Ball State University Athletics
Peyton Stovall Wins $1,000 & Wooden Finalist Honors
January 25, 2008 | Men's Basketball
ATLANTA, Ga. -- Peyton Stovall, a fifth-year senior on the Ball State men's basketball team, was one of five national finalists for the Coach John Wooden Citizenship Cup presented Thursday evening at the Ansley Golf Club in Atlanta.
Although the overall winner of the cup -- in the closest vote in Wooden Cup History which required a second vote by its membership to break a tie -- was William Bruce (Williams College/Ice Hockey), all five finalists left the ceremony as winners thanks to professional recipient Andrea Jaeger.
During Jaeger's acceptance speech, she asked the foundation's president and board of directors who were present to a make movement that when referring to the 2008 Wooden Cup, all five finalists were declared winners and shared the prestigious honor.
The movement, met by a standing ovation and round of applause, was accepted.
In addition, the board moved to grant each recipient $1,000 to donate to the charity of their choice.
"When you look back at the 2008 recipients, I want all five names listed as winners," an emotional Jaeger said. "Will, Peyton, Jill, Ashey and Jonathan are all winners. I am extremely moved by what this group has accomplished and to see them together today, was truly special."
Earlier in the day, Stovall joined Jaeger and the other finalists for a two-hour visit to the cancer center at Atlanta's Egelston Children's Hospital.
Stovall, who attended a private reception with the board and committee Wednesday evening in Atlanta, also toured the Martin Luther King National Historic Site prior to his memorable trip to the children's hospital.
“God is good," Stovall said during his speech Thursday evening. "I am extremely blessed. To be here with the other finalists and Andrea Jaeger, and to experience what we did today at the Martin Luther King Center and with the children at the hospital is something I will never forget."
Nominations for the Wooden Cup were solicited from over 2,000 colleges and universities and from every professional sports league in the country. The nominations were screened by three different committees, while the National Electors of approximately 100 voters from throughout the United States voted to determine the recipient.
The Wooden Cup is one of the most prestigious awards in sports, with past winners including Peyton Manning, John Smoltz and John Lynch. Recipients are considered role models and athletes of excellence both on and off the field or court.
Founded by Athletes for a Better World (ABW), a nonprofit organization committed to changing the culture of American sports, the Wooden Cup is unique in that it is open to athletes in all collegiate and professional sports. The 19-member selection committee includes Archie Manning, Cal Ripken, Jr., Nate McMillan, Loran Roberts and Smoltz.
"Tonight was a special night," said first-year Ball State head coach Billy Taylor who attended the ceremony. "It was certainly inspiring to see and listen to the remarkable stories of all the finalists. This truly is a proud moment for Ball State Basketball and the University, but more importantly it is a proud moment for Peyton Stovall and his family."
Joining Stovall as collegiate finalists were William Bruce (Williams College/Ice Hockey), Jill Johnson (Missouri Western State/Women's Basketball), Ashley King (Wayne State/Ice Hockey) and Jonathan Moehlig (Boomfield College/Baseball).
Jaeger, the former No. 2 ranked women's professional tennis player in the world, was the 2008 professional recipient. Jaeger has established the Little Star Foundation for the benefit of children with terminal cancer.
Information about The Wooden Cup, along with the five finalists and list of 14 semifinalists, is available online at www.abw.org. Updated information on Stovall as a candidate can be found by following the links online at www.ballstatesports.com.
