February 22, 2007
CONTACT: Stew Salowitz, 309-556-3206

IWU’s Zach Freeman Finalist for Jostens Trophy

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Illinois Wesleyan senior Zach Freeman is one of 10 finalists for the Jostens Trophy, recognizing the outstanding student-athlete in Division III basketball.

The Jostens Trophy is a national award created in 1998 by the Salem (Va.) Rotary Club to honor the most outstanding men and women’s Division III basketball players of the year. The award takes into account three vital parts: basketball ability, academic prowess and community service. The trophy models the Rotary motto of “Service above Self” by recognizing those who truly fit the ideal of the well-rounded Division III student-athlete.

IWU’s Korey Coon was the 2000 Jostens Trophy winner and was also a finalist in 1999 while Keelan Amelianovich was a Jostens finalist in 2006.

Freeman, a 6-foot-7 forward from Bloomington (Normal Community HS), led the 11-14 Titans with a 21.6 scoring average and 9.1 rebounds. His .614 field goal percentage is fifth best in a single IWU season and his 539 points is 13th most. He was the Titans’ leading scorer in 16 games, top rebounder in 19 and had nine double-double games in points-rebounds.

For his career, Freeman scored 1,688 points and had 819 rebounds, making him No. 7 and No. 4, respectively in those school record categories. He was No. 2 with 472 free throws made, No. 7 with 602 made field goals and his .581 career field goal percentage is third best at IWU. Freeman was also 12th best in a career with a .744 free throw accuracy mark.

A District V academic all-district selection, Freeman is one of 96 Division II, III and NAIA players in consideration for the Collegiate Basketball Invitational, which will be April 19-21, 2007, in Wadsworth, Ohio. Freeman has a 3.48 grade-point average as an elementary education major, is a member of the IWU Student Athletic Advisory Council and did his student teaching last fall at Bloomington’s Washington Elementary School.

The Jostens Trophy finalists were announced by members of the Salem (Va.) Rotary Club, which is responsible for the initial review of annual nominations and narrowing the pool to 10 men and 10 women finalists.

A 34-person national selection committee will complete the selection process by picking a men and women’s Jostens Trophy winner. The winning schools will be notified on March 5 and the awards presentation is scheduled for Thursday, March 15 at the Salem Civic Center in conjunction with the Men’s Division III Championship being hosted in Salem, Va., on March 16-17.

In addition to Freeman, the male finalists include Augustana guard Drew Wessels along with are Justin Baker of Mary Washington; Ryan Cain, Worcester Polytechnic; Matt Griffin, Johns Hopkins; Kevin Guyden, Mary Hardin-Baylor; Derek E. Hines, Franklin & Marshall; Michael Hoyt, Mt. St. Mary; Joe Werner, Wisconsin-LaCrosse; and Dan Wheeler from Amherst.
The female finalists include Millikin’s Lindsay Ippel and Danielle Tinkoff of North Central, along with Debbie Bruen of Mary Washington; Catherine Chappell, Milwaukee School of Engineering; Eileen Flaherty, Bowdoin; Lacey Kennedy, Mississippi College; Taryn Mellody, University of Scranton; Brianna Monahan, Gustavus Adolphus; Kelly Peters, Wilmington (Ohio); and Lisa Winkle, Calvin.

Additional information on the award can be found at: http://www.odaconline.com/jostens/jostens.htm