April 27, 2009

The University of Illinois Newcomer of the Year Award is given annually to the male and female athlete that makes the biggest contribution to the success of their team in their first season of competition. The finalists for the 2009 award were announced today by the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics. Vote for the athletes you think deserve the 2009 Illinois Newcomer of the Year Awards, by clicking HERE.

These finalists, along with those for the University of Illinois Dike Eddleman Athletes of the Year, will be recognized at the Fighting Illini Scholar-Athlete Reception Tuesday evening in the Colonnades Club at Memorial Stadium. Additionally, Illinois' 2009 Big Ten Medal of Honor winners will be presented.

MALE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

Jeff Allen, Football: As a rookie, Allen started nine of the Illini's 11 games at offensive tackle. The freshman All-American helped the Illini offense to the top of the Big Ten in total offense and pass offense. His protection also aided an offense to over 5,000 yards passing for only the fourth time in school history.

Jordan Blanton, Wrestling: Blanton began his Illinois' career finishing fourth at Big Ten, qualifying for the NCAA Championships. The 184 pounder went 27-11 for the season, including a 6-2 record in the Big Ten. The Richmond, Ill., native also finished second at the Missouri Open, fifth at the Midlands Championships and seventh at the Las Vegas Invitational.

Luke Guthrie, Golf: Currently ranked among the top-ten junior golfers in the country, Guthrie competed in five of the Illini's eight tournaments earning three top-ten finishes. He is also named one of the favorites for Freshman of the Year by Golfweek.

Dennis Nevolo, Tennis: Nevolo was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year by Big Ten coaches and is ranked No. 39 in the nation for singles by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. He earned Big Ten Player of the Week honors twice and won the doubles title at the Racquet Club Collegiate Invitational with partner Ruan Roelfse. Nevolo and Roelfse currently rank No. 24 in the most recent ITA doubles poll with a 15-3 record.

Josh Parr, Baseball: Parr ranks second for the Illini in average (.388), hits (31), stolen bases (8), and multiple hit games (8). He was named Big Ten Player of the week and the College Baseball Foundation's National All-Star Line-up after hitting .700 with 5 RBI's at the Al Ogletree Classic. He recorded only one error this year, while starting every game at second base, ranking fourth in the Big Ten in assists and 8th in double plays.

CJ Padera, Gymnastics: Padera finished third on the pommel horse at the 2009 Big Ten Individual Championships with a career-high score of 14.575. He also helped the Orange and Blue to its first Big Ten Championship in five years and a fifth-place finish at NCAA Championships. Padera recorded 10 top-three finishes as a true freshman.

Andrew Riley, Track and Field: Riley earned All-America honors, the only freshman in the field, with a sixth-place finish in the 60m hurdles at the 2009 NCAA Indoor Championships. He was the Big Ten Champion in the 60m hurdles, setting a new school record time of 7.72, Illinois' first event title since 1999. For all those accolades, he was named Big Ten Indoor Freshman of the Year and first-team All Big Ten. Riley qualified for the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships in the 110m hurdles and the high jump.

FEMALE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

Chelcie Abajian, Tennis: Abajian compiled a 22-15 record in her debut season after recovering from appendectomy surgery in the summer. She primarily saw action at the No. 3 and No. 4 spots for the Illini and reached the quarterfinals of the 2008 Wilson/ITA Midwest Regional Championships putting together a 6-1 record at the event. Playing in the No. 1 doubles position, she has earned an 8-5 record.

Michelle Bartsch, Volleyball: Bartsch was named the Mideast Region Freshman of the Year, while also being named Honorable Mention All-Mideast Region. She was selected Big Ten Freshman of the Year and a unanimous selection to the Big Ten's All-Freshman team. Starting every match at right hitter for the Illini, she also ranked seventh in the Big Ten in blocks per set.

Deserea Brown, Track and Field: Brown earned All-Big Ten honors as a member of the 4x400 relay that finished second at the Big Ten Indoor Championships. She ran the first leg of the 4x400 relay that qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships, finishing 10th. She also helped the 4x400 relay set an Illinois school record at the Alex Wilson Invitational and ran a 58.28 in the 400m hurdles, which qualifies her for the NCAA Mideast regionals and currently ranks first in the Big Ten and seventh in the nation.

Kelsey Joannides, Gymnastics: Joannides earned a Big Ten title on the vault with a score of 9.925, the second best in school history and claimed second in the Big Ten on the beam. She tied the third best all-around score in school history to take fifth at Big Ten Championships. She earned second-team All-Big Ten, helping the Fighting Illini to its first-ever NCAA Championship appearance.

Monica Perry, Softball: Perry became the first Illini to toss a no-hitter in a Big Ten game and also broke the school's single-season strikeout record, a mark that was set at 182 in 2004. The McDonough, Ga., native had her best outing in a doubleheader against Indiana, tossing a one-hitter then fanning 12, one shy of the school's single-game record, in a pair of wins. She also tossed all 14 innings in Illinois' first sweep of No. 11 Northwestern since 2001.

Kristin Sutherland, Cross Country: Sutherland was the third Illini finisher at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, and a major contributor on a team that placed 10th in the nation. She was the top freshman finisher taking 17th place at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships and placed 19th at the Big Ten Championships, the third freshman to cross the finish line.