May 25, 2006
Normal, Ill. -
Golfer Samantha Richdale and swimmer Tracey Deyell gave Illinois State two first-team members of the ESPN The Magazine Women's At-Large Academic All-District V team elected by members of College Sports Information Directors of America. Illinois State and Wisconsin were the only schools to have more than one member on the 12-member first team.
Richdale and Deyell, both Canadians, will join first-team members from seven other districts on the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America ballot.
A native of Kelowna, British Columbia, Richdale was the first player in Missouri Valley Conference history to earn medalist honors in the conference tournament three times, she also set a Valley record by being player of the week 17 times in her career. Richdale led her team to a pair of Valley team titles. After leading the 2006 NCAA Central Regional for most of the first round, Richdale missed earning her second individual trip to the NCAA Finals by just one stroke.
Richdale had a 3.40 cumulative grade point average as a chemistry major and graduated in eight semesters at Illinois State. She plans to continue her golf career at the professional level. Her coach, Ray Kralis, believes the nationally-renowned Chemistry program at Illinois State helped her become a better student and a better athlete.
"A lot of people don't realize just how tough Illinois State's chemistry major is," said Kralis. "It was challenging for Sam because of all the research projects and lab hours involved. But she excelled, not only in the classroom and on the course, but also in managing her time. She is an amazing person."
Kralis is emphatic about Richdale's place in Illinois State, and Valley, history.
"In my opinion, she is the best ever to play in our conference," said Kralis. "We've had some great players in the Valley, and some of those at Illinois State. But Sam is the best and I think the record shows that."
Although she missed the first eight weeks of the season with an injury, Deyell (pronounced dee-ELL) came back to earn Most Valuable Player honors for her team. The native of Richmond, Ontario was a First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection, recording the conference's second-best times in the 100-yard butterfly, the 200-yard butterfly and the 400-yard individual medley in 2006.
Deyell's coach, Steve Paska, ranks her with the best he has coached in two decades at Illinois State.
"Tracey's work ethic in the classroom and in the pool makes her one of the most dedicated student-athletes I've had at Illinois State," said Paska. "When it comes time to go the extra mile, whether it's in the weight room, in the pool or in land training, Tracey strives for excellence. It's the same for her in her academics as well--it's all about doing what it takes to be the best."
For her first three semesters at Illinois State, Deyell had a 4.00 with a double major in sociology and criminal justice. She was one of two District V first team selections with sophomore academic standing and one of two with a 4.00 GPA.
