Eastern Michigan Athletics
Henry and Lombardi Presented with MAC Medal of Excellence Award
6/1/2016 7:00:00 PM | General
MAC honors 24 student-athletes inside the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan University's Andrew Henry (Garner, N.C.-West Johnston) and Julia Lombardi (Oakville, Ontario-Queen Elizabeth Park) were presented the Medal of Excellence Award as part of the Mid-American Conference Spring Meetings. In total, 24 MAC student-athletes were honored Wednesday, June 1, during the Honors Dinner Ceremony at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel.
The Medal of Excellence is an award presented annually to one male and one female student-athlete from the graduating class of each of the 12 Conference member institutions. To be honored with the Medal of Excellence Award, student-athletes had to participate on the varsity level in a conference sponsored sport and shown evidence of academic success with a minimum 3.50 accumulative grade-point average (GPA), exhibited athletics excellence, leadership and service. Selection of the recipients was made by each MAC institution.
"The Medal of Excellence Award is a reinforcement of the core values that we as a conference and each of our member institutions all possess with excellence in academics, athletics, leadership and service," said MAC Commissioner, Jon A. Steinbrecher. "We congratulate all of our Medal of Excellence Award winners."
A standout in the pool, Henry boasted a 3.78 GPA in construction management. Henry accumulated 19 top-three finishes over the course of the season, including 18 first-place marks. In the 100 freestyle, Henry was dominant all season long, winning the race each of the seven times he participated. The Garner, N.C. product was equally impressive in the 200 free, finishing ahead of the field six times. A captain for the Eagles, Henry played a vital role in EMU's relay success. Pacing the Green and White relays all season long, Henry led off Eastern Michigan's MAC title-winning 800 free relay with a school record split of 1:34.20. Henry's split put him atop the record books in the 200 free, while the freestyle specialist also etched his name in the record books with school records in the 100 free, as well as the 200 individual medley. Henry's record-breaking times fueled him to a sweep of the 100 and 200 free at the MAC Championships and ultimately earned him the distinction of MAC Outstanding Swimmer.
His career came to a close at the NCAA Championships, where he took part in three events; the 100 free, 200 free, and 200 IM. After setting a school record in the 200 IM and besting some stiff competition in the 100 free, Henry closed out his career with EMU's top finish in the 200 free in more than 25 years. Clocking in with a time of 1:34.87, Henry reeled in a 22nd-place finish. Henry was also named Academic All-MAC, as well as First Team All-MAC following the conference championships. A two-time MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week and two-time MAC Swimmer of the Week, Henry closed out his career as one of the most decorated swimmers in program history.
Lombardi, who excelled in the classroom with a 3.99 GPA in biology and chemistry, provided the Eagles with solid play at outside back. Starting a career-high 17 matches for the Green and White, Lombardi's stout defensive effort helped the Eagles to a pair of shutouts. The Oakville, Ontario native played at least 80 minutes in 11 matches, including two in which she played a career-high 110 minutes. Lombardi recorded the first goal of her career, Sept. 20, at home against Green Bay. With her team trailing, 1-0, Lombardi was called upon in a penalty kick opportunity and delivered an equalizer. Weeks later, she dished out a helper, assisting on the game-winner in EMU's 3-1 win over Ohio, Oct. 16. At the conclusion of the season, Lombardi was named to the Academic All-MAC Team for the second consecutive season.
Off the pitch, Lombardi served as the President of EMU's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. In her leadership role, Lombardi pioneered the Ypsi's, the student-athlete awards banquet, while also coordinating countless service opportunities and projects. Lombardi's efforts extended outside of EMU as a social media campaign started by Lombardi, in conjunction with the MAC and its member institutions gained participation from all over the country through '#MoreThanASport.' Lombardi was honored as the recipient of the leadership award at the 2016 Ypsi's, where the award was renamed in her honor as the Lombardi Leadership Award.
2016 Medal of Excellence Award Winners
Akron: Andrew Sounders (men's soccer); Hannah Raspopovich (women's swimming & diving)
Ball State: Alex Call (baseball); Shelby Merder (women's basketball)
Bowling Green: Ryan James (men's soccer); Alyssa Nocella (gymnastics)
Buffalo: Tyler Grassman (football); Mackenzie Loesing (women's basketball)
Central Michigan: Ryan Heeke (baseball); Breanne Lesnar (women's cross country/track & field)
Eastern Michigan: Andrew Henry (men's swimming & diving); Julia Lombardi (women's soccer)
Kent State: Jordan Italiano (football); Roseanne Erickson (women's track & field)
Miami: Jacob Prodoehl (men's swimming & diving); Kathie Wollney (women's track & field)
Northern Illinois: Drew Hare (football); Emily Naegele (softball)
Ohio: Blake Scipio (football); Abby Gilleland (volleyball)
Toledo: John Martillota (baseball); Samantha Richart (women's swimming & diving)
Western Michigan: Connor Furgason (men's soccer); Kayla Weber (gymnastics)
The Medal of Excellence is an award presented annually to one male and one female student-athlete from the graduating class of each of the 12 Conference member institutions. To be honored with the Medal of Excellence Award, student-athletes had to participate on the varsity level in a conference sponsored sport and shown evidence of academic success with a minimum 3.50 accumulative grade-point average (GPA), exhibited athletics excellence, leadership and service. Selection of the recipients was made by each MAC institution.
"The Medal of Excellence Award is a reinforcement of the core values that we as a conference and each of our member institutions all possess with excellence in academics, athletics, leadership and service," said MAC Commissioner, Jon A. Steinbrecher. "We congratulate all of our Medal of Excellence Award winners."
A standout in the pool, Henry boasted a 3.78 GPA in construction management. Henry accumulated 19 top-three finishes over the course of the season, including 18 first-place marks. In the 100 freestyle, Henry was dominant all season long, winning the race each of the seven times he participated. The Garner, N.C. product was equally impressive in the 200 free, finishing ahead of the field six times. A captain for the Eagles, Henry played a vital role in EMU's relay success. Pacing the Green and White relays all season long, Henry led off Eastern Michigan's MAC title-winning 800 free relay with a school record split of 1:34.20. Henry's split put him atop the record books in the 200 free, while the freestyle specialist also etched his name in the record books with school records in the 100 free, as well as the 200 individual medley. Henry's record-breaking times fueled him to a sweep of the 100 and 200 free at the MAC Championships and ultimately earned him the distinction of MAC Outstanding Swimmer.
His career came to a close at the NCAA Championships, where he took part in three events; the 100 free, 200 free, and 200 IM. After setting a school record in the 200 IM and besting some stiff competition in the 100 free, Henry closed out his career with EMU's top finish in the 200 free in more than 25 years. Clocking in with a time of 1:34.87, Henry reeled in a 22nd-place finish. Henry was also named Academic All-MAC, as well as First Team All-MAC following the conference championships. A two-time MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week and two-time MAC Swimmer of the Week, Henry closed out his career as one of the most decorated swimmers in program history.
Lombardi, who excelled in the classroom with a 3.99 GPA in biology and chemistry, provided the Eagles with solid play at outside back. Starting a career-high 17 matches for the Green and White, Lombardi's stout defensive effort helped the Eagles to a pair of shutouts. The Oakville, Ontario native played at least 80 minutes in 11 matches, including two in which she played a career-high 110 minutes. Lombardi recorded the first goal of her career, Sept. 20, at home against Green Bay. With her team trailing, 1-0, Lombardi was called upon in a penalty kick opportunity and delivered an equalizer. Weeks later, she dished out a helper, assisting on the game-winner in EMU's 3-1 win over Ohio, Oct. 16. At the conclusion of the season, Lombardi was named to the Academic All-MAC Team for the second consecutive season.
Off the pitch, Lombardi served as the President of EMU's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. In her leadership role, Lombardi pioneered the Ypsi's, the student-athlete awards banquet, while also coordinating countless service opportunities and projects. Lombardi's efforts extended outside of EMU as a social media campaign started by Lombardi, in conjunction with the MAC and its member institutions gained participation from all over the country through '#MoreThanASport.' Lombardi was honored as the recipient of the leadership award at the 2016 Ypsi's, where the award was renamed in her honor as the Lombardi Leadership Award.
2016 Medal of Excellence Award Winners
Akron: Andrew Sounders (men's soccer); Hannah Raspopovich (women's swimming & diving)
Ball State: Alex Call (baseball); Shelby Merder (women's basketball)
Bowling Green: Ryan James (men's soccer); Alyssa Nocella (gymnastics)
Buffalo: Tyler Grassman (football); Mackenzie Loesing (women's basketball)
Central Michigan: Ryan Heeke (baseball); Breanne Lesnar (women's cross country/track & field)
Eastern Michigan: Andrew Henry (men's swimming & diving); Julia Lombardi (women's soccer)
Kent State: Jordan Italiano (football); Roseanne Erickson (women's track & field)
Miami: Jacob Prodoehl (men's swimming & diving); Kathie Wollney (women's track & field)
Northern Illinois: Drew Hare (football); Emily Naegele (softball)
Ohio: Blake Scipio (football); Abby Gilleland (volleyball)
Toledo: John Martillota (baseball); Samantha Richart (women's swimming & diving)
Western Michigan: Connor Furgason (men's soccer); Kayla Weber (gymnastics)
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