Cloer honored by SEC for community service work

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Razorback senior catcher Whitney Cloer has been named to the 2009 Southeastern Conference Softball Community Service Team, it was announced Tuesday by the league office. Through her various activities away from the playing field, Cloer has shown her dedication to the Northwest Arkansas area. She is one of 11 softball student-athletes from the conference to be recognized for the work they do in their respective communities.

Cloer was involved in the 2008 SEC initiative, “Together We CAN” with the University of Arkansas’ Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and participated in SAAC “Make a Difference” Day in which members visited local nursing homes for pumpkin carving with residents for Halloween. She also visited local elementary schools for Book Hogs (reading to children) and Sweat Hawgs (promoting exercise and nutrition) programs and took part in “Adopt A Street” in which Stadium Drive on the University of Arkansas campus was cleaned.

The kinesiology major was also involved in “Christmas Shop” (area children taken shopping) with SAAC and participated in “Lift Up America” which benefited Northwest Arkansas food shelters and agencies. As a member of SAAC, Cloer has served as the SAAC secretary for the 2008-09 academic year.

The Edmond, Okla., native has coupled her dedication to community service with career numbers on the field during her senior campaign. The Razorback catcher has set personal career marks in home runs (8), RBI (35), hits (51), doubles (13) and total bases (92). She leads the team with a .327 batting average, also a career high, and is tied for second in the SEC with 13 doubles. For her career, Cloer is currently second on Arkansas’ all-time home run list with 22 and fourth in program history with 99 RBI.

The Razorbacks have secured the No. 7 seed in the 2009 SEC Tournament and will take on second-seeded Alabama in first-round action Thursday. The game is scheduled for a 12:30 p.m. (CT) start from Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. For more information, log on to ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

2009 SEC Community Service TeamCatherine Dozier, sophomore, AlabamaWhitney Cloer, senior, ArkansasAnna Thompson, junior, AuburnFrancesca Enea, junior, FloridaSarah McCloud, sophomore, GeorgiaSamantha DeMartine, sophomore, KentuckyAshley Applegate, sophomore, LSUCourtnie Ghinaudo, junior, Ole MissSammie Jo Bailey, senior, Mississippi StateLindsay Walker, junior, South CarolinaErinn Webb, junior, Tennessee