April 17, 2008

Five Malone Athletes Garner NCCAA Student Athlete of the Week Recognition

Five Malone College athletes recently earned NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) Student Athlete of the Week honors following their impressive performances during the week of April 7-13.  Troy Richeson, of the Pioneer baseball team, Justin Jump, of the men’s outdoor track & field team, Lori Ickes, of the women’s outdoor track & field team, Ben Smith, of the men’s golf team, and Jason Christman, of the men’s tennis team, each earned the national honor.
 
Richeson, a senior centerfielder from Minerva, Ohio (Minerva H.S.), led Malone to a 7-2 record last week by tallying a .452 batting average (14 hits in 31 at-bats) with 12 runs scored, 12 RBI, and two stolen bases.  The 5’10” lead-off batter notched a career-high five RBI in a 13-2 win over the University of Rio Grande on Monday.  He also tripled and later scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning of Malone’s 6-5 victory against then NAIA #21 Ohio Dominican University on Friday.   With a doubleheader sweep of ODU, the Pioneers moved into first place atop the American Mideast Conference standings.
 
Jump, a junior from Wellington, Ohio (Wellington H.S.), helped the Malone men’s track & field squad capture the team title at the Walsh University Invitational on Saturday by placing first in the hammer throw (172’7”) and second in the discus (149’10”).  Jump’s impressive heave in the hammer throw automatically qualified him for the NAIA National Championships in late May.
 
Ickes, a freshman from Smithville, Ohio (Smithville H.S.), led the Pioneer women’s track & field team to a first-place finish at the Walsh University Invitational on Saturday by winning the javelin throw (119’7.5”) and placing second in the discus (129’7”).
 
Smith, a sophomore from Carrollton, Ohio (Carrollton H.S.), led Malone to a second place finish among eight teams at the Mount Vernon Nazarene University Cougar Classic last weekend.  Smith finished in a tie for third overall after carding a two-round score of 145 (68-77).
 
Christman, a senior from Canton, Ohio (McKinley H.S.), helped the Pioneers tally a 3-0 record last week as the squad notched impressive victories over Cedarville University, Walsh University, and Tiffin University.  Christman won two of his three #1 singles matches on the week and also tallied a 2-1 mark in doubles play.
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