April 20, 1998
For Immediate Release
Contact: Judy Willson, SID
505.562.4309 or 356-4755
(Portales, N.M.) --- The Eastern New Mexico University Athletics Department will recognize three of its top student-athletes of the 1997-98 season this week in two ceremonies. Football player Michael Walton has been named the 1997-98 Greatest Greyhound, while softball player Jennifer Doolittle and volleyball player Stacey Estlund will share the honor of 1997-98 Greatest Zia. The awards are voted on by the ENMU head coaches and athletic department staff.
Doolittle will be presented with her plaque at the beginning of the Zias' final home softball games of the season on Wednesday, April 22, at 1:00 pm at the Portales City Softball Complex, located by Portales Industrial Park. They will be playing intrastate rival New Mexico Highlands. Zia softball head coach Hollie Chadwick will make the presentation.
Estlund and Walton will receive their honors at the 1998 ENMU Student Life Awards Banquet on Thursday, April 23 at 5:30 pm in the Campus Union Ballroom. Zia volleyball head coach Mike Maguire and Greyhound football head coach Bud Elliott will make the presentations.
MICHAEL WALTON was a sophomore linebacker for the Greyhound football team in 1997. The Earth, Texas native was a Lone Star Conference-South Division First Team selection after leading the LSC in total tackles with 155. A third team Football Gazette All-American, Walton was also a team captain, LSC-South Defensive Player of the Week for the West Texas A&M game in November, and a second team Daktronics, Inc. Division II All-West Region pick. The son of Joe Walton and Helen Conner is a public relations major with All-Lone Star Conference academic honors.
JENNIFER DOOLITTLE is a senior first baseman for the Zia softball team in 1998. The Aurora, Colorado native currently leads the Lone Star Conference in hitting (.464), hits (64), runs scored (45), and RBI (56). She has been named All-Lone Star Conference-South Division Hitter of the Week twice this season. The daughter of James Doolittle and Terry Doolittle is on track to repeat as a National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Region selection with a chance at All-America honors. Doolittle is a wildlife biology major.
STACEY ESTLUND was a senior setter for the Zia volleyball team in 1997. The Clarkston, Washington native finished her two-year ENMU career as the season and career assist leader in Zia volleyball history. Estlund had 1,240 assists in 1997 and 2,393 from 1996-97. She received Lone Star Conference-South Division Setter of the Week honors four times this season. She was also named to the All-LSC-South Division first team, All-LSC Academic team, and Drury College All-Tournament Team. The daughter of Daryl and Lynn Estlund is a physical education and health major.