Ohio State’s Eric Brunner Among Candidates for Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/24/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Hermann Trophy candidate now also on watch list for award given for being a complete student-athlete
COLUMBUS, Ohio For the second time this fall, Ohio State senior Eric Brunner is on the watch list for a national men’s soccer award. And this time, the award is about more than just his ability on the field.
A native of Dublin, Ohio, Brunner was named Monday as one of 20 candidates for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award, presented annually in eight NCAA Div. I sports to a senior student-athlete who is not only among the most talented in their sport, but also an excellent student, leader and role model.
This fall marks the first time the Lowe’s Senior CLASS (Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School) Award will be given in men’s and women’s soccer. In August, Brunner became the first Ohio State men’s soccer student-athlete to be named a candidate for the Hermann Trophy, which is given annually to the player of the year in Div. I soccer.
A Dublin Scioto High School graduate, Brunner has been active with youth camps at Ohio State and around Central Ohio. He hopes to one day start a foundation to help inner city kids by using soccer to teach them teamwork, life lessons and keep them off the streets and away from drugs.
On the field, Brunner was a first-team All-Big Ten defender last season and received third-team All-America honors from Top Drawer Soccer. As a senior at Dublin Scioto, he was named the 2003 Ohio Capital Conference Player of the Year and a second-team All-Ohio selection.
The initial list of 20 candidates will be cut to 10 in October by a national media committee. From there, fan balloting, coaches, media and sponsors will be used to select a winner, which will be announced at the College Cup in Cary, N.C., Dec. 14-16. For more information, visit www.seniorclassaward.com.
Brunner and the Buckeyes are off to a 5-2-1 start so far in 2007. Ohio State has two road games this week, beginning with Akron at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and ending with Wisconsin-Green at 8 p.m. Saturday. The Buckeyes have three-consecutive home matches beginning next Wednesday when Cal State Bakersfield visits Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. match.
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Contact: Tim Stried, stried.3@osu.edu
