NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Illinois Wesleyan University seniors Ally Wiegand (Downs, Ill.-Downs-Tri-Valley) and Garrett Shea (Decatur, Ill.-Warrensburg-Latham) have been recognized as the school's College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Merle Chapman Leadership awardwinners, the league office announced Wednesday, April 21.

The award, which began during the 2002-03 academic year, is named after the long time football coach/athletics director at Millikin University and the second commissioner of the CCIW. Chapman served in that capacity from 1997-2002.

This award identifies the student-athletes that best exemplify the traits that Chapman displayed and encouraged during his three-plus decades of service as a teacher, coach and mentor to the athletes, coaches and administrators of the CCIW. Those traits are loyalty, enthusiasm, leadership, sportsmanship, and a commitment to academic, athletic and personal excellence.

One of the best pitchers in IWU softball history, Wiegand has been exceptional since stepping in the circle for the Titans. This season, she set the school record with 19 strikeouts in a perfect game effort against Illinois College, Feb. 20. Over the course of her career, Wiegand has rewritten the record book and garnered just about every award out there. A 10-time CCIW Player of the Week selection, Wiegand is a two-time NFCA All-American, three-time All-CCIW First Teammer, NFCA All-Great Lakes Region honoree, NFCA/Schutt Sports Division III Pitcher of the Year, and was named the CCIW's Top Newcomer in 2018, among several other accolades.

She ranks third all-time in strikeouts with 548, one of just three Titans to post 500+ strikeouts over a career. She holds the program record for shutouts, saves (7), most strikeouts per seven innings, lowest opponent batting average, and lowest earned run average, while also ranking fifth all-time with 43 complete games.

Shea was a key contributor for the IWU baseball team in his time donning the Green and White. A First Team All-CCIW selection last season, Shea has also reeled in D3baseball.com All-Central Region honors, was named the team's Most Valuable Player in 2019, and is a two-time CCIW Player of the Week awardee. For his career, Shea hit .308 at the plate with 14 home runs, 87 RBI, and 71 runs scored.

2019-20 Merle Chapman Award Winners

Augustana
Maddy Murillo (Women's Basketball)
Danny Artman (Men's Soccer)

Carroll
Lindsey Coons (Women's Swimming & Diving)
Clay Schult (Baseball)

Carthage
Sarah Schmidt (Women's Track & Field)
Jacob Allard (Men's Volleyball)

Elmhurst
Heather Hoffmann (Women's Soccer)
Justin Hames (Wrestling)

Illinois Wesleyan
Ally Wiegand (Softball)
Garrett Shea (Baseball)

Millikin
Kalli Farmer (Softball)
Evan Betz (Wrestling)

North Central
Emily Miller (Softball)
Marco Soto (Men's Soccer)

North Park
Hannah Rosenbaum (Women's Tennis)
Herman Rodriguez (Football)

Wheaton
Claire Browning (Women's Tennis)
Will Woodfin (Men's Soccer)