It runs in the family: Liz and Scott Schnelle end collegiate careers as Clyde A. Lamb recipients

The Clyde Lamb Award is the highest academic and athletic award given by the Ohio Athletic Conference. One male and one female from each member institution are awarded this prestigious honor annually, and uniquely to Ohio Northern, one family earned this honor twice.

Liz ('09) and Scott ('12) Schnelle of New Bremen, Ohio, were both awarded the Clyde Lamb honor their senior years. Liz was an All-American volleyball player, while Scott was a dual-sport athlete for half of his college career in track and basketball before concentrating on the latter his last two years.

"The Clyde Lamb Award is a huge honor for me and I'm so appreciative to be part of the ONU athletic programs," Liz said.

On being named a Clyde Lamb winner as well, Scott said he "was actually surprised. Jackie Mangola (of the softball team) is the female recipient this year and being recognized with her is an honor."

Both Liz and Scott say they were competitive growing up in all childhood games they would play, from kickball to just throwing a ball. That inherent competitive spirit continues today, as they also admit that when they're both home, a game of "P.I.G.," accompanied by talking "smack" can get somewhat heated.  

"It starts out fun, but ends up being pretty competitive," Scott explained. "I think Liz is more competitive than I am."

While the two are competitors, love and respect shows through as they talk about one another.

"I was ridiculously excited for Scott to come to ONU," Liz said about Scott's decision to become a Polar Bear. "His personality is contagious and I have so much fun with him."

With Liz being at Northern for two years before Scott decided to attend, he explains how her positive experience benefited him. "Having Liz at ONU helped me out a lot. She was friends with all the basketball players and introduced me, it made the transition easier."

Liz is considered to be one of the most decorated female athletes in ONU history. In her four years as a Northern spiker (2006-09), she became a three-time All-American, as well as an All-OAC and Academic All-OAC honoree multiple times.

She finished her collegiate career first in career kills (2,222) and hitting percentage (.367), and is second in total attacks (4,636), sixth in total blocks (351) and seventh in solo blocks (86).

Currently, Liz is working at a public accounting firm in Columbus as an external auditor.

Scott completed his collegiate career this past winter, concluding his basketball career as Academic All-OAC and Second Team All-OAC. Additionally, he earned Academic All-OAC honors all three years he was eligible, as well as First Team All-OAC honors his junior year.

He ended his career ranked 34th all-time at ONU with 1,057 points in 106 career games. Scott is also fourth in blocked shots (125), fifth in field goal shooting percentage (.553), 11th in made free throws (311), and 15th in rebounding (602).

After graduation, Scott will be working at a mechanical engineering firm in Columbus for the summer and will be pursuing an advanced degree at Ohio State University in the fall.