Miami Announces 1999-2000 Student-Athlete of the Year Awards
7/13/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
OXFORD, Ohio (June 13, 2000) -- Enjoying a season that included one Mid-American Conference Championship, four appearances in NCAA postseason action and several all-MAC performances, Miami University honored five student-athletes for their commendable efforts on the field and in the classroom.
Heading the awards list were Cassie Eakins (Xenia, Ohio/Xenia) and Travis Prentice (Louisville, Ky./Manual), who were named Miami's 1999-2000 respective Female and Male Athletes of the Year. Sharon Poisson (Louisville, Ky./East) and Karin Sherr (Poway, Calif./Poway) shared the RedHawk Female Student-Athlete of the Year award while P.J. Glandon (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) was tabbed Male Student-Athlete of the Year.
"Miami can be proud of these fine young ambassadors, who have represented our institution with distinction both in the athletic arena and in the classroom," said athletics director Joel Maturi. "Everyone in the Miami community can applaud these outstanding student-athletes, who have served as role models for our fans."
Eakins was a vital part of Miami's swimming and diving team that finished second at the MAC Championships last year. Eakins, a two-time MAC Champion in 2000, captured both the one- and three-meter diving events en route to a first-team all-MAC selection. Following her stellar performance at the conference meet, Eakins qualified for the NCAA Regionals, where she finished 18th out of 49 divers. Eakins dove to a fourth-place finish in the one- and three-meter diving events as a freshman and finished third last year in the three-meter dive behind Miami's 1999 Female Athlete of the Year, Kelly Harper.
Prentice, who wrapped up one of Miami's most prolific careers in any sport, finished as the NCAA's Division I-A all-time leading scorer with 468 points and all-time leader in touchdowns (78) and rushing touchdowns (73). In 1999, Prentice ranked second nationally in scoring (11.5 ppg), fourth in rushing (1,659 yards) and fifth in all-purpose yards (175.ypg). The 1998 MAC Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year, Prentice capped off his senior season as a second-team All-American by the Sporting News, third-team all-American by the Associated Press and National Strength and Conditioning Association all-American. Prentice holds 37 Miami single-game and career marks and finished as major college football's fifth all-time leading rusher (5,596 yards).
Poisson, who finished her career with a 3.88 grade point average while majoring in zoology, completed her Miami tenure with a dazzling season in which she broke the RedHawk women's pole vault record three times. Poisson's top jump of the season, an effort off 11-feet, three and three-quarter inches, earned her a first-place finish at the Indiana State Invitational and made her the first woman in Miami history to vault 11 feet. The senior was further honored for her performance by being named the MAC's Scholar-Athlete and female Track and Field Athlete of the Week. Poisson closed out her Miami career with a solid seventh-place finish at the Mid-American Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Poisson was a first-team GTE Academic all-district selection.
Sherr, who earned her bachelor's degree in political science in May, 1999 with a 3.80 GPA, continued her post-graduate work at Miami while competing her fourth and final season on the synchronized skating team. Earning a 3.92 GPA in family and child studies as a graduate student, Sherr helped Miami to a national championship in 1998 and final ranking of sixth in the world. Last year's team captain, Sherr led Miami to a third-place finish at the nationals and was named the Thomas J. Fisher Outstanding Skater, which is awarded to the top skater on the Miami squad.
Glandon, a two-time member of Miami's swimming and diving MAC Championships, graduated with a 3.90 GPA in finance. Earning MAC Academic Honor Roll plaudits in 2000 and academic all-MAC honors as a sophomore and junior, Glandon helped Miami to a second-place finish at last season's MAC Championships.