Bridget Sanchez Named OVC Scholar-Athlete
Tuesday, November 8 2011 - Bridget Sanchez
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – The Ohio Valley Conference has selected six individuals to receive its prestigious Scholar-Athlete Award for 2010-11. The award is the highest individual honor that can be earned by OVC student-athletes, and is given annually to three men and three women student-athletes of junior or senior status for their accomplishments in both the classroom and athletic arena, and because of their leadership qualities.
The 2010-11 Ohio Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete winners are: Emory Attig of Eastern Kentucky University (football), Lauren Harkins of Jacksonville State University (volleyball), Jenna Miller of the University of Tennessee at Martin (volleyball), Ty Proffitt of Morehead State University (basketball), Paul Ritzheimer of Murray State University (baseball) and Bridget Sanchez of Eastern Illinois University (track and field).
Bridget Sanchez – Bridget Sanchez is in her final year of eligibility with the Eastern Illinois track and field program. In her time at EIU she has been a member of six OVC Championship squads, winning three indoor and three outdoor titles. A season ago she ran the third-fastest time in EIU history in the 400 meters, an event in which she would participate in at the NCAA West Preliminary Round Qualifier. Sanchez was also part of the 4x100 meter relay team that was second at the OVC Championship. During her career she has also been a member of three OVC Champion 4x400 relay squads, winning outdoor titles in 2009 and 2010 and an indoor championship in 2009. In the classroom Sanchez holds a 4.00 grade point average in psychology and has earned three OVC Medal of Honor awards and named to the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll three times as well. She has also been named to the EIU College of Science Dean's List in each of the three previous years. Sanchez serves as the president of the Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society, is a member of the Phi Alpha Eta Honor Society, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and involved as a minority affairs peer leader. Sanchez is a native of Melrose Park, Ill.
Sanchez becomes the sixth EIU women's athlete to earn the award since EIU joined the OVC in 1996-97. She is also the second straight member of the Panther women's track team to earn this honor joining Megan Gingerich who won the award last year. Other former EIU women's recipients include Megan Gingerich (2010-11), Erica Gerth (2004-05), Rachel Wright (1999-2000), Jessica Laska (1997-98), Vanessa Wells (1996-97). EIU has also had eight men's athletes win the OVC Scholar-Athlete honor with Brian Morrell (2008-09), Jake Byrne (2007-08), Daniel Strackeljahn (2005-06), Aaron Grobengieser (2004-05), C.J. Weber (2003-04), David Rella (2002-03), Matt Britton (2000-01) and Justin Weiss (1996-97).
The 2010-11 Ohio Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete winners are: Emory Attig of Eastern Kentucky University (football), Lauren Harkins of Jacksonville State University (volleyball), Jenna Miller of the University of Tennessee at Martin (volleyball), Ty Proffitt of Morehead State University (basketball), Paul Ritzheimer of Murray State University (baseball) and Bridget Sanchez of Eastern Illinois University (track and field).
Bridget Sanchez – Bridget Sanchez is in her final year of eligibility with the Eastern Illinois track and field program. In her time at EIU she has been a member of six OVC Championship squads, winning three indoor and three outdoor titles. A season ago she ran the third-fastest time in EIU history in the 400 meters, an event in which she would participate in at the NCAA West Preliminary Round Qualifier. Sanchez was also part of the 4x100 meter relay team that was second at the OVC Championship. During her career she has also been a member of three OVC Champion 4x400 relay squads, winning outdoor titles in 2009 and 2010 and an indoor championship in 2009. In the classroom Sanchez holds a 4.00 grade point average in psychology and has earned three OVC Medal of Honor awards and named to the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll three times as well. She has also been named to the EIU College of Science Dean's List in each of the three previous years. Sanchez serves as the president of the Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society, is a member of the Phi Alpha Eta Honor Society, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and involved as a minority affairs peer leader. Sanchez is a native of Melrose Park, Ill.
Sanchez becomes the sixth EIU women's athlete to earn the award since EIU joined the OVC in 1996-97. She is also the second straight member of the Panther women's track team to earn this honor joining Megan Gingerich who won the award last year. Other former EIU women's recipients include Megan Gingerich (2010-11), Erica Gerth (2004-05), Rachel Wright (1999-2000), Jessica Laska (1997-98), Vanessa Wells (1996-97). EIU has also had eight men's athletes win the OVC Scholar-Athlete honor with Brian Morrell (2008-09), Jake Byrne (2007-08), Daniel Strackeljahn (2005-06), Aaron Grobengieser (2004-05), C.J. Weber (2003-04), David Rella (2002-03), Matt Britton (2000-01) and Justin Weiss (1996-97).