BEREA, OHIO -- Baldwin Wallace University sophomore Brandon Eddy (Cuyahoga Heights) has been named as the 2012 United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Great Lakes Region Field Athlete of the Year.
Eddy, who is currently in Grinnell, Iowa, will compete in both the pole vault and the seven-event heptathlon at the 2012 NCAA Division III National Track & Field Championship Meet at Grinnell College.
Eddy earned his USTFCCCA honor for his efforts in the heptathlon, pole vault and high jump. He had the top national score of 5,065 points in the heptathlon entering the national meet and is ranked 11th in the pole vault with a career-best vault of 16-feet. His career-best high jump of 6'7" was ranked 17th nationally.
"We are extremely proud of Brandon," said veteran Head Coach Bill Taraschke, who has led 46 Yellow Jacket teams to Ohio Athletic Conference titles during his 28-year career at the school. "Brandon has an unbelievable work ethic and has a multitude of talent. Every day he comes to practice with the goal of improving. He is a role model for our entire team. He is quite deserving of this honor."
Eddy is joined at the national meet by teammates Zach Marinucci (Brunswick), who is ranked eighth in the shot put.
In addition to Eddy, Yellow Jacket first-year Assistant Coach Kevin Phipps, himself a four-time Division III All-American prior to graduating last spring, has been tabbed as the USTFCCCA Women's Assistant Coach of the Year. Phipps, who tutors the Yellow Jacket throwers, has two female and one male thrower at the national meet and nearly had two others qualify. A year ago, Phipps won the USTFCCCA Great Lakes Most Valuable Field Event Athlete award.
FOR MORE BW SPORTS INFORMATION, please contact Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327 and e-mail at kruple@bw.edu. or Assistant SID Jeff Miller by phone at 440-826-2780 and email at jefmille@bw.edu Fans can access the latest BW athletics information at www.bw.edu/athletics and we invite you to join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bwyellowjackets and Twitter athttp://twitter.com/bwathletics.
