Curt Porter and Caitlin Vorbeck Earn Jacksonville State's Eagle Owl Awards
4/11/2011 7:00:00 PM | Football, Volleyball
JACKSONVILLE – Athletics Director Oval Jaynes presented volleyball player Caitlin Vorbeck and football player Curt Porter the 2010-11 Eagle Owl Awards at the annual Jacksonville State Athletics Senior Banquet on the fifth floor of Stadium Tower on Monday night.
The Eagle Owl Award, which was established in 1995, is given to a male and a female senior athlete, who possess several outstanding qualities. To be nominated, the student athlete must be a starter or important reserve during his/her senior season and carry a 2.5 cumulative GPA or higher. The student-athlete must excel in his or her sport, be a positive role model for others and exemplify the well-rounded student-athlete. The nominees are voted on by a selection committee, which is comprised of administration throughout the Jacksonville State campus.
Vorbeck, a 5-foot-11 outside hitter and middle blocker on the Gamecock volleyball team, wrapped up an impressive career in the fall. The native of Raytown, Mo., was a First Team All-Ohio Valley Conference selection for the second straight season after leading the team and ranking sixth in the Ohio Valley Conference in kills per set with 3.24. Her 4.00 points per set were third in the OVC and also tops on the team.
She put together a standout career both on and off the floor for the Gamecocks. Carrying a 3.28 GPA in JSU's Nursing program, Vorbeck has been on the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll, while also guiding the Gamecocks to conference titles on the court in 2007 and 2009. As a junior in 2009, she led JSU to the NCAA Tournament and then guided the Gamecocks to the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament win over Florida A&M in the first round. With 10 career double-doubles, Vorbeck is fourth all-time in kills with 1,352 at JSU, while her 2.99 kills per set rank fifth in school history. Vorbeck is the fifth member of the JSU volleyball team to win the Eagle Owl Award and the third inn the past six seasons.
Porter, a 6-foot-7 native of Fayette, Ala., was a First Team All-America selection by the Associated Press and a Second Team All-American by the Sports Network at offensive line in the fall of his senior year. He was also a First Team All-OVC pick after guiding the Gamecocks to a 9-3 record and a first-round bye in the NCAA BCS Playoffs. He was also selected to participate in the NFL Players Association Game in February.
A criminal justice major with a minor in Spanish, Porter received his degree in December with a 3.11 GPA in the classroom. On the field, he graded out at 92 percent on the season and led the team with 81 knockdowns from his offensive tackle position. He also led the JSU linemen with 761 snaps, 24 pancakes and was one of the team's captains in 2010. He was a Second Team All-OVC honoree as a junior and has been a two-time selection to the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll. He is the sixth member of the JSU football team to receive the Eagle Owl Award and the fourth in the past five seasons.
Past Winners
Female Eagle-Owl Winners
1993-94 Jana Simmons (Basketball, Volleyball and Softball)
1994-95 Ann Shelton (Softball)
1995-96, Tracey Wilder (Tennis)
1996-97 Kathy Schuneman (Rifle)
1997-98 Melissa Harden (Basketball)
1998-99 Lucinda Roddy (Rifle)
1999-00 Lisa Baswell (Basketball)
2000-01 Lauren Buck (Softball)
2001-02 Adriana Finelli (Soccer)
2002-03 Sally Pearson (Tennis)
2003-04 Jennifer Brenneman (Volleyball)
2004-05 Kari Baldwin (Rifle)
2005-06 Kisha West (Volleyball)
2006-07 Daniela Pappano (Softball)
2007-08 Abbey Breit (Volleyball)
2008-09 Allie Barker (Softball)
2009-10 Nikki Prier (Softball)
Male Eagle-Owl Winners
1999-00 Joey Hamilton (Football)
2000-01 Brad Smith (Baseball)
2001-02 Jeremy Sullivan (Football)
2002-03 Jose Campra (Golf)
2003-04 C.R. Palmer (Baseball)
2004-05 Matias Anselmo (Golf)
2005-06 James Hall (Rifle)
2006-07 Clay Green (Football)
2007-08 Clay Whittemore (Baseball)
2008-09 Gavin Hallford (Football)
2009-10 Josh Cain (Football)
The Eagle Owl Award, which was established in 1995, is given to a male and a female senior athlete, who possess several outstanding qualities. To be nominated, the student athlete must be a starter or important reserve during his/her senior season and carry a 2.5 cumulative GPA or higher. The student-athlete must excel in his or her sport, be a positive role model for others and exemplify the well-rounded student-athlete. The nominees are voted on by a selection committee, which is comprised of administration throughout the Jacksonville State campus.
Vorbeck, a 5-foot-11 outside hitter and middle blocker on the Gamecock volleyball team, wrapped up an impressive career in the fall. The native of Raytown, Mo., was a First Team All-Ohio Valley Conference selection for the second straight season after leading the team and ranking sixth in the Ohio Valley Conference in kills per set with 3.24. Her 4.00 points per set were third in the OVC and also tops on the team.
She put together a standout career both on and off the floor for the Gamecocks. Carrying a 3.28 GPA in JSU's Nursing program, Vorbeck has been on the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll, while also guiding the Gamecocks to conference titles on the court in 2007 and 2009. As a junior in 2009, she led JSU to the NCAA Tournament and then guided the Gamecocks to the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament win over Florida A&M in the first round. With 10 career double-doubles, Vorbeck is fourth all-time in kills with 1,352 at JSU, while her 2.99 kills per set rank fifth in school history. Vorbeck is the fifth member of the JSU volleyball team to win the Eagle Owl Award and the third inn the past six seasons.
Porter, a 6-foot-7 native of Fayette, Ala., was a First Team All-America selection by the Associated Press and a Second Team All-American by the Sports Network at offensive line in the fall of his senior year. He was also a First Team All-OVC pick after guiding the Gamecocks to a 9-3 record and a first-round bye in the NCAA BCS Playoffs. He was also selected to participate in the NFL Players Association Game in February.
A criminal justice major with a minor in Spanish, Porter received his degree in December with a 3.11 GPA in the classroom. On the field, he graded out at 92 percent on the season and led the team with 81 knockdowns from his offensive tackle position. He also led the JSU linemen with 761 snaps, 24 pancakes and was one of the team's captains in 2010. He was a Second Team All-OVC honoree as a junior and has been a two-time selection to the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll. He is the sixth member of the JSU football team to receive the Eagle Owl Award and the fourth in the past five seasons.
Past Winners
Female Eagle-Owl Winners
1993-94 Jana Simmons (Basketball, Volleyball and Softball)
1994-95 Ann Shelton (Softball)
1995-96, Tracey Wilder (Tennis)
1996-97 Kathy Schuneman (Rifle)
1997-98 Melissa Harden (Basketball)
1998-99 Lucinda Roddy (Rifle)
1999-00 Lisa Baswell (Basketball)
2000-01 Lauren Buck (Softball)
2001-02 Adriana Finelli (Soccer)
2002-03 Sally Pearson (Tennis)
2003-04 Jennifer Brenneman (Volleyball)
2004-05 Kari Baldwin (Rifle)
2005-06 Kisha West (Volleyball)
2006-07 Daniela Pappano (Softball)
2007-08 Abbey Breit (Volleyball)
2008-09 Allie Barker (Softball)
2009-10 Nikki Prier (Softball)
Male Eagle-Owl Winners
1999-00 Joey Hamilton (Football)
2000-01 Brad Smith (Baseball)
2001-02 Jeremy Sullivan (Football)
2002-03 Jose Campra (Golf)
2003-04 C.R. Palmer (Baseball)
2004-05 Matias Anselmo (Golf)
2005-06 James Hall (Rifle)
2006-07 Clay Green (Football)
2007-08 Clay Whittemore (Baseball)
2008-09 Gavin Hallford (Football)
2009-10 Josh Cain (Football)
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