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Cheek Receives National Strength and Conditioning Honor
3/30/2020 10:23:00 AM | Baseball
DURHAM, N.C. – Duke baseball senior outfielder Chase Cheek has received the 2019-20 All-American Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year Award, which is awarded by the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Cheek was one of 40 collegiate baseball athletes to receive the honor, which recognizes collegiate and high school athletes whose accomplishments reflect their dedication to strength and conditioning.
"I can't imagine there is a student-athlete across the country that deserves this award more than Chase Cheek," said head coach Chris Pollard. "From his elite athleticism, to the unmatched work ethic, to the leadership amongst his teammates, to the relentless way he overcame the adversity of a significant knee injury/surgery, he has embodied all the qualities you want your best athletes to exemplify in their approach to strength and conditioning. I could not be more proud for Chase as he receives this unique distinction."
Cheek, a senior co-captain who has served in a leadership capacity throughout his four years at Duke, returned to the diamond this season after suffering a season-ending knee injury in 2019. The Tampa, Fla., native started every contest for the Blue Devils in the outfield, including 15 games in right field and one contest in center field. He led the team in multi-hit contests with six, while tying for second on the squad in total hits with 15.
"Chase Cheek is everything this award is created to recognize," said Associate Director of Sports Performance and Head Olympic Sports Performance Coach Dan Perlmutter. "He checks all the athletic boxes. He's a once-in-a-generation athlete, with speed, agility, power and pound-for-pound strength that we almost never see in the same person. He's developed those assets during his career at Duke to become one of the fastest base runners and outfielders in the country. But by themselves, those are the least important of his abilities. To see that kind of elite athleticism in a true team leader is even rarer. He simply does things the right way, every day."
"A starter, a captain, and a daily inspiration to his teammates, Chase overcame a severe injury last year by falling back on what he knows best: working his tail off in rehab and in the weight room, choosing gratitude over self-pity, and refusing to give up," Perlmutter added. "He's become even more important to all of us in the Duke Baseball program through that fight. And on a personal level, he's been one of the most important athletes I've ever had the opportunity to help. I'm honored to be able to recognize him as a National Strength & Conditioning Association All-American."
For more information on Duke baseball, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "DukeBaseball". You can also find all-access coverage of all Duke athletic programs on SnapChat by searching for "dukeathletics".
#GoDuke
"I can't imagine there is a student-athlete across the country that deserves this award more than Chase Cheek," said head coach Chris Pollard. "From his elite athleticism, to the unmatched work ethic, to the leadership amongst his teammates, to the relentless way he overcame the adversity of a significant knee injury/surgery, he has embodied all the qualities you want your best athletes to exemplify in their approach to strength and conditioning. I could not be more proud for Chase as he receives this unique distinction."
Cheek, a senior co-captain who has served in a leadership capacity throughout his four years at Duke, returned to the diamond this season after suffering a season-ending knee injury in 2019. The Tampa, Fla., native started every contest for the Blue Devils in the outfield, including 15 games in right field and one contest in center field. He led the team in multi-hit contests with six, while tying for second on the squad in total hits with 15.
"Chase Cheek is everything this award is created to recognize," said Associate Director of Sports Performance and Head Olympic Sports Performance Coach Dan Perlmutter. "He checks all the athletic boxes. He's a once-in-a-generation athlete, with speed, agility, power and pound-for-pound strength that we almost never see in the same person. He's developed those assets during his career at Duke to become one of the fastest base runners and outfielders in the country. But by themselves, those are the least important of his abilities. To see that kind of elite athleticism in a true team leader is even rarer. He simply does things the right way, every day."
"A starter, a captain, and a daily inspiration to his teammates, Chase overcame a severe injury last year by falling back on what he knows best: working his tail off in rehab and in the weight room, choosing gratitude over self-pity, and refusing to give up," Perlmutter added. "He's become even more important to all of us in the Duke Baseball program through that fight. And on a personal level, he's been one of the most important athletes I've ever had the opportunity to help. I'm honored to be able to recognize him as a National Strength & Conditioning Association All-American."
For more information on Duke baseball, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "DukeBaseball". You can also find all-access coverage of all Duke athletic programs on SnapChat by searching for "dukeathletics".
#GoDuke
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