Eastern Michigan Athletics
Wrestling Announces 2009-10 Awards Winners
5/4/2010 4:11:11 PM | Wrestling
Head coach Derek DelPorto sends off seven seniors
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University wrestling team put the finishing touches on the 2009-10 season announcing individual award winners at the annual awards ceremony held Friday, April 30, in the atrium of the Convocation Center.
Head Coach Derek DelPorto and his staff selected seven individuals for awards. In addition, the team honored seniors Justin Brandel (Saginaw, Mich.-Swan Valley), Sean Clair (Turtlecreek, Pa.-Plum), Cody Hier (Davison, Mich.-Davison), Chris Jenkins (Tecumseh, Mich.-Tecumseh), Drew Lesko (Tecumseh, Mich.-Tecumseh), Josh Lewis (West Liberty, Ohio-Salem) and David Pienaar (Trafford, Pa.-Greensburg Central Catholic) for their contributions to the program.
Brandel garnered the Peter Beck Leadership Award while sophomore Aaron Sulzer (Cleveland, Ohio-Holy Name) took home the Dean Rockwell Achievement Award. The Joel Smith Outstanding Wrestler Award was presented to senior Sean Clair, who finished with the fifth most career wins in the program's history. Sophomore Alex Ortman (Temperance, Mich.-Bedford) picked up the Roy Wilbanks Most Improved Wrestler Award, as Phillip Joseph (Lapeer, Mich.-Lapeer East) was selected the Freshman of the Year and Nick Whitenburg (Temperance, Mich.-Bedford) finished as the Redshirt Freshman of the Year.
Rounding out the ceremony, Bill Morris and Peter Beck were presented the EMU Wrestling Recognition of Excellence Award for their continuous generosity and support of the program.
It was also announced at the banquet that Paula Pettigrew, the mother of junior Matt Pettigrew (St. John's, Mich.-St. John's), had donated $2,000 to purchase a locker in memory of Michael Pettigrew, Matt's father who passed away last year. She became the owner of the 11th locker in the efforts to dedicate 30 lockers on for the team's lockerroom renovation project.
For more information about the locker room project, please contact Coach DelPorto at 734.487.6429 or derek.delporto@emich.edu.
AWARDS:
Peter Beck Leadership Award: Justin Brandel
Dean Rockwell Achievement Award: Aaron Sulzer
Joel Smith Outstanding Wrestler Award: Sean Clair
Roy Wilbanks Most Improved Wrestler award: Alex Ortman
Freshman of the Year: Phillip Joseph
Redshirt of the Year: Nick Whitenburg
