Each year the Gargoyle staff selects its own all-star team of Uni athletes (six male, six female). Here are this year's choices.

Posted Thursday, June 29, 2006, The OG, sports

AUSTIN BERGER, senior
• Sports: Soccer, basketball, baseball
• Noteworthy: Berger proved himself an outstanding leader this year, garnering East Central Illinois Conference honorable mention and team leadership awards in soccer and basketball. He was also named most outstanding defender for hoops (with Ben Sims) and earned baseball's most improved award as a rookie.

KANGWAY CHUANG, senior
• Sports: Cross country, track
• Noteworthy: Chuang was a mainstay of Uni's running teams. He finished fourth at the PBL Prep Meet and fifth at both the Twin City Meet and regionals. In track, he was a part of the sectional-winning 4x800 relay team.

CAMERON CROPEK, senior
• Sports: Cross country, basketball, track
• Noteworthy: Cropek had an outstanding senior year, earning MVP for cross country and making a solid contribution to the basketball team. His leadership qualities truly came to the forefront this spring, as he and Chuang provided the veteran presence on the state finalist 4x800 relay team.

AL RENNER, senior
• Sports: Soccer, basketball, baseball
• Noteworthy: What's left to be said about Renner, Uni's male Athlete of the Year? One of the most talented athletes ever to play for Uni, Renner was MVP and named to the East Central Illinois Conference all-star team in each of his three sports. In hoops, he led the team in rebounds, assists, and steals, and he set the all-time career scoring record. Renner also held the area's highest batting average and earned the baseball team's Tough Illinek award.

MIKE RENNER, sophomore
• Sports: Soccer, basketball, baseball
• Noteworthy: Although only a sophomore, Renner has been a crucial tri-sport athlete. In hoops, he was the team's leading scorer (15.3 ppg). He was named to the ECIC all- conference team for both basketball and baseball, and he earned honorable mention for soccer.

BEN SIMS, senior
• Sports: Basketball, baseball
• Noteworthy: In hoops, Sims was named most outstanding defender (with Austin Berger) and earned the hustle award. He was also named to the ECIC all-conference team. But awards do little justice to Sims' importance to Illinek basketball and baseball. His tenacity as a defender and his accuracy as a shooter were crucial ingredients in the basketball team's record-breaking success over the past three seasons. As a catcher, Sims was a team leader on the diamond and in the dugout, even when he had to miss games due to injuries.

JOSIE CHAMBERS, senior
• Sports: Volleyball, track
• Noteworthy: Uni's female Athlete of the Year, Chambers led the volleyball team in hitting percentage and the Tough Illinek award. She also earned a News-Gazette and ECIC honorable mention. In track, she ran anchor for the sectional champion 4x800 relay team, her time of 2 minutes, 28 seconds sealing the deal on a trip to state.

ALEXANDRA JOHNSON, senior
• Sport: Basketball
• Noteworthy: Johnson, a senior, ended her Uni career by leading the team in points (12.1 per game, 278 total) and rebounds (8.5 per game, 196 total). These stats helped land her the vote for team MVP and earned her a spot on the ECIC all-conference team.

SHIVANI KHANNA, sophomore
• Sports: Cross country, track
• Noteworthy: Although Khanna was unable to run for most of the cross-country regular season, she dominated the postseason and earned a spot on The News-Gazette's all-area team. In track, she helped the 4x800 relay qualify for state with a split time of 2:33.

MICHELLE MEHNERT, sophomore
• Sport: Swimming
• Noteworthy: As a transfer, Mehnert was unable to compete for Uni this year, but her undeniable athleticism was evident throughout her swimming season. She competed in the YMCA district, state, and national meets for the Champaign County Aquachiefs.

ANDREA PARK, sophomore
• Sport: Swimming
Noteworthy: Although Park chose not to compete for Uni this year, she nevertheless excelled as a member of the Champaign County Aquachiefs in YMCA district, state, and national meets.

RUTHIE WELCH, sophomore
• Sports: Volleyball, basketball, track
• Noteworthy: As a three-sport athlete, Welch demonstrated her versatility, helping the volleyball team to its best season since 1996 and making up one-quarter of the state-qualifying 4x800 relay squad. An all-conference setter for volleyball, she set a new season assist record, while her performance in track made her a key part of both the 1,600- and 3,200-meter relays.