CMU baseball players introduce ‘CHIPYs’ in honor of student athletes, teams

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An ESPN original idea will be on display later this month in Plachta Auditorium.

In lieu of the network’s annual ESPY awards, CMU baseball players Sam Russell and Reid Rooney have introduced the CHIPYs, an award show recognizing the accomplishments of the 2009-2010 Central Michigan sports teams.

The event will be held at 8 p.m. Sept. 26 at Plachta Auditorium. The show will be a black tie event and the red carpet show will start at 7 p.m. The show will be emceed by fellow baseball player Brendan Emmett, along with Russell.

Like the ESPYs, the charity will benefit the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research. The Central Michigan Student-Athlete Advisory Committee has endorsed the event.

The event will feature 12 categories, including Best Play and Best Male and Female Athlete, much like the same categories the ESPYs use.

“This summer, the (baseball team) outfield had a lot of arguments regarding Central Michigan sports,” Russell said.

Russell also came up with last season’s ‘Whose Your Chippewa?,’ a March Madness-like bracket ranking four sets of players in a tournament that allowed CMU fans to vote.

The event will include a red carpet special with mock interviews, display of hundreds of photos from CMU sporting events, comical video skits and a highlight video from the 2009-10 year.

And while the event will be centered around student athletes, Rooney said the general public is encouraged to attend.

“We know 85 percent of the student athletes will be there but I’m nervous for the general public of CMU attending,” Rooney said. “We really want to bring together the student athletes with the non-student athletes of the university.”

Sophomore left-handed pitcher Dietrich Enns was nominated for Freshman of the Year and Breakthrough Athlete of the Year. Enns went 7-0 with a 2.12 ERA in 2010 while earning MAC Freshman of the Year honors.

“I feel blessed and thankful for the honor,” Enns said. “I know there are a lot of deserving athletes for the award and to be chosen is an honor.”

Women’s soccer senior goaltender Shay Mannino is also up for nomination in the Female Athlete of the Year, Best Championship Performance, Best Play and Best Record Breaking Performance categories.

Mannino was named MAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2009 and posted a Mid-American Conference-record 17 solo shutouts. She also holds the CMU record for shutouts (29) and goals against average (0.72).
“I thought it was cool that my plays, awards and team got nominated,” Mannino said.

For the CHIPYs to be a success, Russell and Rooney said, they need participation from the general public. To vote on the 12 categories, go to www.cmuchippewas.com. The two have also posted a video on YouTube, search: “2010 CHIPYS.” Voting ends on Sept. 19.

Tickets are now on sale at the Bovee University Center box office for $3. The price will increase to $5 a person at the door the night of the show.