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Dernlan, Labrie and McClure Win Mackey Grants
Grant allows them to study an extra year.
May 5, 1998
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -
Three Purdue senior student-athletes have been selected winners of the Red Mackey Grants, which allow them to study for an additional year at Purdue as either a graduate or undergraduate student. This year's winners are wrestling's Tim Dernlan (West Liberty, Ohio, West Liberty-Salem H.S.), swimming's Michele Labrie (Rye, N.H., Portsmouth H.S.) and track and field's Myron McClure (Walnut, Calif., Rowland H.S.).
The Mackey Grants, funded by the John Purdue Club, are named in honor of the late Guy "Red" Mackey, Purdue's athletic director from 1942 to 1971. Team members of each sport nominate a senior teammate for the grant (two are selected from football), and the three winners are chosen by a selection committee comprised of athletic department personnel. Winners are chosen for making the most of their academic and athletic abilities, the traits for which Red Mackey stood.
Dernlan, a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, earned All-America honors in 1998 by placing sixth at 118 pounds in the NCAA Championships. As a double major in communication and speech/theater education, he also has been honorable mention All-Academic by the National Wrestling Coaches Association. Very involved in community service, the two-time team captain ranks among the school's top 10 all-time wrestlers for career victories, winning percentage and falls.
Labrie made Academic All-Big Ten three straight years and swam 11 different events throughout her college career. A 1998 team captain, she ranked third on the team and placed 22nd in the Big Ten in the 400 individual medley. Labrie, who is involved in community service, helped the Boilers finish fifth at the 1996 Big Ten Championships.
McClure placed second at the 1998 Big Ten Indoor Championships with a second-place finish in the triple jump, helping the team to third place. He earned All-America honors by placing ninth in the NCAA Indoor Championships. McClure ranks among the top eight all-time at Purdue in the triple jump and high hurdles. The four-year letterwinner has been very involved in community service projects.