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IU ATHLETICS

The IU Athletic Department honors several athletes at the end of each academic year as the Indiana Athletes of the Year. The 2010 winners for the female award were seniors Molly Beckwith and Kateryna Fesenko. For the men, sophomores Alex Dickerson and Derek Drouin were chosen.

Beckwith finished second in the 2010 NCAA Championships in the 800-meter, while Fesenko was the first-ever female NCAA Champion for the Hoosier swim team, winning the 200-yard backstroke at this year’s national meet.

Drouin also was an NCAA Champion, winning both the indoor and outdoor titles in the high jump this year. Dickerson was named the District V Player of the Year and Big Ten Player of the Year, and he received First Team All-American honors from two baseball organizations. He is also a semifinalist for the Dick Howser award, which is given to the top collegiate baseball player each year.

SOFTBALL

The Hoosiers have picked up a former All-American honoree for their 2011 season, as Morgan Melloh will transfer from Fresno State.

Melloh had an ERA of 1.76 and a record of 90-35 in her three seasons with Fresno State. During her first two campaigns, she threw 904 strikeouts in 679.2 innings. Only three other pitchers have struck out 400 batters in their first two collegiate seasons. Melloh’s career strikeout total is 1,138.

Melloh, originally from Indiana, transferred to be closer to her family during her final year of eligibility. She will suit up for the Hoosiers in 2011. 

“Morgan is, without a doubt, an immediate impact player for our program,” IU coach Michelle Gardner said. “She has proven that she can dominate games in the circle at an extremely high level and did it for three years at Fresno State. I know our program will benefit not just this upcoming season, but also as we move forward and continue to push towards our goal of a Big Ten title.”

— Candice Rohrman