June 12, 2002

Basketball player Latasha Austin (Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian), swimmers Kim Dodson (Evansville, Ind./Reitz) and Dave Nel (Crammond, South Africa), soccer player Krista McKendree (Evansville, Ind./North), and baseball players Steve Obenchain (Henderson, Ky./Evansville Memorial) and Andy Rohleder (Ferdinand, Ind./Forest Park) have been chosen as finalists for the University of Evansville's most prestigious awards in athletics.

UE's most outstanding female athlete will receive the Ida M. Stieler (pronounced Steeler) Award, and the top male will receive the William V. Slyker Award. Both will be announced next week. The annual athlete of the year awards are based on athletic excellence and achievement, character and integrity, leadership, and scholastic achievement. Last year's winners were Dodson and baseball player Wes Carroll.

STIELER FINALISTS:

Latasha Austin, senior, basketball, Indianapolis, IN: First team all-Missouri Valley Conference...MVC Defensive Player of the Year...led the MVC and finished 11th nationally in steals (3.6) ... finished third in the league in assists (4.5) and seventh in scoring (15.0)...only player in UE history (male or female) to record 1,000 points, 400 rebounds, 400 assists and 200 steals...UE leader in career steals with 290...team finished fourth in MVC standings and reached MVC Tournament semifinals thanks to Austin's winning shot in first round of tournament...team captain as a senior...four-year letterwinner.

Kim Dodson, junior, swimming, Evansville, IN: Qualified for the NCAA Division I Championships for the second year in a row...MVC Women's Swimmer of the Year...won the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle events at MVC Championships; also helped the 400 medley and 200 medley relay teams win MVC championships...recorded the 20th fastest time in the nation in the 50 free (:22.89) ... recorded the fastest times of 2001-02 in the MVC in the 50, 100, 200 and 500 freestyle events...first team selection on the MVC Women's Swimming Scholar-Athlete Team...finished 44th in the NCAA Championships in the 50 free and 53rd in the 100 and 200 freestyle events.

Krista McKendree, senior, soccer, Evansville, IN: First team all-Missouri Valley Conference for the fourth time...one of only two players in league history to earn all-MVC honors four years in a row...led team from her central defender position to second place in the regular season standings, first place in MVC Tournament, and to UE's third NCAA Tournament berth in the past four years...only unanimous selection on the 2001 MVC Women's Soccer Scholar-Athlete Team..team captain each of the past three years...chosen as UE's 2002 NCAA Woman of the Year nominee... graduated in May with a degree in business and a 3.50 grade point average.

SLYKER FINALISTS:

Dave Nel, senior, swimming, Crammond, South Africa: Member of winning 400- and 800-yard freestyle relay teams at MVC Championships...placed second at MVC Championships in 200 IM and 100 freestyle, and fourth in 400 IM...first- team all-Missouri Valley Conference in the 200 IM, 800 free relay, 100 freestyle and 400 free relay...set school record in 50 freestyle and was member of record-setting 400 freestyle relay...holds or shares 10 UE individual and relay records...recorded UE's best times this season in 50 and 100 freestyle, and 200 and 400 IM...first team selection on the MVC Men's Swimming Scholar-Athlete Team.

Steve Obenchain, junior, baseball, Henderson, KY: First team all-Missouri Valley Conference...first round draft choice of the Oakland A's, Evansville's first first-round pick since Andy Benes in 1988...led the Missouri Valley Conference in every pitching category except victories-first in earned run average (1.38), first in strikeouts (10.2 per 9 innings) and first in saves (12)...his 1.38 ERA was the second best in the nation among Division I players, and broke Andy Benes's former school record of 1.42, set in 1988...compiled a 3-1 record...used almost exclusively as UE's closer...in 20 relief appearances, his ERA was 0.40.

Andy Rohleder, senior, baseball, Ferdinand, IN: First team all-Missouri Valley Conference...24th round draft choice of Florida Marlins...team MVP...led UE in virtually every hitting category...finished second in the MVC with 13 home runs and 59 RBIs...finished fourth in the MVC with a .378 batting average...his 59 RBIs were the fifth most in UE history...his 22 career home runs are the 12th most at UE, even though he played here only two years...one of the top two vote-getters on the MVC Scholar-Athlete baseball team...graduated in May with a degree in management and a 3.11 grade point average.