Scott Overall and Jackie Closser Are Named Most Outstanding Butler Athletes

Apr 23, 2007

April 23, 2007

Seniors Scott Overall (London, U.K.) and Jackie Closser (Alexandria) received the top male and female athletic awards at Butler University's annual all-sports reception held at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Monday, April 23. The year-ending event was held to pay tribute to Butler's student-athletes and included the presentation of team most valuable player and mental attitude awards, plus several special recognition and scholarship awards.

Overall, a member of the track and cross country teams, became Butler's first indoor track and field All-American this year with a sixth place finish in the mile run at the 2007 NCAA Indoor Championship. He holds four school track records, and he has competed in seven NCAA national championships. He was named Horizon League Athlete of the Year four times, and he's been ranked as high as fifth in the nation in various track events over the past two years.

Jackie Closser was named Butler's Female Athlete of the Year.

Closser closed out a brilliant career on the women's basketball team as Butler's all-time leader in three-point field goals and as one of just 18 players in Butler women's basketball history to score more than 1,000 career points. She set six Butler school records in 2006-07, including most three-point field goals in a season (85). She hit at least one three-pointer in 59 consecutive games, finishing one shy of the NCAA all-time record. Closser was named first team All-Horizon League for two consecutive years.

Several additional Butler athletes also received individual recognition at the reception. Junior A. J. Graves (Switz City), who was the leading scorer on the successful men's basketball team, and junior Genni Gardner (Bramley, U.K.), who was named the Most Outstanding Performer at the 2007 Horizon League Indoor Track and Field Championship, were named recipients of the Paul D. "Tony" Hinkle Scholarship for outstanding athletic achievement.

Juniors Joe Pauley (Skokie, Ill.), one of the leading hitters on Butler's baseball team, and Jenny Jacobs (Indianapolis), Butler's all-time softball home run leader, received Helen Tewksbury Awards for outstanding achievement in scholarship, leadership and athletics.

Junior Abe Mulvihill (Grand Rapids, Mich.), the leading scorer on the Butler men's golf squad, and freshman Molly Casperson (Neenah, Wis.), who leads the Butler women's tennis team in singles and doubles victories, were named recipients of a $1,000 Dean Herbert F. Schwomeyer Scholarship, given for outstanding athletic and academic achievement.

Juniors Lynnsey Showers (Kokomo) and Michael Amore (Mooresville) were named recipients of the David Lautner Memorial Scholarship, which is presented annually to a male and female golf student-athlete.

The Frank "Pop" Hedden Award, which honors Butler's outstanding male and female freshman student-athletes, was presented to Susan Lester (Anderson), a member of the women's basketball team, and football player Spencer Summerville (Indianapolis). Lester, Butler's leading rebounder, was named to the Horizon League All-Newcomer Team this year, while Summerville was one of the top first-year players in the Pioneer Football League last fall.

Junior Michelle DeGeeter (Warsaw), a top performer on the Butler volleyball team, was named recipient of the Horizon League Sportsmanship Award for exhibiting outstanding character in the field of athletics. And freshman Lauren Haffner (Noblesville), a member of the women's soccer team, received the Catherine Sabrina DeBrosse Scholarship, which is presented in honor of the late daughter of Butler graduates J. J. and Emily DeBrosse. The award is given to recognize the passion, dedication and positive attitude of Butler's female student-athletes.

Three special team honors also were announced at the awards ceremony. The men's golf team and the women's tennis team received the Horizon League "Raise Your Sights Academic Award" for compiling the highest team cumulative grade point averages of all Butler squads. The football team received the Horizon League Outreach Award for compiling the highest number of community service hours, while the men's basketball team and the women's tennis team earned "The Shining Star Award" presented by the Division of Student Affairs on the recommendation of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC) for a demonstrated commitment to academics, sportsmanship, school spirit and service to Butler University and to the Indianapolis Community.