University of North Carolina Athletics
Lorrie Fair, Tripp Phillips Recipients of 2000 Patterson Medals
September 22, 2000 | General
Sept. 22, 2000
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. --- Women's soccer National Player of the Year Lorrie Fair and first-team All-America men's tennis player Tripp Phillips have been named recipients of the Patterson Medal for the year 1999-2000 as the outstanding senior athletes at the University of North Carolina.
Phillips is only the second men's tennis to win the award and the first since Vic Seixas in 1949. Fair is the seventh women's soccer recipient.
The Patterson Medal is based mainly on athletic accomplishment, although sportsmanship, leadership and general conduct are also considered. The selection is made by a committee of athletic officials, faculty members and student representatives. The award was first given by Dr. Joseph Patterson in memory of his brother, John Durand Patterson. It has since been continued by the Patterson family. In recent years, the Patterson family decided to give two awards each year ' one to the school's top male senior athlete and the other to the top female performer.
Fair won the Honda Award given to the top soccer player in the nation, was a 
consensus first-team All-America and Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year in 1999. She led the Tar Heels to a 24-2 record and another NCAA championship, the third of her career. The Los Altos, Calif., native anchored a defense that allowed just 12 goals in 26 games. She was named the Defensive MVP of the 1999 Final Four.
Fair scored 21 goals and had 37 assists in her 124-game career. She earned first-team All-America honors three times and was a two-time consensus first-team All-America, as well as a three-time Alll-ACC performer.
In 1999, Fair played on the United States National Team that won the World Cup. Currently, she is a member of the U.S. Olympic Team playing in Australia.
"Lorrie gave up so much to come back and compete for us during her senior year," says women's soccer coach Anson Dorrance. "She gave up the bonus money after being on the 1999 World Cup Team and then had to turn down a chance to compete in the Victory Tour.
"She did that so she could come back and help us win her senior year," Dorrance continues. "We are so proud of what she is doing in the Olympics for the U.S. Team. She's in Australia starting in place of Michelle Akers, one of the greatest soccer players in history, and doing a great job. I think she is just a wonderful recipient of this award and represents all that is good about UNC athletics."
Phillips advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals last spring. By doing so, he earned first-team All-America honors. The Charlotte, N.C., native was runnerup in No. 1 flight singles in the Atlantic Coast Conference as a senior. He won the John Van Nostrand Awards for the South Atlantic Region for character, academics and discipline. Carolina's team captain, Phillips was ranked 12th in the final ITA rankings in singles. He was 26-5 in singles and led the Tar Heels from No. 68 in the nation in the preseason to a final ranking of No. 21. He beat Daniel Andersson of Virginia Commonwealth, the top-ranked player in the country, during the regular season.
"I am so proud of Tripp because of the adversity he had to face in his career," says men's tennis coach Sam Paul. "Tripp returned from injury and had a tremendous senior year for us. His play and his leadership were key elements in returning us to among the Top 25 teams in the nation. Individually he was outstanding, earning All-America honors after beating several of the Top 10 ranked players during the course of the season. His character is exemplary both on and off the court and he also excelled in the classroom. He is well deserving of this honor."
Here is a complete list of the Patterson Medal winners:
1924-- Monk McDonald (football, basketball, baseball)
1925-- M.D. Bonner (football)
1926-- Jack Cobb (basketball)
1927-- Ad Warren (football, boxing, wrestling)
1928-- Galen Elliott (track)
1929-- Henry Satterfield (basketball)
1930-- Ray Farris, Sr. (football, boxing, baseball)
1931-- Henry House (football, baseball)
1932-- Staton McIver (football)
1933-- Stuart Chandler (football)
1934-- Virgil Weathers (basketball)
1935-- Harry Williamson (track)
1936-- Harry Montgomery (football)
1937-- R.D. Buck (football)
1938-- Andy Bershak (football, basketball)
1939-- George Nethercutt (baseball)
1940-- George Stirnweiss (football, baseball)
1941-- Paul Severin (football, basketball)
1942-- Bobby Gersten (basketball, baseball)
1943-- Carlyle Thomas Mangum (track)
1944-- Denny Hammond (swimming)
1945-- E.B. Schulz (track)
1946-- Jim Jordan (basketball)
1947-- Walt Pupa (football)
1948-- Jim Camp (football
1949-- Vic Sexias (tennis)
1950-- Charlie Justice (football)
1951-- Jimmy Thomas (swimming)
1952-- Cecil Milton (swimming)
1953-- Chalmers Port (baseball, football)
1954-- Miles Gregory (football, wrestling)
1955-- Albert Long, Jr. (track, football, basketball, baseball)
1956-- Jerry Vayda (basketball)
1957-- Lennie Rosenbluth (basketball)
1958-- Buddy Payne (football)
1959-- Dave Scurlock (track)
1960-- Jack Cummings (football)
1961-- Rip Hawkins (football)
1962-- Ray Farris, Jr. (football)
1963-- Joe Craver (football)
1964-- Bill Haywood (baseball, soccer)
1965-- Harrison Merrill (swimming)
1966-- John Shaw (baseball)
1967-- Danny Talbott (football, baseball)
1968-- Larry Miller (basketball)
1969-- Bill Bunting (basketball)
1970-- Charlie Scott (basketball)
1971-- Don McCauley (football)
1972-- Dennis Wuycik (basketball)
1973-- George Karl (basketball)
1974-- Tony Waldrop (track)
1975-- Charles Waddell (football, track, basketball)
1976-- Mitch Kupchak (basketball)
1977-- Walter Davis (basketball)
1978-- Phil Ford (basketball)
1979-- Greg Norris (baseball)
1980-- Bonny Brown (swimming)
1981-- Lawrence Taylor (football) and Al Wood (basketball)
1982-- C.D. Mock (wrestling)
1983-- David Drechsler (football)
1984-- Sue Walsh (swimming)
1985-- Ethan Horton (football)
1986-- Brad Daugherty (basketball)
1987-- Kenny Smith (basketball)
1988-- Rob Koll (wrestling)
1989-- Jeff Lebo (basketball)
1990-- Shannon Higgins (soccer)
1991-- Sharon Couch (track)
1992-- Dwight Hollier (football)
1993-- Kristine Lilly (soccer)
1994-- Mia Hamm (soccer)
1995-- Tisha Venturini (soccer)
1996-- Marcus Jones (football)
1997-- Debbie Keller (soccer)
1998-- Cindy Werley (field hockey) and Antawn Jamison (basketball)
1999-- female: Cindy Parlow (soccer), male: Ebenezer Ekuban (football)
2000-- female: Lorrie Fair (soccer), male: Tripp Phillips (tennis)
