Nov. 6, 2001
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Lindsay Zinn (West Chester, Ohio, Lakota East) and Akin Ayodele (Irving, Texas, Coffeyville Junior College) have been named Purdue's Athletes of the Month for their performances throughout October. The award is sponsored by WLFI-TV and Twin City Dodge-Chrysler.
Zinn, a freshman on the cross country team, was the Boilermakers' strong arm all season, having never finished higher than fifth in all six races. Zinn led the women's team to a fifth-place team finish and she capped her fall season with a third-place individual finish at the Big Ten Championships in Champaign, Ill. She also was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
Ayodele, a senior on the football team, led the Old Gold and Black (5-2, 3-2 Big Ten) to its best start since 1997, becoming one of the dominant defensive ends in the Big Ten. Against Iowa, he recorded eight tackles, including four for loss, while adding two sacks in the Purdue victory. Ayodele added eight tackles against Michigan, as well as nine tackles with two for a loss and one sack in the Boilermakers' victory over Northwestern. For the season, Ayodele leads the Big Ten in sacks and is second in the conference in tackles for loss.