Princeton University Athletics
Denbo, Norman, Striebel Share Roper Trophy
June 01, 2001 | General
June 1, 2001
Three athletes who all showcased their talents in two different seasons have been honored with the 2001 William Winston Roper Award.
The award was originally given by Mrs. William Winston Roper and the Class of 1902 in honor of Princeton's famed football coach. It goes annually to "a Princeton senior of high scholastic rank and outstanding qualities of sportsmanship and general proficiency in athletics."
The three winners for 2001 (alphabetically):
Scott Denbo (history, Nashville, Tenn.) -- Scott Denbo has dominated Ivy League shot-putting for the past four years. After missing the Heptagonal championship indoors as a freshman due to injury, Denbo never again was beaten in the league championship, winning three indoor and four outdoor titles. He qualified for the NCAA outdoor championships as both a junior and senior, earning All-America honors last year (he competes this weekend in Eugene, Ore., in his final NCAA event). He has been named first-team All-Ivy League seven times, and he was a 2001 Academic All-Ivy League selection.
Dennis Norman (computer science engineering, Marlton, N.J.) -- After missing his entire freshman season due to a broken leg suffered in training camp, Dennis Norman came back to be a three-time first-team All-Ivy League offensive tackle and the seventh round selection of the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL draft. Norman became the fourth three-time first-team All-Ivy football selection in Tiger history, and he won the Poe-Kazmaier Trophy as Princeton's team MVP last season. He also was twice named first-team All-Ivy in track and field after winning two outdoor Heptagonal discus championships.
Matt Striebel (English, Gill, Mass.) -- Matt Striebel won five Ivy League championships and played in five NCAA tournaments between soccer and lacrosse. He helped the soccer team to its first outright Ivy title in 40 years as a junior, and he was an honorable mention All-Ivy League pick senior year. He was twice named All-Ivy League and All-America in lacrosse, and he was part of NCAA championship teams as both a freshman and senior. He finished his career in seventh-place all-time at Princeton with 74 assists, and he added 43 goals for 117 career points. Princeton went 24-0 in Ivy lacrosse games in his career, and his final Princeton sporting event saw him score two goals and add two assists as Princeton defeated Syracuse 10-9 in overtime to win the national championship this week.
The three winners were honored at Princeton's Varsity Club banquet Thursday night.