Soccer
Mike Williams
NORMAL, Sick. – Every year, deserving Illinois State soccer student-athletes are chosen as recipients for prestigious endowed scholarships at Illinois State, and this 12 months six excellent Redbird soccer gamers had been chosen for these honors by ISU head soccer coach Brock Spack.
The 2022-23 winners of the 4 endowed scholarships given to soccer student-athletes embody Braden Worth, Tanner Taula, Drew Bones and Kenton Wilhoit. Every mirror the requirements set forth by those that created the endowments, and every actually signify what it means to be a Redbird soccer student-athlete.
“All of our recipients this 12 months are deserving honorees,” Spack mentioned. “Every of those student-athletes resemble the whole lot you need in a member of our program. They’re all nice college students and work extraordinarily exhausting on the sphere, however they’re even higher folks off the sphere. They function leaders for the remainder of their teammates and set an instance they need to all observe of their time right here at Illinois State.”
W. F. Ruebush Endowed Scholarship // Braden Worth | Sophomore | Defensive Again | Wheeling, West Virginia
Worth has been an integral a part of the Redbird secondary for the previous two seasons. In 2021, he completed the season ranked tenth on the crew in tackles with 34 and added three tackles-for-loss, two sacks and two interceptions from his cornerback place. Worth is at the moment pursuing a level in recreation and parks administration and maintains a 3.47 cumulative GPA.
Funded in 2005 by a present from the W.F. Ruebush Basis, this scholarship honors the inspiration’s creator, Walton Ruebush, a 1932 Illinois State graduate who captained the Redbird soccer crew. Mr. Ruebush, who died in 1991, started his skilled life as a trainer and coach earlier than turning into a frontrunner in private finance. Every candidate for a Ruebush Soccer Scholarship have to be or have: enrolled in good standing at Illinois State College, demonstrated robust educational achievement, as evidenced by accumulative grade level common of no less than 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, and a member in good standing of the Illinois State College soccer crew.
Rollie & Mary Mercer Endowed Scholarship // Tanner Taula | Senior | Tight Finish | Independence, Missouri
Taula has seen motion in 39 video games for the Redbirds over the previous 4 seasons and has change into a fixture as a part of the Redbird passing recreation. In the course of the fall 2021 season, he caught 12 passes for 89 yards whereas serving a pivotal position as a blocker within the working recreation. Taula is at the moment pursuing a grasp’s diploma in kinesiology and recreation and maintains a 3.63 cumulative GPA.
The Rollie & Mary Mercer Endowed Scholarship was established in Oct. 2018. The scholarship honors Rollie, who was a person of few phrases and loads of motion, and his spouse, Mary. Rollie was a proud Redbird graduate in 1971, a member of the soccer crew from 1962-1964 and Military veteran. He was a long-time State Farm worker and lived a lifetime of service to his household, Illinois State College Athletics, group, and nation. As an avid alum, Rollie was on the ISU Alumni Board, the ISU President’s Circle, an honorary Founder’s Day Bell Ringer, Redbirds Membership Board, the ISU Athletics Council, and the Girl Redbirds Board. He handed away in 2016, however his legacy continues. Mary graduated in 1966 and 1994 from Illinois State College the place the 2 of them met. She served as a trainer and habit therapist and continues to indicate her ardour for the Birds. Desire might be given to a soccer student-athlete at the moment enrolled and in good educational standing. As well as, choice might be given to an offensive participant (tight finish carrying #85 if relevant) that demonstrates a team-first angle.
Invoice Mitze Endowed Scholarship // Drew Bones | Senior | Offensive Lineman | Ottawa, Kansas
Bones is a four-year starter on the offensive line for the Redbirds and has led the way in which for the Redbird offense at middle whereas paving the way in which for Redbird working backs. Bones has plans to be a bodily schooling trainer and coach when he graduates and at the moment holds a 3.40 GPA.
The Invoice Mitze Endowed Scholarship was established in Aug. 2018. Invoice was a soccer student-athlete from 1957-1959 and graduated in 1960 from ISU. He was a long-time schooling administrator, trainer and coach earlier than retiring. He was additionally an energetic member of varied civic and church organizations. Desire might be given to a Soccer student-athlete majoring in Schooling or showcasing excessive educational achievement of their chosen space of examine.
James R. Tague Endowed Scholarship // Kenton Wilhoit | Senior | Linebacker | Oak Grove, Missouri
Wilhoit took the position of beginning center linebacker for the Redbirds through the spring 2021 season and led the way in which for the Redbird protection from that spot final fall. He began all 11 video games there for the Redbirds and ranked third on the crew with 67 whole tackles and two interceptions on the season, together with a 20-yard decide six in a win over South Dakota. Wilhoit at the moment holds a 3.47 GPA in enterprise administration at ISU.
The James R. Tague Endowed Scholarship was established in April 2015 following a beneficiant present from Jim’s household in his reminiscence/honor and advantages a Redbird soccer student-athlete. Jim was a standout on the Redbird soccer crew and was inducted into the Illinois State Percy Household Corridor of Fame for his achievements on the gridiron in 1990. Jim was a particularly profitable insurance coverage salesperson and adviser, having his personal company for greater than 50 years. He was an avid golfer and sports activities fan, and constant ISU Redbird supporter.
These endowed scholarships are amongst 31 obtainable which can be funded by personal donors who’ve taken the chance to create a lifetime influence to Illinois State student-athletes. You probably have curiosity in studying extra concerning the Endlessly State Endowment Society at (309) 438-2752.
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