Michigan State University Athletics
Gina Mondo Honored With Big Ten Sportsmanship Award
5/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 13, 2009
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State softball senior Gina Mondo was honored as the team's recipient of the 2009 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award as announced by the conference office on Wednesday. Each year the Big Ten honors one recipient from each of its 11 schools who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. In addition, the student-athletes must be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the competition setting.
In her final year with the Spartans, Mondo posted a team-high .385 batting average and a .648 slugging percentage. She had a team-best 14 game hitting streak, starting on Feb. 13, and notched a hit in 31 of the 38 games she played in. Mondo recorded 47 hits, 27 runs, nine doubles, seven home runs and 24 RBIs.
Mondo has also established herself in the Michigan State softball record book. She is fourth in home runs (20), fifth in runs scored (110), eighth in RBIs (98) and is 15th in hits (173).
An interdisciplinary studies major with a focus in human resources, Mondo lends her time to several causes in the East Lansing community. Mondo participated in Teams for Toys, helping to raise and donate money to purchase Christmas gifts for families in need, as well as being a Pen Pal for the past two years, writing letters and visiting with inner city first and second graders to address topics such as good sportsmanship and peer pressure. She also served as a volunteer for the Special Olympics Meet and Greet, along with being a mentor at Fall into Fitness.
Mondo is now a candidate for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award, as the Big Ten office will honor one male and one female student-athlete from each institution at the end of the school year.
