Lerg Named Sullivan Finalist

EAST LANSING – As Michigan State (20-8-5) prepares for a weekend showdown against archrival Michigan (25-3-4), one member of the team was honored as candidate for the prestigious James E. Sullivan Memorial Award.

Junior goaltender Jeff Lerg was named one of 11 finalists for the award, which has been given to an outstanding non-professional athlete by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) since 1930. Finalists exemplify the qualities of leadership, character and sportsmanship and excel both on and off the field.

This year’s finalists include Lerg, Heisman-winning Florida quarterback Tim Tebow and an assortment of other athletes, from an eighth-grade point guard in Alaska to a 61-year-old who competes as a sprinter, a jumper and a hurdler. Past winners include J. J. Reddick (2005), Peyton Manning (1997), and Charlie Ward (1993).

Lerg, a finance major who had a 3.74 GPA as a sophomore, led the Spartans to a national title last season and holds the Michigan State record for consecutive games played with 63. He enters the series against the top-ranked Wolverines leading CCHA goalies with a .934 save-percentage, 1427:32 minutes played and tied for second with a 1.93 goals-against average.

Green and White fans can do their part by voting for Lerg on USA Today's website. That will account for one-third of the total vote, which runs through March 10. The winner will be announced April 1.

MSU, currently tied for second place in the CCHA with Miami, will face UM tonight in East Lansing and at Joe Louis Arena Saturday. If the Spartans (35 points) sweep the Wolverines (40), they will climb to within one point of first place with two games remaining in the regular season.

Date/Time:
Fri, Feb. 22, 8 p.m., Munn Arena
Sat., Feb. 23, 7 p.m., Joe Louis Arena
Radio
WJIM 1240 AM
TV
(Fri.) CSTV
(Sat.) FSN Detroit

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