Ritchie Named Female Big 12 Sportsperson of the Year

July 25, 2002

DALLAS, Texas - Texas Tech women's basketball player Natalie Ritchie and Iowa State wrestler Cael Sanderson have been named female and male Big 12 Sportsperson of the Year the league office announced Thursday.

Ritchie's commitment to sportsmanship is led by her devotion and kindness. The Amarillo, Texas, junior-to-be averaged 10.6 points in 32 games played last season with eight starts. While assisting the Lady Raiders to their 2002 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearance, Ritchie still found time to exercise her generosity and to show genuine concern for others. One example of this from Ritchie happened in 2001-02 when she visited a fan at a local hospital who was recovering from the removal of a cancerous tumor found in his stomach. Alton West is a 75-year-old retired teacher and Baptist minister who bonded with Ritchie immediately. His condition improved and Ritchie continues to visit Mr. West and his family on a regular basis. Ritchie also finds time to meet with fans, encourage students and to give motivational speeches on a variety of topics. She visits local hospitals, churches, and other community agencies in addition to her full schedule as a student-athlete. Ritchie also volunteers at Race for the Cure, Special Olympics, and the Ronald McDonald House.

"I am very honored they chose me," said Ritchie. "I am very proud to represent our university. Being a student-athlete you are in a position to touch others and change lives. For me personally, it is not so much about the sport but shining God's love."

"I am so excited for Natalie and our program," said Texas Tech head women's basketball coach Marsha Sharp. "This is well-deserved. She does a great job with our fans and the community. This is a big part of her life - to try to make a difference in other people's lives."

Like Ritchie, Sanderson has exhibited outstanding sportsmanship. Named the male Big 12 Athlete of the Year earlier this month, Sanderson's achievements are second to none in college athletics. A native of Heber City, Utah, Sanderson became the first wrestler to finish his career unblemished with a 159-0 record, which included a 40-0 mark in 2001-02. He was named the outstanding wrestler in all four of his NCAA Tournaments and recently won the ESPY Award for the outstanding college male athlete of this past academic year. In the heart of his senior year Sanderson graduated from Iowa State in December, 2001, with a bachelor's degree in Art & Design. Sanderson handled his popularity with class and patience, sometimes signing autographs for three hours after matches to accommodate all of his fans. He has offered his valuable time to a number of community services throughout his tenure in Ames. Sanderson made frequent stops at local elementary schools to talk to students and made weekly trips to the local Boys and Girls Club, in Ames. In the summer, Sanderson hits the wrestling camp circuit, lecturing at camps all across the nation to generate interest for his sport.

This is the second year of the Big 12 Sportsperson of the Year honor. Ritchie and Sanderson were chosen by a panel of conference administrators and media which cover the Big 12 throughout the year. Nominated by the athletic departments, the honorees were chosen in voting for the honor based on the following criteria: (1) must be a member of an intercollegiate athletics team during the 2001-02 academic year; (2) must be in good academic standing; (3) must have demonstrated good citizenship outside of a sports-competition setting; (4) must have demonstrated consistently good sportsmanship and ethical conduct in his/her daily participation in intercollegiate athletics; and (5) noteworthy act or acts of sportsmanship must have occurred during the 2001-02 academic year.

Ritchie and Sanderson will be honored at an awards ceremony in conjunction with the 2002 Dr Pepper Big 12 Football Championship on Dec. 7 at Reliant Stadium in Houston.

Big 12 Sportsperson(s) of the Year
Female2001    Kim Woodlee, Kansas State, basketball2002    Natalie Ritchie, Texas Tech, basketball
Male2001    Dan Alexander, Nebraska, football2002    Cael Sanderson, Iowa State, wrestling

Texas Tech University Athletics

Ritchie Named Female Big 12 Sportsperson of the Year

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