The 2009-10 CCC Athletes of the Year hail from Concordia University: Jessica Ramback (left) and Eric Burck.
CU's Ramback, Burck: CCC Athletes of the Year
PORTLAND, Ore. – For the second consecutive year, a pair of student-athletes from Concordia University – women’s soccer standout Jessica Ramback and track and field distance runner Eric Burck – have been named Cascade Collegiate Conference Female and Male Athletes of the Year, respectively, the conference office announced.
Ramback, a senior forward from Mill Creek, Wash., was a finalist for NAIA Player of the Year after helping lead the Cavaliers to a 10th consecutive CCC tournament championship and the semifinals of the national championships. A first team All-America selection and the CCC Offensive Player of the Year, Ramback led the CCC in goals (20) and points (46) during the 2009 season and finished her career as the school’s all-time leader in goals (70). Concordia went 21-3 during the 2009 campaign, earning a share of the CCC’s regular season title and winning the conference’s postseason tournament. CU was ranked fifth in the final NAIA Top 25 poll of the season.
“Jessi has had such a profound impact on our team, our program and our university,” said CU women’s soccer coach Grant Landy. “She’s accumulated many honors and awards over the past four years, but her greatest contribution has been her leadership to our younger players. This award caps off a great four-year career for her. I am proud of all of her accomplishments, both on and off the field.”
Burck, a senior distance runner from Ephrata, Wash., was an All-American performer both indoors and outdoors this past academic year. He won the 5,000 meters at the indoor national championships, and was second (10,000 meters) and fifth (5,000 meters) at the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He helped the Cavaliers to a fifth-place team finish at the NAIA outdoor meet. At the CCC Track & Field Championships in May, he was named the Track Athlete of the Meet after winning the 5,000 meters and placing second in the 1,500 meters. A six-time All-American during his career, Burck holds five school records at Concordia (three outdoor, two indoor).
“Eric has developed into one of the NAIA’s top distance runners in the nation over the last three years through tremendous dedication and hard work,” said Randy Dalzell, Concordia’s cross country and track coach. “His improvement is both a testament to his work ethic as well as an inspiration to the other athletes in our program about what you can accomplish if you really dedicate yourself. He has set a very high standard for the guys coming behind him to try to reach, and will be missed as a key member of both our men’s cross country and track teams. He is not done competing, however, and we are fortunate to keep him around as an assistant coach and a mentor for our younger athletes.”