Lunardi nominated for conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award
Central Dutch Athletics
PELLA—Former Central College women’s soccer player Sydney Lunardi (Bettendorf, Davenport Assumption HS) announced as a nominee for the 2016-17 Johanna Olson Iowa Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award.
Lunardi, now in pharmacy school at Drake University, graduated from Central in May with a 3.71 grade point average while majoring in biochemistry and minoring in biology. The conference honor recognizes student-athletes who have demonstrated high levels of accomplishment and achievement in athletics and academics while also serving the community. To qualify for nomination, student-athletes must have graduated or exhausted their athletic eligibility during the year the award is given, achieve a 3.5 or better cumulative grade point average (4.0 scale) and show evidence of service and leadership.
Each league institution may nominate a male and female candidate and a group of 18 conference faculty athletic representatives determine the six finalists and two award winners.
The three finalists were announced as Katie Krick (track and field) of Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lori Obendorf (basketball) of Loras College and Jaclyn Rittgers (cross country/track and field) of Wartburg College. Emily Brinker (basketball) of the University of Dubuque was also a nominee. The winner will be announced Wednesday, January 31.
Lunardi was an all-Iowa Conference goalkeeper three times and an honorable mention once. She was named the team’s Most Valuable Player twice and earned Iowa Confernece player of the week recognition four times. Her 39 total wins, and 12 in a season, both stand as program records.
Graduating magna cum laude from Central, Lunardi was also a member of Kappa Mu Epsilon. She was a two-time Academic all-Iowa Conference selection and served on a leadership group at Central that included both students and faculty.
An aspiring pharmacist, Lunardi volunteered at an assisted living community in Pella and currently is spending time at the Fountain West Health Center in West Des Moines. She also worked with various service projects including restoration of farmland, coaching youth soccer and organizing activities for underprivileged children.
Central has had two student-athletes receive the Johanna Olson Award in its 16-year history. Jill (Ziskovsy) Halcomb (track and field) won in in 2010-11. Raegan (Schultz) Wagner (volleyball, track and field) received the honor in 2003-04. Central has had two Duane Schroeder Award winners, the men’s equivalent of the Johanna Olson Award. Kyle Frieschlag (men’s tennis) was the most recipient in 2013-14 while Adam Duerfeldt (baseball) was the first in 2005-06.
