Tennis player Kate Chybowski (Appleton, Wis./Appleton North) and soccer player Robby Lynch (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) have plenty in common. Both recently completed their junior years at the University of Evansville, both were chosen first team all-Missouri Valley Conference in 2009-10, and both were finalists for their respective Academic All-America teams. The two now share one additional achievement: they have been chosen by UE's coaching staff and athletics department administration as the Purple Aces' most outstanding athletes of 2009-10.
Chybowski was chosen to receive the Ida M. Stieler (pronounced 'Steeler') Award as the school's top female athlete, and Lynch edged all-MVC and all-region baseball player Greg Wallace (Nanaimo, B.C./Dover Bay) to earn the William V. Slyker Award as the most outstanding male athlete. The awards are based 60 percent on athletic achievement, 20 percent on academic achievement and 20 percent on citizenship.
Chybowski made the MVC Women's Tennis All-Select Team for the second time in her career after compiling a 27-6 record at number one singles and 21-11 record at number one doubles. She is on target to break UE's two most significant tennis records next season: most singles victories in a career, and most total victories. Both records were set by UE Hall of Famer Karen Black in 1999. Chybowski goes into her senior year with an 83-23 record in singles and a 64-37 record in doubles. Off the court, Chybowski is a Biology major with a 3.90 grade point average, and is hoping to be admitted to the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine following graduation next May. She began an after-school program at Dexter Elementary School in Evansville last year, teaching Spanish to kindergarten and fourth grade students. She serves as a hospice volunteer with Vista Care of Indiana, and plays cello during church services at Neu Chapel on the UE campus during the school year. Chybowski was a finalist for the 2010 Women's At-Large Academic All-America Team.
Lynch has been an all-conference midfielder in each of his three years at Evansville, and in 2009 earned first team all-MVC and second team all-Midwest Region honors. He also made the all-region team in 2008. Lynch earned a place on the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/Adidas Scholar All-America Team, and was a finalist for the Men's Soccer Academic All-America Team. An Exercise Science major, Lynch has a 3.61 grade point average. He is active in numerous community activities. Lynch tallied five goals and seven assists for 17 points last fall, ranking third in the MVC in game-winning goals (3) and seventh in points per game. He made the MVC All-Tournament team and helped lead the Aces to the championship match of the league tourney for the first time since 1996. He was chosen by his teammates as UE's Most Valuable Player. Lynch goes into his senior year with 13 goals and 14 assists for 40 points, making him one of only 35 players in school history to score 40 career points. UE has posted a winning season in each of Lynch's three years, and he has been a starter in 58 of his 59 career matches.
Chybowski is the first tennis player to earn the Stieler Award since Jessica Jetton in 2005, and Lynch is the second soccer player to earn the Slyker Award since 1992, joining 2008 recipient Cory Elenio.
UNIVERSITY OF EVANSVILLE ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
WILLIAM V. SLYKER AWARD WINNERS
1986: Andy Haas, swimming
1987: Dan McHugh, soccer
1988: Marty Simmons, basketball
1989: Scott Haffner, basketball
1990: Rob Paterson, soccer
1991: Scott Cannon, soccer
1992: Graham Merryweather, soccer
1993: Pat Schulz, baseball
1994: Hanz Hoag, football
1995: Andy Elkins, basketball; Reed Jackson, basketball
1996: Jamey Carroll, baseball
1997: Ryan Brownlee, baseball
1998: Sean Bennett, football
1999: Marcus Wilson, basketball
2000: Phil Broshears, baseball
2001: Wes Carroll, baseball
2002: Steve Obenchain, baseball
2003: Luke Miller, baseball
2004: Cody Strait, baseball
2005: Nick Waninger, cross country; Erik Lis, baseball
2006: Kasey Wahl, baseball
2007: Nick Waninger, cross country
2008: Cory Elenio, soccer
2009: Shy Ely, basketball
2010: Robby Lynch, soccer
IDA M. STIELER AWARD WINNERS
1986: Laura Seib, volleyball
1987: Debbie Bajovich, softball/volleyball
1988: Debbie Roberts-Shultz, basketball
1989: Kim Horvath, cross country
1990: Shannon Cook, tennis
1991: Tricia Berger, swimming
1992: Kelly Watson, swimming
1993: Christy Greis, basketball
1994: Jennifer deDoming, swimming
1995: Eileen Mortensen, tennis
1996: Cindy Reed, swimming
1997: Nicole Farris, softball
1998: Karen Black, tennis
1999: Mattie Ross, softball
2000: Krissy Meek, soccer
2001: Kim Dodson, swimming
2002: Kim Dodson, swimming
2003: Andrea Werner, golf
2004: Jessica Jetton, tennis
2005: Jessica Jetton, tennis
2006: Megan Liffick, basketball
2007: Rebekah Parker, basketball
2008: Rebekah Parker, basketball
2009: Kayla Lambert, soccer
2010: Kate Chybowski, tennis
