May 10, 2007

Three Malone Athletes Garner NCCAA Student Athlete of the Week Honors

Three Malone athletes, representing three different spring sports, were recently selected as the National Christian College Athletic Association Student Athletes of the Week following their impressive performances during the week of April 30th through May 6th, 2007.
 
Freshman Ben Smith, of Carrollton, Ohio (Carrollton H.S.), earned the men’s golf award after leading Malone to its fourth consecutive American Mideast Conference/NAIA Region IX Championship last Thursday and Friday among a 12-team field.  The freshman captured individual medalist honors (the first tournament win of his young career) after posting an impressive three-round score of 214 (74-69-71), finishing six shots ahead of the next closest competitor.
 
Senior Brooke Gasser, of Sterling, Ohio (Norwayne H.S.), received the women’s track & field honor after her outstanding performance at the NCCAA National Championship Meet this past Thursday through Saturday.  Gasser helped the Malone women to a runner-up finish among a 13-team field by winning the heptathlon competition with 4269 points and finishing second in the javelin throw with a heave of 133’2”.  Gasser also earned the Pioneers additional meet points by bringing home a fifth-place finish in the 200 meter dash (26.79), a sixth-place finish in the 100 meter dash (13.12) and a seventh-place finish in the 100 meter hurdles (16.75).
 
Junior Ryan Kienzle, of Canton, Ohio (GlenOak H.S.), took the men’s track & field honor for the second time this season after leading Malone to the NCCAA National Title last Thursday through Saturday among a 14-team field.  Kienzle won the 5000 meter run in an NAIA National Championship qualifying time of 14:48.59 and was also a member of the Pioneers’ national champion 4 x 880 meter relay team (7:47.62).  The win gave the Malone men their first NCCAA National Championship since 1991.
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