10 Illini You Need To Know

ALLISON BUCKLEY

Gymnastics

Born: Sept. 22, 1988

Class: Sophomore

Major: Kinesiology

Hometown: Schaumburg

High school: Hoffman Estates Conant

Height: 5-2

Favorite athlete: Michael Phelps

Prepping to be an Illini: In 2006, Buckley became the first gymnast in IHSA history to win five titles in the same state meet, sweeping the all-around and every individual event as a junior. A year later, she won four events at the National High School Gymnastics Association All-Around Championships.

Why you should know Buckley: Because she is the first NCAA All-American in Illini women's gymnstics history. In her NCAA Championships debut in 2008, Buckley earned second-team A-A honors by finishing sixth in the balance beam. In addition, she was selected Big Ten Freshman of the Year, NCAA South Central Regional Gymnast of the Year, first-team All-Big Ten, and Illinois' Female Newcomer of the Year (all sports).

What most people don't know about me: "I love looking at motivational quotes. It gets me fired up for competition."

 

LAURA DeBRULER

Volleyball

Born: Nov. 21, 1988

Class: Sophomore

Major: Kinesiology

Hometown: Downers Grove

High school: Downers Grove North

Height: 5-11

Favorite athletes: Misty May and Kerri Walsh

Prepping to be an Illini: Named All-American as a senior by the American Volleyball Coaches Association and prepvolleyball.com. The latter ranked her as the No. 30 senior player in the nation. The two-team News-Gazette All-State first-teamer finished prep career with 1,172 kills, currently 22nd highest in IHSA history.

Why you should know DeBruler: Because only two players in Illini volleyball history belted more kills in one season than DeBruler did in 2007. The outside hitter finished with 577 kills, including 15 matches with 20 or more kills. DeBruler's 4.89 kills per game led the Big Ten, ranked 22nd in the nation, and was the highest average by a freshman in NCAA Division I last season. An all-around talent, DeBruler also led Illni in service aces and ranked second in digs.

What most people don't know about me: "In high school, I played badminton, and when I was a junior our team won the state tournament."

 

AJA EVANS

Track and field

Born: May 12, 1988

Class: Junior

Major: Sport management

Hometown: Chicago

High school: Chicago Morgan Park

Favorite athlete: Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Prepping to be an Illini: A three-time high school All-American, the versatile Evans finished fourth in the 100 meters and seventh in the shot put at the 2005 IHSA Class AA state meet as a junior. A year later, she placed fifth in the shot. In 2006, Evans was named the Negro College Funds Female Student-Athlete of the Year.

Why you should know Evans: Because the Nevada-Las Vegas transfer needed merely one season on campus to break 12-year-old UI records in the indoor and outdoor shot puts. An indoor All-American, Evans placed ninth at the NCAA Championships and had a season-best throw of 54 feet, 8 1/4 inches. Outdoors, she became the first Illini Big Ten shot put champion since 1996 with a throw of 55 feet, 10 1/2 inches. That not only broke the conference meet record, but reset Evans' own school and Illinois Track Stadium marks.

What most people don't know about me: "My brother, Fred, plays for the Minnesota Vikings, I also have two relatives with Major League Baseball backgrounds – my uncle is Gary Matthews, and my cousin is Gary Matthews Jr."

 

MEGAN FUDGE

Tennis

Born: Oct. 10, 1987

Class: Junior

Major: Recreation, Sport and Tourism

Hometown: Kaarst, Germany

High school: Millfield School

Height: 5-7

Favorite athlete: Andre Agassi

Prepping to be an Illini: At 16, Fudge left Germany to attend an elite sports boarding school in Somerset, England. At Millfield School, she played No. 1 singles and doubles for a team that won England's independent schools and national schools titles her senior year. Before that, Fudge was an eight-time county champion in Germany.

Why you should know Fudge: Because the Illini's No. 1 singles player was one of four unanimous selections to the 12-member All-Big Ten first team last season. A two-time All-Big Ten choice, Fudge is on track to becoming the second player in Illini women's tennis history to earn all-league honors all four years of her career. The two-time team MVP finished with a 22-12 singles record, her second straight 20-win season. Fudge was 7-3 in Big Ten dual meets, leading Illinois to its first winning conference record (7-3) since 2004.

What most people don't know about me: "I never wear matching socks. It's a superstition thing."

 

JIMMY KENNEDY

Wrestling

Born: July 7, 1988

Class: Junior

Major: Technical Systems Management

Hometown: Ingleside

High school: Fox Lake Grant

Height: 5-6

Weight: 133

Favorite athlete: Lance Armstrong

Prepping to be an Illini: Kennedy was a two-time IHSA state champion, capturing titles as a sophomore and senior. In 2005-06, he set a state record for single-season takedowns (384) which still stands. Kennedy finished his prep career with 187 wins, which ranked second in IHSA history at the time and remains among the top five.

Why you should know Kennedy: Because the 133-pounder won 18 of his final 21 matches last season en route to fourth place at the NCAA Championships. The first-time All-American finished with a 32-7 record and was the only Illini to go undefeated in Big Ten dual meets (8-0). Overall, he was 16-1 in dual-meet matches. Kennedy placed second in the Big Ten Championships, becoming one of two Illini to reach the title round. With 61 career victories, the junior is on track to finish among the top five winningest wrestlers in school history.

What most people don't know about me: I'm a natural right-hander, but when I was young my dad taught me how to switch-hit in baseball. Now, whenever I golf, I swing left-handed."

 

SCOTT LANGLEY

Golf

Born: April 28, 1989

Class: Sophomore

Major: Business

Hometown: Manchester, Mo.

High school: Ballwin (Mo.) Parkway South

Height: 5-10

Weight: 160

Favorite athlete: Tiger Woods

Prepping to be an Illini: In 2007, Langley won the American Junior Golf Association's Midwest Junior Players Championship by 5 strokes. A year earlier, he was the medalist at the Wal-Mart First Tee Open at Pebble Beach (Calif). As a high school junior, Langley tied for fourth in the Missouri Class 4A state tournament.

Why you should know Langley: Because he was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and nearly qualified for the final round of the NCAA Championships. The only Illini to compete in every tournament last season, Langley won the Argonaut Invitational; was second in the Marshall Invitational, and placed fourth in the Big Ten Championships. His second-round 65 in the Argonaut tied for the fourth-lowest 18-hole score in UI history. After tying for 24th through 54 holes at the NCAAs, he lost in a three-man playoff to determine the final individual spot for the last round.

What most people don't know about me: "I can quote more scenes from the TV show "The Office" than anyone should be able to."

 

PAUL RUGGERI

Gymnastics

Born: Nov. 12, 1988

Class: Sophomore

Major: Molecular and Cellular Biology

Hometown: Manlius, N.Y.

High school: Fayetteville Manlius

Height: 5-8

Weight: 140

Favorite athlete: Alexei Nemov

Prepping to be an Illini: Ruggeri won gold medals in floor exercise and high bar at the 2006 U.S. Junior Championships. He also claimed bronze in the all-around and vault. A year later, Ruggeri competed against some of the top Senior gymnasts at the Winter Cup Challenge, tying for second in floor and placing 12th in all-around.

Why you should know Ruggeri: Because he is the NCAA's reigning high bar champion. Ruggeri became the first Illini gymnast since 1960 to win an NCAA crown in his first season of competition. He also earned All-America honors in floor exercise and vault. In an award-filled season, Ruggeri was a second-team All-Big Ten selection, a College Gymnastics Association National Gymnast of the Week, and a two-time Big Ten Gymnast of the Week honoree. Of the seven gymnasts who finished ahead of Ruggeri in all-around at the Winter Cup Challenge, five were 2008 U.S. Olympians or alternates.

What most people don't know about me: "I like to do extreme sports – jet ski, snow ski, water ski."

 

JACKIE SANTACATERINA

Soccer

Born: Dec. 29, 1987

Class: Junior

Major: Community health

Hometown: Geneva

High school: Geneva

Height: 5-8

Favorite athlete: Muhammad Ali

Prepping to be an Illini: Helped Eclipse Elite club team win U.S. Youth Soccer Association national titles in 2004 and '05. Also played for an Illinois state Olympic Development Program team that finished second nationally in 2005. A two-time All-Stater, Santacaterina was named a top 150 recruit by Soccer Buzz in 2006.

Why you should know Santacaterina: Because a year after making the Big Ten All-Freshman Team, the midfielder was an All-Big Ten second-team choice last season. Santacaterina also was named to the Soccer Buzz All-Great Lakes Region second team. While starting all 21 Illini matches in 2007, she played a prominent role in the offense – consistently winning free balls in the midfield and producing 16 shots on goal – the team's second-highest total. Santacaterina's leadership is reflected by her selection as a team co-captain for 2008.

What most people don't know about me: "I laugh at everything. "

 

BRANDON WIKOFF

Baseball

Born: April 5, 1988

Class: Junior

Major: Kinesiology

Hometown: Peoria

High school: Bartonville Limestone

Height: 5-8

Weight: 170

Favorite athlete: Albert Pujols

Prepping to be an Illini: Batted .539 as a senior, earning first-team All-State honors from Prep Baseball Report and the Chicago Tribune. A versatile athlete, Wikoff compiled a 22-3 pitching record during his final two high school seasons. Helped the 2005 Limestone team finish fourth in the Class AA state tournament.

Why you should know Wikoff: Because the shortstop drove in 61 runs in 2008, the third-highest Illini single-season total in 12 years. Wikoff's 37 RBI in Big Ten play also were the third most in school history. While hitting .369 last season, the All-Big Ten second-teamer was one tough out. He hit safely in 44 of 56 games and never went more than two consecutive games without a hit. The left-handed batter was the 46th toughest in Division I to strike out (once every 15.3 at-bats). Wikoff also ranked second nationally in sacrifice flies (9).

What most people don't know about me: "I went to the same high school as Jim Thome."

 

DANELLE WOODS

Cross-country/track

Born: March 3, 1989

Class: Sophomore

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Hometown: Ottawa, Ontario

High school: Hillcrest

Favorite athlete: Paula Radcliffe

Prepping to be an Illini: Woods won a silver medal in the steeplechase at the 2006 IAAF World Junor Championships. A year later, she was the gold medalist in the same event at the Pan American Junior Championships. In 2006, Woods placed first at the Canadian Junior Cross-Country Championships.

Why you should know Woods: Because she was 2007 Big Ten Freshman of the Year in cross-country and is the reigning NCAA Mideast Regional champ in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. In the fall, Woods was the top freshmen finisher at the Big Ten cross-country meet (24th overall) and an All-Midwest Region choice. In the winter, she was an indoor track All-American after helping the Illini distance medley relay team place sixth at NCAAs. Outdoors, Woods ranks second on the UI all-time performers' list in the steeplechase with a 10:22.36 clocking.

What most people don't know about me: "I'm very disorganized; I do things on a whim. But I'm aspiring to do better this year."

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