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For more on our Male Athlete of the Year, click here

The best — and worst – from another eventful school year at Illinois.

Top Male Athlete

1. Paul Ruggeri (gymnastics) – Seven-time All-American has won three NCAA titles ... and he's only a sophomore.

2. Mike Poeta (wrestling) – Two-time NCAA runner-up finished UI career with program's all-time No. 2 winning percentage (.882).

3. Andrew Riley (track and field) – Big Ten Indoor Freshman of Year broke 9-year-old school records in two hurdles events. Outdoor All-American.

4. Scott Langley (golf) – Second-team All-American shot fourth-lowest scoring average (72.08) in program's history.

5. Arrelious Benn (football) – Team MVP racked up 1,055 receiving yards, the sixth 1,000-yard season in UI history.

6. Daniel Ribeiro (gymnastics) – Sophomore was second Illini in 29 years to win NCAA title in pommel horse.

7. Gakologelwang Masheto (track and field) – 2008 Olympian finished three-year Illini career with six Big Ten titles, four in 400 meters.

8. Mike Davis (basketball) – Sophomore All-Big Ten second-teamer was second in Big Ten in rebounding at 8.1 per game.

9. Brandon Wikoff (baseball) – Future pro infielder started 164 of Illini's 168 games during three-year career.

10. Roy Kalmanovich (tennis) – Sophomore's team-high 30th singles win came against 24th-ranked foe in NCAA Singles Championships.

Top Female Athlete

1. Angela Bizzarri (cross-country/track and field) – Owner of six school records and now an NCAA champion, junior is, quite simply, the greatest female distance runner in UI history.

2. Laura DeBruler (volleyball) – Second-team All-American ranked sixth in nation in kills per set (4.66).

3. Emily Zurrer (soccer) – Senior the first three-year All-American in program's 12-year history.

4. Jenna Smith (basketball) – Double-double machine will enter senior year 545 points short of UI career scoring record.

5. Danielle Zymkowitz (softball) – Sophomore second baseman joined Jenna Hall (2006) as only Illini softball All-Americans.

6. Melissa Fernandez (gymnastics) – Sophomore balance beam ace first Illini woman to reach NCAA individual event finals, tying for seventh.

7. Deserea Brown (track & field) – Senior All-American swept Big Ten and NCAA Mideast Regional titles in 400-meter hurdles.

8. Megan Fudge (tennis) – Junior has chance to become second Illini women's tennis player to earn All-Big Ten honors four times.

9. Ashley Edinger (volleyball) – Junior libero already Illini's all-time leader in digs.

10. Alexandra Kapicka (soccer) – In first season as starting goalkeeper, junior allowed one goal or fewer in 19 of 23 matches.

Top Area Athlete

1. Trent Meacham (basketball) – Senior (above) from Centennial the UI's male recipient of Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor.

2. Marissa Clapp (swimming) – Senior from Bismarck-Henning set three school records in final season and ranks among UI's all-time top 10 in seven events.

3. Kylie McCulley (volleyball) – Junior outside hitter from Clinton ranked second on team in kills, third in digs.

4. Aaron Martin (baseball) – Senior right-hander from Georgetown-Ridge Farm led team in saves (three), was No. 2 in ERA (3.25).

5. Mikel Leshoure (football) – Touchdown against Michigan a highlight for freshman running back from Centennial.

Top Freshmen

1. Andrew Riley (track and field) – Jamaica native (right) already the greatest sprint hurdler in Illini history.

2. Michelle Bartsch (volleyball) – Right-side hitter the Freshman Player of Year in Big Ten and Mideast Region.

3. Dennis Nevolo (tennis) – NCAA singles and doubles qualifier had 7-7 record versus ranked foes.

4. Luke Guthrie (golf) – Season stroke average (73.00) ninth best in Illini history.

5. Willie Argo (baseball) – Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American belted Illini-high 12 homers.

6. Jeff Allen (football) – Freshman All-American started nine games at right tackle.

7. Kelsey Joannides (gymnastics) – Big Ten vault champ also tied for second in balance beam.

8. Jordan Blanton (wrestling) – Won 27 matches and finished fourth in Big Ten Championships.

9. Monica Perry (softball) – Set school record for strikeouts (223) while winning 24 games.

10. Kristin Sutherland (cross-country/track and field) – No. 3 runner for 10th-place NCAA cross-country team.

Most Publicized

1. Juice Williams (football) – QB never not mentioned in any report on team (or so it seemed).

2. Trent Meacham (basketball) – Pride of Centennial wrote a diary of his season for The News-Gazette.

3. Memorial Stadium – Renovated home of Illini football the talk of the town.

4. Men's basketball recruits – Readers can't get enough info about Brandon Paul, Jereme Richmond & Co.

5. Justin Spring (men's gymnastics) – Olympic gymnast key contributor for America's surprise bronze-medal winners.

6. Jenna Smith (Women's basketball) – Look for more next season as she approaches Ashley Berggren's scoring record.

7. Chester Frazier (basketball) – Spirited leader went from fans' doghouse to fan favorite.

8. Jolette Law's Super Six – In case you haven't heard, the class is ranked third nationally.

9. Assembly Hall – Will it be renovated? Will it be razed? Will Brett Favre come back?

10. Illini football on Big Ten Network – "Illini Journey" cameras peeked behind the scenes.

Deserved More Pub

1. Women's soccer team – Illini made third Sweet 16 appearance in five years.

2. Men's golf team – Ended a 21-year Big Ten title drought.

3. Women's cross-country – That's four top-10 NCAA finishes in four years.

4. Women's gymnastics – First NCAA team appearance in program history.

5. Megan Fudge (tennis) – Junior went 7-1 against ranked opponents.

6. GREG SHROKA (track & field) – First Illini men's All-American in outdoor high jump since 1979.

7. Luke Stannard (gymnastics) – Big Ten pommel horse champ in shadow of teammate and NCAA champ Daniel Ribeiro.

8. Pete Cappetta (baseball) – Late-blooming sophomore right fielder hit .380 in team's final 31 games.

9. John Wise (wrestling) – First Illini heavyweight since 2002 to earn All-America honors.

10. Warren Hood (associate athletic director) – UI's point man on massive renovation of Memorial Stadium deserves year's break with full pay.

All-Interview

1. Brit Miller (football) – Don't know how he will be replaced.

2. Mark Johnson (wrestling) – See Brit Miller (although Jim Heffernan is off to a good start).

3. Dominique Keller (men's basketball) – Quick-witted jokester speaks his mind, makes for weary sports info staff.

4. Lacey Simpson (women's basketball) – As good with a quote as she is as a defender.

5. Marc Spicijaric (tennis) – UI should consider hiring this huge Illini fan (of all sports) for PR department.

Best Moments (men's basketball Edition)

1. Night of Legends – Deron Williams had 19 points – and one gold medal – on night for the ages at the Hall.

2. Selection Sunday – After one-year hiatus, return trip to Big Dance the first of another long run of berths.

3. Illinois 75, Missouri 59 – Blowout Braggin' Rights win was series-record ninth straight against Tigers.

4. Illinois 71, Purdue 67, OT – Road upset in Big Ten opener turned heads and doubters into believers.

5. Tracy Abrams' commitment – Six years from now Mount Carmel star will be considered one of great point guards to wear orange and blue.

Best Moments (All sports Edition)

1. In first collegiate start, freshman Willie Argo hit three home runs in three at-bats against No. 1 LSU.

2. Football team scored 45 points in romp against Michigan, most by the Illini in school history. In game's final minutes, Illini great Dana Howard was on sideline, imploring his favorite team to "pile it on."

3. Goalkeeper Alexandra Kapicka made most important save of her life, preserving 4-3 Illini edge during penalty-kick showdown against Missouri and sending Illinois to Sweet 16.

4. Sophomore left fielder Hollie Pinchback set school single-game record with her fifth hit in 17-15 softball loss to No. 16 Ohio State.

5. Scott Langley birdied four of last eight holes and shot 2-under-par 69 to grab share of lead after first round of the NCAA meet.

6. Kylie McCulley became the third Illini volleyball player since 1996 to join the 20-20 club, recording 22 kills and 22 digs against Minnesota.

Worst Moments (football Edition)

1. Just 12,865 showed at Detroit's Ford Field as the Illini lost 23-17 to the MAC's Western Michigan. The loss cost Illinois a bowl bid.

2. Another summer of hype. Another loss to open season against Missouri. The Tigers piled up 52 points at Edward Jones Dome.

3. Tim Brewster's first trip back to his alma mater was a successful one as Minnesota beat Illinois 27-20 at Memorial Stadium. Don't think Brewster will forget about that game when recruiting in Chicago.

4. Facing win-or-go-home game against Northwestern, the Illini were sent packing. Wildcats led 13-0 at half and put the game away with 11 points in the fourth quarter of a 27-10 victory.

5. In late February, defensive tackle Josh Brent was arrested for DUI. Considered a critical part of the Illini defense, there are no guarantees he will return to team in 2009.

Worst Moments (All sports Edition)

1. Big Ten champion men's golf team stumbled to 21st place in stroke play at NCAA Championships, missing cut for match play by 13 spots.

2. In showdown for Big Ten regular season title, No. 11 Illini men's tennis team absorbed 6-1 beating from No. 3 Ohio State. Freshman Dennis Nevolo, at No. 3 singles, kept Illinois from being shut out.

3. Two options for men's basketball – Penn State 38, Illinois 33 or Minnesota 59, Illinois 36; Each was equally disturbing and didn't make seasonal highlight video.

4. Baseball team's Big Ten tournament stay – and hopes of NCAA bid – ended with ugly 13-4 loss to Minnesota. Illini allowed 11 earned runs, committed three errors and mustered merely six hits.

5. Women's basketball scored 35 points – fewest ever on its home court, and second-fewest in program's history – in loss to Ohio State.

Milestones

1. Three veteran coaches – Yoshi Hayasaki (men's gymnastics), Mark Johnson (wrestling) and Don Hardin (volleyball) – retired after combined 63 years at Illini helm.

2. It took 28 years, but women's gymnastics team made first appearance in NCAA Championships.

3. Quarterback Juice Williams broke stadium total offense record at Edward Jones Dome, Memorial Stadium and Michigan Stadium.

4. Women's basketball players Jenna Smith and Lacey Simpson broke UI career records for blocked shots and steals, respectively.

5. Softball coach Terri Sullivan reached 300 career victories at Illinois.

6. Angela Bizzarri placed sixth and Katie Engel 22nd at NCAA cross-country meet, first time Illini women produced two All-Americans in same year.

7. Wrestling coach Mark Johnson picked up 200th career dual-meet victory when Illini won at Wisconsin.

8. With 70-68 triumph at Ohio State, Bruce Weber claimed 150th win as Illinois' basketball coach.

9. Illini baseball team entered national rankings (at No. 21) on March 9 for first time since April 17, 2000.

10. Soccer team notched all-time win No. 150 while beating Missouri in second round of NCAA tournament.

Best Former Illini

1. Steve Stricker (golf) – Two-time Big Ten Player of Year at top of his game on PGA Tour.

2. Deron Williams (basketball) – Fourth-year pro firmly established as one of NBA's top point guards.

3. David Diehl (football) – Offensive lineman has started all 80 regular season games for Giants since being drafted in 2003.

4. Jerry Colangelo (basketball) – Chair of USA Basketball's Board of Directors the architect of America's international rebirth in sport.

5. Red Grange (football) – Illini legend getting long-overdue statue outside Memorial Stadium.

Top Transfers

1. Deserea Brown (track and field) – Former Division II champion from Southern Illinois-Edwardsville made major impact in D-I as senior.

2. Donsay Hardeman (football) – Despite missing four games due to injury, junior DB from Georgia Military College tied for sixth on team in tackles with 44.

3. Jarred Fayson (football) – Ex-Florida Gator sat out 2008 under NCAA transfer rules but will be worth the wait.

4. Meedo El Tabakh (tennis) – Junior from Ole Miss won 19 of 25 singles matches.

5. Brian Livingston (tennis) – Senior from Northern Illinois was 14-4 in doubles when paired with Dennis Nevolo, Roy Kalmanovich or Marc Spicijaric.

Top Recruits (men's basketball Edition)

1. Jereme Richmond – Waukegan star will sign in November as highest-rated UI recruit since Marcus Liberty.

2. D.J. Richardson – Spent time last week at Illinois Shootout chatting with legendary coach Lou Henson.

3. Tracy Abrams – The prototypical point guard with Richmond, Richardson, Paul, etc., running the wings.

4. Brandon Paul – Don't be surprised if state's reigning Mr. Basketball is breakout player for Illinois next season.

5. Meyers Leonard – In 2010-11 Robinson product will team with then-senior Mike Tisdale to give Weber two 7-footers.

Top Recruits (All Sports edition)

1. Justin Green (football) – Made a last-minute switch from Ohio State, which wanted him to play on defense. He was a standout tailback at Lousville (Ky.) Male.

2. Destiny Williams (women's basketball) – The first McDonald's All-American in the program's history.

3. Rachael White (tennis) – Deerfield graduate ranked 15th nationally by Tennisrecruiting.net among incoming college freshmen.

4. Terry Hawthorne (football) – Talented three-way player for state champion East St. Louis will play receiver for Ron Zook's team.

5. Seth Schwindenhammer (baseball) – Bartonville Limestone slugger likely won't make it campus after being drafted in fifth round by Red Sox.

6. Sam White (wrestling) – 125-pounder from Massillon, Ohio, the nation's 13th-ranked recruit, according to InterMat.

7. Nicole Read (soccer) – Forward from Lake Orion, Mich., has been in the player pool for USA Soccer's under-18 national team.

8. Jessica Jendryk (volleyball) – Prepvolleyball.com All-American from Lisle Benet Academy adds more competition to loaded outside hitter position.

9. Pepper Gay (softball) – Atlanta hurler has coolest first name of any Illini recruit.

10. Crystal Smith (women's golf) – Venice, Fla., native was 2008 Florida Junior champ.

Best Crowds

1. Free admission and food, as well as a key Big Ten matchup, attracted school-record 5,214 fans to Illinois Field for series-opening 5-4 Illini victory against Ohio State.

2. In a "Pack the Hall" promotion, a season-high crowd of 7,052 fans at Assembly Hall watched the women's basketball team fall 52-48 to Minnesota on national TV.

3. With 1,155 fans and more than 100 former Illini gymnasts on hand at Huff Hall, school celebrated 100 seasons of UI men's gymnastics on March 7 during victory against Illinois-Chicago.

4. A near-sellout Assembly Hall crowd (15,417) saw the present meet the past at A Night of Legends; there were dunks, cheers and, yes, even tears.

5. The third-largest crowd in Eichelberger Field history, 1,028 – including Hall of Famer Billy Williams – showed up for the sixth annual World's Largest Softball Tailgate. Nationally ranked Michigan swept the Illini in a doubleheader that night.

6. A season-high 1,409 fans entered Huff Hall to see wrestling team defeat Michigan for the first time since 2000, 20-15.

7. With many former greats in attendance, including string of College Football Hall of Famers, 60,131 showed for the grand reopening of Memorial Stadium against Eastern Illinois.

8. A sellout crowd witnessed 74-66 loss to eventual NCAA runner-up Michigan State, but Jeff Jordan's steal and layup made the Hall as loud as it's been in years.

Worst Crowds

1. That number again, 12,865. That was the smallest crowd to see the Illinois football team since 1945. Not good.

2. In a scene straight out of, say, 1978, the women's basketball team opened the season on a weekday afternoon – yes, a weekday afternoon – in front of 262 at IPFW.

3. The weather was miserable for a March 29 baseball doubleheader at Illinois Field. With the first-pitch temperature at 33 degrees – and northwest winds of 26 mph dropping the wind chill to 20 degrees – little wonder merely 108 fans showed up. Worst from an attendance standpoint, but maybe the hardiest, most-loyal fans to attend any event on campus this school year.

4. You could hear a piece of popcorn drop when the Illini beat Jackson State 78-64 in a nonconference men's basketball sleepfest.

5. The World's Biggest Basketball Practice featured the World's Smallest Leftover Crowd After a Deflating Homecoming Defeat.

Best Games/Meets

1. Trailing Michigan by 2.35 points entering the final rotation, the men's gymnastics team responded with a season-high score in still rings to catch Wolverines for share of Big Ten team title.

2. After being routed in first two sets by Oregon, volleyball team rallied to defeat No. 11 Ducks in title match of State Farm Illini Classic.

3. Some thought it was blasphemy when Bruce Weber compared a miraculous comeback win at Northwestern to The Comeback against Arizona in '05; But wow, what a comeback it was.

4. In back-to-back games against Northwestern, softball team won with walkoff home runs.

5. Baseball team scored three times in ninth inning against Big Ten saves leader Jake Hale to pull out 5-4 thriller against Ohio State.

6. On Oct. 10, the women's swimming team hosted its first home meet since December 2004 in renovated ARC pool. Sue Novitsky's team celebrated with 171-129 victory against Nebraska.

7. After blowing a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter against Iowa, kicker Matt Eller saved the Illini with a 46-yard field goal in the final seconds. It was last win of season for Ron Zook's team.

8. Competing on their home floor, Illini women's gymnasts broke three school records for team scores and nearly won their first Big Ten title since 1990. With a school-record total score of 196.750, runner-up Illinois trailed champion Michigan by merely 0.325 points.

9. What if JaJuan Johnson's second free throw rattles around and falls through the hoop? Illinois' 71-67 overtime win at Purdue doesn't happen, and neither does a No. 2 seed in the Big Ten tournament.

10. Aaron Johnson stunned sellout crowd of 10,246 at Alex Box Stadium, belting ninth-inning, two-out home run to lift Illinois to 3-1 triumph against then-No. 1 LSU.

Key Injuries

1. Chester Frazier (basketball) – A broken right hand prematurely ended the beloved senior's career – not to mention the Illini's hopes of a run in the Dance.

2. Illini shortstops – Terri Sullivan lost not one, but two shortstops with season merely five games old. Jessica Davis and Danielle Vaji both were knocked out by torn ACLs.

3. Katie Engel (track and field) – After All-America cross-country season, senior knocked out of final track campaign by stress fracture in her shin.

4. Chelsea Gordon (women's basketball) – The team's emotional stabilizer, she provided as much help off the- ourt as on it.

5. Miami Thomas (football) – Counted on to play a major role in the secondary, sophomore's season ended in the home opener against Eastern Illinois when he tore his ACL.

Plays Of The Year

1. Trent Meacham's defensive stop just as important as Demetri McCamey's leaning, banking, game-winning shot to complete amazing comeback at Northwestern.

2. Save by goalkeeper Alexandra Kapicka gave soccer team 4-3 edge in penalty kicks against host Missouri, clinching trip to NCAA Sweet 16.

3. Kristina Minor hit overhead winner in a third-set tiebreak to clinch 4-3 victory by women's tennis against No. 19 Vanderbilt in first round of NCAA tournament.

4. Brit Miller's strip of the football and touchdown run against Louisiana.

5. Zach Barlow's putt on 18 to clinch win by men's golf team at Olympia Fields/Fighting Illini Invitational.

6. Hours before he threw his ailing body over the UI bench to save a possession, Chester Frazier could barely walk around the team hotel at South Padre.

7. Freshman Lydia McCully's jumper with 3.4 seconds left gave the women's basketball team a much-needed victory at Wisconsin-Milwaukee after blowing a 20-point second-half lead.

8. Senior Marijka Botterman's 9.950 vault routine broke school record, leading Illinois women's gymnastics team to record 196.700 points in victory against Ohio State.

Most Improved

1. Pete Cappetta (baseball) – Breakout year for sophomore right fielder, who led Illini in batting average (.384) and on-base percentage (.475).

2. Marijka Botterman (gymnastics) – Team's Most Outstanding Gymnast award winner racked up eight individual titles and 16 top-three finishes.

3. Mike Davis (basketball) – A second-team All-Big Ten (by coaches) pick, sophomore forward raised scoring average from 2.6 to 11.3 and rebound average from 1.8 to 8.1.

4. Melissa Bates (track and field) – Sophomore the first Illini Big Ten champion in outdoor 400 meters since 1993.

5. Michael Hoomanawanui (football) – Junior tight end went from five catches in 2007 to 25, third most on team.

Coaches Of The Year

1. Mike Small (men's golf) – His Illini won school-record seven tournaments and first Big Ten title in 21 years.

2. Bob Starkell (women's gymnastics) – Named national Coach of the Year after leading Illini to first NCAA Championships appearance.

3. Janet Rayfield (soccer) – Her Illini made third NCAA Sweet 16 trip in five years.

4. Michelle Dasso (women's tennis) – In three years, has guided Illini from five wins to 19-8 record and NCAA tournament bid.

5. Terri Sullivan (softball) – Her rejuvenated Illini returned to NCAA tournament for first time since 2004.

Quotes Of The Year

1. "We didn´t meet your expectations, and we didn´t meet our expectations. Everybody wants an answer. I want an answer. We all want answers. Those are some things that over the next few weeks we're going to continue to dive in to and try to figure out what happened." – Illinois football coach Ron Zook after his team finished 5-7.

2. "I've only been in this rivalry for one year, and I can tell you right now, I do not like this school. I don't like the coach, and I don't like the fans. As a matter of fact, I don't like the gym. It's just something about Indiana I just don't like. You can quote me on that." – Illinois forward Dominique Keller after a win at Indiana.

3. "I feel like our guys right now don't feel the same hatred for Ohio State that I feel for them. Now I've got to pound the hate into these guys." – Illini senior tennis player Marc Spicijaric before showdown match with Big Ten nemesis.

4. "They just need to play Indiana all the time." – Northwestern women's basketball coach Joe McKeown, discussing the Illini's Big Ten struggles – which didn't include two wins against the Hoosiers.

5. "I kept looking at the score and didn't know what half we were in. It was 38-33 at the end, and I was like, 'We set this (game) back a few years.' (James) Naismith probably rolled over several times." – Penn State basketball coach Ed DeChellis after the Hall froze over

Headlines You Might Read In 2009-10

Kyle Prater on new clout list

Right after Mike Shaw

Lions pick Benn

YMCA raises $150 million

Freshman leads Illini in scoring

DePaul interviews Jerrance

Bowl tickets go on sale

Meacham wins Pulitzer

Bizzarri wins Illinois Marathon

Budget crunch – Illini to sleep six to a room, take yellow bus to State College

Headlines You Won't Read In 2009-10

Zook – I follow Tate on Twitter

Tisdale overweight

Blagojevich enjoys chancellor's suite

Minor league deal sealed

Punter honored

Coaches endorse "Unofficial"

UI Ice Arena crowd wins sportsmanship award

Bird raves about Keller's form

Big Ten Network – No more reruns

"The Journey II – Admissions office"