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CHAMPAIGN — Basketball player Trent Meacham and soccer player Emily Zurrer earned the prestigious Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor on Tuesday night at the Fighting Illini Scholar-Athlete Awards Reception.
The reception recognizes graduating student-athletes and others who have excelled athletically and academically.
The Medal of Honor is given annually at each conference school to male and female senior student-athletes.
“He had the best work ethic and pushed us hard in practice every single day. I could always trust him to do anything that I asked, both on and off the court,” UI coach Bruce Weber said of Meacham. “He is the complete student-athlete and was an invaluable member of our team.”
Meacham and Zurrer were two of more than 120 Illini student-athletes, managers and trainers recognized.
“Emily keeps everything in perspective and weathers the ups and downs of life and of athletics with an amazing positive demeanor and a constant smile,” soccer coach Janet Rayfield said. “She has lofty goals and goes after them with intent and purpose.”

Argo powers Illini. Willie Argo hit a grand slam in the fourth inning, lifting No. 28 Illinois to a 5-1 baseball victory against visiting Southern Illinois.

ILLINOIS SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARDS
Big Ten Medal of Honor
Trent Meacham (Champaign), Sr., Basketball
Emily Zurrer (Vancouver, B.C.) Soccer
Dike Eddleman Athlete of the Year

FEMALE FINALISTS
Angela Bizzarri (Mason, Ohio), Jr., Cross Country/Track & Field
Allison Buckley (Schaumburg), So., Gymnastics
Laura DeBruler (Downers Grove), So., Volleyball
Jenna Smith (Bloomington, Minn.), Jr., Basketball
Emily Zurrer (Vancouver, B.C.), Sr., Soccer
Danielle Zymkowitz (West Hills, Calif.), So., Softball

MALE FINALISTS
Arrelious Benn (Washington, D.C.), So., Football
Scott Langley (Manchester, Mo.), So., Golf
Gakologelwang Masheto (Maun, Botswana), Sr., Track & Field
Mike Poeta (Highwood), Sr., Wrestling
Paul Ruggeri (Manlius, N.Y.), So., Gymnastics
Marc Spicijaric (Wesley Chapel, Fla.), Sr., Tennis
Brandon Wikoff (Peoria), Jr., Baseball

Fighting Illini Newcomer of the Year
FEMALE FINALISTS
Chelcie Abajian (Hawthorne, N.Y.), Fr., Tennis
Michelle Bartsch (Maryville), Fr., Volleyball
Deserea Brown (Flossmoor), Sr., Track & Field
Kelsey Joannides (Frederick, Md.), Fr., Gymnastics
Monica Perry (McDonough, Ga.), Fr., Softball
Kristin Sutherland (Orland Park), Fr., Cross Country

MALE FINALISTS
Jeff Allen (Chicago), Fr., Football
Jordan Blanton (Richmond), Fr., Wrestling
Luke Guthrie (Quincy), Fr., Golf
Dennis Nevolo (Gurnee), Fr., Tennis
Josh Parr (Chillicothe), Fr., Baseball
CJ Padera (Winfield), Fr., Gymnastics
Andrew Riley (Kingston, Jamaica), Fr., Track & Field

Fighting Illini Spirit Award
FEMALE FINALISTS
Marijka Botterman (New Lenox), Sr., Gymnastics
Christine Christopoulos (Northfield), Jr., Softball
Megan Fudge (Kaarst, Germany), Jr., Tennis
Kristen Kloeckener (St. Louis, Mo.), Jr., Swimming & Diving
Lacey Simpson (Waukegan), Jr., Basketball

Kayani Turner (Bel Air, Md.), Sr., Volleyball

                        
Male Finalists
Dominic Altobelli (Oak Forest), Sr., Baseball
Chester Frazier (Baltimore, Md.), Sr., Basketball
Chris Lung (Lexington, Mass.), Sr., Gymnastics
Brit Miller (Decatur), Sr., Football
Abe Souza (St. Louis, Mo.), So., Tennis
John Wise (Pittsfield), Sr., Wrestling
Andrew Zollner (Sparta), Sr., Track & Field

Fighting Illini Outstanding
Team GPA Awards
Women's Tennis - 3.475 Cumulative GPA, Coach Michelle Dasso
Men's Cross Country - 3.229 Cumulative GPA, Coach Wendel McRaven

Outstanding Scholar-Athlete
Award Winners
Abe Souza (St. Louis, Mo.), So., Tennis, 3.76 GPA - history
Maggie Mulchrone (Chicago), So., Cross Country/Track & Field, 3.95 GPA - accountancy
Bubba Chisholm (Champaign), Jr., Basketball, 3.88 GPA - finance
Stephanie Baliga (Rockford), Jr., Cross Country/Track & Field, 4.0 GPA - economics
Nate Luketin (Roselle), Sr., Gymnastics, 3.87 GPA - mathematics
Marissa Clapp (Danville), Sr., Swimming & Diving, 3.89 GPA - kinesiology and community health