Mingo nominated for Courage in Sports

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI). - Drey Mingo, who battled a life-threatening illness in 2010 and suffered a season-ending ACL injury in 2011 has been nominated for the America’s Choice Honoree for Courage in Sports.

The America’s Choice Honoree, wholly determined by fan voting, recognizes individuals who have overcome monumental challenges to achieve greatness in the world of sports. The winner will be announced on a one-hour “Courage in Sports” special airing at 5 p.m. ET on Nov. 11 on CBS.

Eight inspiring individuals have been selected to participate in the Facebook voting. Each week, the two athletes with the lowest vote total will be eliminated from the competition. Fans can vote once per day and share their vote with friends here: facebook.com/CourageInSports. The top two vote getters will compete in the finals from Sept. 24 to Oct. 1.

As a redshirt junior at Purdue, Mingo had just led the Boilermakers to the Preseason WNIT Championship with 21 points and 13 rebounds when two days later she was hospitalized with a life-threatening case of acute bacterial meningitis.

Mingo missed just four games but was not back to full-health until months later in February. The illness also caused permanent hearing loss, leaving about 20 percent hearing in her left ear and 80 percent in her right. 

Entering her redshirt senior season with high hopes, Mingo tore her ACL in an October scrimmage, forcing her to sit out the 2011-12 season after surgery.

For her incredible attitude rebounding from these setbacks, Mingo was a finalist for the 2011 V Foundation Comeback Award. In early April, she was honored with the NCAS Giant Steps Courageous Student-Athlete Award. The NCAA has granted her petition for another year, and she will be playing for the Boilermakers in 2012-13.