and Trout's outstanding understanding of the game and leadership promises to keep UIC on the national scene for the next three years.
Female Freshman of the Year: Ilinca Cristescu, Tennis
Cristescu hopped right aboard the tennis victory train, going a perfect 8-0 in singles play and 7-0 in doubles. Not only was the freshman from Bensenville, IL named the Horizon League newcomer of the year, but she claimed the top league's top honor as women's tennis Player of the Year.
Male Senior Achievement Award: Eric Fey, Tennis
Fey finished four outstanding seasons at UIC as the most victorious doubles player in school history and also collected the second most singles wins. The Flames finished in the top two of conference every year with Fey playing the four spot in the UIC order.
Female Senior Achievement Award: Andrea Giczewski, Swimming and Diving
Giczewski claimed the League championship in both the 50 and the 100-yard freestyle this year after finishing second in both the year before. She was also a member of the '07 200 and 400 free relay teams.
Male School Spirit Award: Ebenezer Noonoo, Basketball
No one was better than getting the Pavilion ready for basketball than Eb. His ability to get the Flames fired up played a hand in the team's 12-2 home record. Noonoo's impressive play at the beginning of the home game against Butler showed he's more than just a cheerleader, too. Coach Jimmy Collins recognized Noonoo's dedication and energy by renaming the team spirit award in his name.
Female School Spirit Award: Liz Hrebic, Volleyball
Hrebic served this past year as president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee to go along with her duties on the volleyball backline and as a history major. Hrebic's tirelessness and energetic aura kept the Flames fresh throughout the season.
Male Offensive Player of the Year: Josh Mayo, Basketball
The sweet-shooting Mayo was reason the Flames posted 18 wins this season. Despite his smaller size (he's listed at 5'11"), no one played bigger than the League first teamer Mayo. The junior from Merriville, IN averaged over 17 points per game and finished in the top ten nationally in three-point percentage.
Female Offensive Player of the Year: Jessie Miller, Basketball
After spending '06-07 under three thousand-point seniors, Miller took the reigns of the UIC basketball program and earned All-Horizon League second team honors. A career-high 27 points in a 62-59 upset victory at Milwaukee showed Miller's tremendous talent and heart.
Men's Best Game: Baseball at Vanderbilt 3/6
Trailing 1-0 in the top of the ninth with two out against fifth ranked Vanderbilt, the Flames' Jake Carr lined a game-winning two-run double over the head of the Commodores' right fielder. Grant Kohlstaedt pitched a complete game six-hitter as the Flames pulled off their biggest upset of the season.
Women's Best Game: Basketball vs. Milwaukee 2/23
It took two overtimes for the Flames to pull off the season's second upset of Milwaukee. With 8.9 seconds left in the second extra session, junior Meghan Hutchens drove the lane and drew a foul. She hit both free throws, and the UIC defense made the stop on the opposite end to claim a tremendous 70-69 win.
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Women's tennis solidified their place as a dynasty, claiming their 100th consecutive Horizon League victory and yet another championship. Both gymnastics squads qualified multiple gymnasts to nationals, 14 in all. Baseball still dominates the League, a year after claiming their first victory in the NCAA tournament. And we all know the story of soccer, the Elite Eight qualifier and Horizon League tournament champions. With the spring semester about over, it's our turn to honor the very best of UIC Athletics from the past academic year.
Men's Team of the Year: Soccer
No team in UIC history has gone deeper than coach John Trask's men did this past November. Claiming their first Horizon League tournament championship under Trask was just the start to magical November. Victories at Saint Louis University, Northwestern, and Creighton proved UIC deserves a spot on the collegiate soccer landscape for years to come with masterful defense, incredible resilience, and timely scoring.
Women's Team of the Year: Tennis
The numbers are astounding: 103 consecutive League victories, 12 straight titles. This team hasn't lost to a Horizon League opponent since the Olympics were in Atlanta. It takes one thing to dominate year in and year out, but to never lose - that's a whole other deal. And with League player of the year freshman Ilinca Cristescu and so many other returning players, there's no reason to believe it's going to change any time soon.
Male Athlete of the Year: Cesar Zambrano, Soccer
Z was the heartbeat of the Flames midfield this year, co-captaining the squad while earning All-League honors for a third straight season. The fiery senior from Brother Rice managed the vital central midfielder role with ease, scoring a team-high six goals. After an amazing career at UIC, Zambrano was drafted by the Colorado Rapids in the MLS supplemental and currently plays for the Rapids reserve squad.
Female Athlete of the Year: Sarah Clynes, Softball
The wonder woman of UIC softball, Clynes leads the team in hitting and pitching, a year after being named the Horizon League co-Player of the Year. Clynes sits near the top of the League in almost every offensive category, while also dominating inside the pitching circle.
Men's Coach of the Year: Soccer Staff
We could give this award to just Trask, but that would be denying the greatest attribute of the soccer program, its depth. Trask and assistants Sean Phillips, Aleksey Korol, Tonci Skroce, and every other member of the soccer team deserve credit. 2006 All-American Skroce was instrumental in keeping the strikers focused during an early scoring drought and Phillips and Korol kept the team prepared and in peak condition for the NCAAs. Fair dues to the entire coaching staff.
Women's Coach of the Year: Shannon Tully, Tennis
Sure it sounds easy. Just sit on the sidelines while your team goes perfect for another Horizon League season, claims yet another championship, and watch all the accolades roll in. But it takes a great coach to keep players from getting complacent after passing the century mark. It also takes a great recruiter to ink undefeated All-League players like Lubica Nadasska, Kristen McPhillips, and Cristescu.
Male Freshmen of the Year: Charlie Trout and Robert Younger, Soccer
So by this point it may seem like soccer's going to win everything. I promise eventually we'll be able to move off the pitch, but quite frankly soccer could win everything. Trask's English experiment proved masterful as Trout and Younger crossed the pond and brought a new level of professionalism and integrity to the UIC program. Younger's impeccable defense solidified the entire backline and Trout's outstanding understanding of the game and leadership promises to keep UIC on the national scene for the next three years.
Female Freshman of the Year: Ilinca Cristescu, Tennis
Cristescu hopped right aboard the tennis victory train, going a perfect 8-0 in singles play and 7-0 in doubles. Not only was the freshman from Bensenville, IL named the Horizon League newcomer of the year, but she claimed the top league's top honor as women's tennis Player of the Year.
Male Senior Achievement Award: Eric Fey, Tennis
Fey finished four outstanding seasons at UIC as the most victorious doubles player in school history and also collected the second most singles wins. The Flames finished in the top two of conference every year with Fey playing the four spot in the UIC order.
Female Senior Achievement Award: Andrea Giczewski, Swimming and Diving
Giczewski claimed the League championship in both the 50 and the 100-yard freestyle this year after finishing second in both the year before. She was also a member of the '07 200 and 400 free relay teams.
Male School Spirit Award: Ebenezer Noonoo, Basketball
No one was better than getting the Pavilion ready for basketball than Eb. His ability to get the Flames fired up played a hand in the team's 12-2 home record. Noonoo's impressive play at the beginning of the home game against Butler showed he's more than just a cheerleader, too. Coach Jimmy Collins recognized Noonoo's dedication and energy by renaming the team spirit award in his name.
Female School Spirit Award: Liz Hrebic, Volleyball
Hrebic served this past year as president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee to go along with her duties on the volleyball backline and as a history major. Hrebic's tirelessness and energetic aura kept the Flames fresh throughout the season.
Male Offensive Player of the Year: Josh Mayo, Basketball
The sweet-shooting Mayo was reason the Flames posted 18 wins this season. Despite his smaller size (he's listed at 5'11"), no one played bigger than the League first teamer Mayo. The junior from Merriville, IN averaged over 17 points per game and finished in the top ten nationally in three-point percentage.
Female Offensive Player of the Year: Jessie Miller, Basketball
After spending '06-07 under three thousand-point seniors, Miller took the reigns of the UIC basketball program and earned All-Horizon League second team honors. A career-high 27 points in a 62-59 upset victory at Milwaukee showed Miller's tremendous talent and heart.
Men's Best Game: Baseball at Vanderbilt 3/6
Trailing 1-0 in the top of the ninth with two out against fifth ranked Vanderbilt, the Flames' Jake Carr lined a game-winning two-run double over the head of the Commodores' right fielder. Grant Kohlstaedt pitched a complete game six-hitter as the Flames pulled off their biggest upset of the season.
Women's Best Game: Basketball vs. Milwaukee 2/23
It took two overtimes for the Flames to pull off the season's second upset of Milwaukee. With 8.9 seconds left in the second extra session, junior Meghan Hutchens drove the lane and drew a foul. She hit both free throws, and the UIC defense made the stop on the opposite end to claim a tremendous 70-69 win.
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