April 12, 2007

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford senior forward Veronica Pike has been awarded with the National Strength and Conditioning Association's (NSCA) All-American Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year Award, the NSCA announced recently.

The award, which recognizes the student-athlete's dedication to strength training and conditioning, was awarded to 239 student-athletes from 165 schools this year.

Pike was selected for the team by Samford head strength and conditioning coach Tommy Rohling.

"Veronica, out of all the athletes I have worked with, has benefited the most from a strength program," Rohling said. "She came in an undersized and underdeveloped individual who lacked the necessary change of direction skills to play championship level Division I basketball.

"Through her hard work, discipline and self-accountability she has become one of the leaders of our women's basketball program and a force to be reckoned with in the OVC," Rohling said. "When Veronica graduates, my job gets a little bit harder."

The NSCA All-American Athlete of the Year Award program is in its 28th year, and is made possible by a grant from Power Systems, Inc., a Knoxville, Tenn., fitness product leader.