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May 20, 2008

PARK RIDGE, Ill. - Illinois center fielder Kyle Hudson (Matton, Ill.) was a unanimous first-team All-Big Ten selection, second baseman Joe Bonadonna (Buffalo Grove, Ill.), shortstop Brandon Wikoff (Peoria, Ill.) and DH Daniel Webb (Anna, Ill.) were second-team picks and starting pitcher Kevin Manson (Park Ridge, Ill.) was a third-team selection, the conference office announced Tuesday. The five All-Big Ten selections mark Illinois' most since 2005, when eight Illini were honored.

Hudson wrapped up a stellar regular season in which he broke the Big Ten record for runs scored in a conference season with 40 and also shattered the record for stolen bases in Big Ten action (25), only to be surpassed on the final weekend. He hit a team-best .411 overall and .407 in Big Ten play, with his overall average leading all Big Ten outfielders. He reached base at a .511 rate in all games and .522 in Big Ten games, which both rank in the top three in the league among all hitters. He had the second-most hits in a Big Ten season in school history (44) and tied the school record for walks in a Big Ten season with 25. Hudson also played a flawless center field all season and was Illinois' Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree.

Bonadonna had a career year in his first season playing every day, hitting .375 overall and .377 in Big Ten play, both second-best among Big Ten second baseman. His .456 on-base percentage ranks 10th in the league and his 26 stolen bases are fourth. He led all second basemen in hits and stolen bases in conference play, while making just four errors in Big Ten games, holding a .976 fielding percentage, which led all second basemen. Bonadonna also recorded the fourth-most hits in a Big Ten season in Illinois history (43). His first career All-Big Ten honor, Bonadonna also was named Big Ten Co-Player of the Week on April 21 after hitting .692 in a series at Minnesota.

Wikoff earns his first All-Big Ten nod after a stellar season both at the plate and in the field. His 59 total RBIs and 37 in conference play led all shortstops and his .962 fielding percentage in league play also was best among shortstops. He led all shortstops and finished second in the league in fielding assists both overall and in Big Ten games, while starting all 53 games at shortstop and hitting in the No. 3 spot in the batting order in 47 games. Wikoff is hitting .381 overall after he has flirted with the .400 mark all season, and finished at .362 in Big Ten play. His 59 RBIs are the most by an Illini since Dusty Bensko drove in 67 runs in 2005, and his 42 hits in Big Ten play are the fifth-most in Illinois history. He also was named Big Ten Co-Player of the Week on May 6 after hitting .588 against Northwestern.

Webb notched a second-team All-Big Ten honor after being a third-team selection in 2007. He is currently hitting .387 overall and hit .393 in Big Ten play, both of which led all designated hitters. His 42 hits in Big Ten play tie Wikoff as the fifth-most in Illinois history, meaning Hudson, Bonadonna, Wikoff and Webb all rank in the top five in Illinois history in hits in a Big Ten campaign. Webb also struck out just three times in Big Ten play and only six times overall, ranking as the fourth-toughest hitter to strike out in the country as of May 12. Webb hit a whopping .506 in April and ranks fourth on the team with 20 multiple-hit games.

Manson becomes Illinois' fourth pitcher to be named All-Big Ten in the last four years, as he was tied for third in the league with seven wins and tied for fourth with five conference wins. Manson started every Big Ten series opener for the Illini in his sophomore campaign and is tied for fourth in fewest walks allowed, giving up only 18 free passes all season. He also won four consecutive starts against Minnesota, Penn State, Northwestern and Ohio State.

FIRST TEAM
1B - Nate Recknagel, MICH#
2B - Ben Wolgamot, PUR
SS - Jason Christian, MICH
3B - Nate Hanson, MINN
OF - Kyle Hudson, ILL#
OF - Andrew Means, IND
OF - Matt Nohelty, MINN
C - Josh Phegley, IND#
DH - Zach Putnam, MICH
SP - Matt Bashore, IND
SP - Chris Fetter, MICH
SP - Zach Putnam, MICH#
SP - Matt Bischoff, PUR
RP - Drew O'Neil, PSU

SECOND TEAM
1B - Jake Goebbert, NU
2B - Joe Bonadonna, ILL
SS - Brandon Wikoff, ILL
3B - Kevin Hoef, IOWA
OF - Caleb Curry, IOWA
OF - Kevin Cislo, MICH
OF - Brandon Haveman, PUR
C - Jeff DeSmidt, MINN
DH - Daniel Webb, ILL
SP - Eric Jokisch, NU
SP - Jake Hale, OSU
SP - Dean Wolosiansky, OSU
SP - Mike Wanamaker, PSU
RP - Josh Lindblom, PUR

THIRD TEAM
1B - Ryne White, PUR
2B - Leif Mahler, MICH
SS - Justin Toole, IOWA
3B - Adam Abraham, MICH
OF - Chris Roberts, MSU
OF - Mike Kalina, NU
OF - J.B. Shuck, OSU
C - Joe Blackburn, PSU
DH - Rob Yodice, PSU
SP - Kevin Manson, ILL
SP - Mark Sorensen, MSU
SP - J.B. Shuck, OSU
SP - Matt Jansen, PUR
RP - Michael Powers, MICH

Player of the Year: Nate Recknagel, MICH
Pitcher of the Year: Zach Putnam, MICH
Freshman of the Year: Eric Jokisch, NU
Coach of the Year: Rich Maloney, MICH

# Unanimous Selection

Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Honorees: Kyle Hudson, ILL; Andrew Means, IND; Caleb Curry, IOWA; Leif Mahler, MICH; Mark Sorensen, MSU; Tom Steidl, MINN; Jake Goebbert, NU; Dan DeLucia, OSU; Brian Ernst, PSU; Ryne White, PUR.