Athletic Report
May 2, 2000

MICHAEL WALTON NAMED GREATEST GREYHOUND, JULIE STILES CHOSEN GREATEST ZIA
PORTALES, NM — Senior middle linebacker Michael Walton (5’10”, 215 lbs., Earth, TX/Texas Tech University) and senior tennis player Julie Stiles (5’4”, Roswell, NM/Goddard H.S.) received the top awards at the Eastern New Mexico University Athletic Awards Banquet, Monday, May 1 at the Campus Union Ballroom.

Sports Celebration 2000 was highlighted by Walton receiving the Greatest Greyhound Award for the third consecutive year and Stiles receiving the Greatest Zia Award for the first time.

Walton has been a four-year letterman on the ENMU football team. He has been a team leader since his first season in 1996. He started all 44 games at ENMU the past four seasons, and set a school record with 515 career tackles.

He led the Greyhounds in total tackles all four years, starting with 96 tackles in 1996, then 155 tackles in 1997, 117 tackles in 1998 and 147 tackles in 1999. He also recorded 58 tackles for losses, 15 quarterback sacks, 7 passes broken up, 3 interceptions and 12 forced fumbles during his career. Last fall, he made 22 tackles behind the line of scrimmage and was credited with 7 quarterback sacks.

He was named to four All-America teams each of the past two seasons, including First Team honors on all four teams in 1999. He was named First Team All-LSC South in 1997 and 1998, and was named Second Team All-LSC South in 1999. He was the LSC South Defensive Lineman of the Year in 1998. He received LSC South Defensive Player-of-the-Week honors three times during his career. He was named to the Daktronics, Inc. Division II All-West Region First Team in 1998 and 1999.

Walton has been voted to the LSC All-Academic Team three consecutive seasons and has earned a spot on the ENMU Athletic Honor Roll every semester. He was named to the GTE Academic All-District Team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (COSIDA) in 1999.

Stiles has lettered all four years in women’s tennis. She has played on four consecutive ENMU teams selected for the NCAA Division II National Tournament. She has been nationally ranked in singles or doubles all four years, and is currently ranked 12th in Division II in doubles. She was ranked 24th in doubles in 1998-99, 29th in doubles in 1996-97 and 59th in singles in 1997-98. She has a career record of 67-20 in singles and a 68-33 in doubles, giving her 135 career victories overall.

Last fall, she won the ITA/Rolex Regional Tournament title in doubles, then placed 5th at the ITA/Rolex National Tournament with partner Layla Turner. She also took first place in doubles at the ACU Invitational last fall. Including matches this spring, she has earned a 14-5 singles record and a 23-3 doubles record during the 1999-2000 season.

Stiles has been successful throughout her ENMU career. As a freshman in 1996-97, she achieved an 18-5 singles record and went 13-11 in doubles. In 1997-98, she was 11-2 in singles and 9-8 in doubles. In 1998-99, she finished the season with a 24-8 singles record and a 23-11 record in doubles. This year, she has earned a 14-5 singles record and a 23-3 doubles record. She helped the Zias claim second place at the Lone Star Conference Tournament this spring.

She was named to the LSC Commissioner’s Honor Roll in 1998-99 and has been nominated for the LSC All-Academic Team this spring. She has qualified for the ENMU Athletic Honor Roll every semester she has attended ENMU.