Kylee Gray ’25 receives the 2025 John and Jody Wheeler Award from the National Christian College Athletic Association
The National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) is pleased to recognize Kylee Gray ‘25 of Malone University as the 2025 John and Jody Wheeler Award recipient for Women's Outdoor Track & Field.
Gray will graduate from Malone summa cum laude on Saturday, May 10 from the education program (primary childhood education and intervention specialist). On top of her academic success, Gray is known for a spirit of daily love around Malone’s campus: she displays Christ-like love through encouraging words and service to her teammates, classmates, coaches, and faculty alike. Gray has led spiritual formation opportunities focused on wellness journaling, where she creates space for others to reflect, grow, and connect with God in intentional ways. This past spring, she spread the love of Christ out in the world through a unique service-learning experience in Santiago, Chile. This experience allowed Gray to serve in Chilean schools and engage with local families in their homes, displaying the same love and compassion for Christ she is known for displaying on campus.
"Kylee is a radiant example of Christ-like character in every area of her life," said Malone Head Track & Field Coach Zach Fresenko. "Known for her consistent joy and unwavering positivity, Kylee's love for people is evident in her daily interactions. She approaches every opportunity with humility and a servant's heart, constantly putting others before herself. Whether cheering on her teammates, mentoring younger athletes, or simply offering a word of encouragement, Kylee's presence brings warmth and peace, rooted in her strong faith. Kylee embraces the mission of the university day in and day out, in her classwork and being a great teammate and friend to those around her."
On the track, Gray has seen significant success as well. She has earned one NCCAA All-American honors, earning ninth at the 2024 NCCAA Cross Country National Championships, in addition to finishing in the top eight in the 3000m at the Indoor Track & Field National Championships each of the last two seasons. In 2025, she holds a mark of 38:41.39 in the 10,000m to rank sixth in the NCCAA. Gray has also been named an NCCAA Scholar-Athlete.
“We celebrate this honor with Kylee and all our student-athletes who are dedicated to actionable faith along with academic and athletic excellence,” said Tanya Hockman, director of athletics at Malone. “The NCCAA provides Christ-centered, purpose-driven championships and support to hundreds of coaches and athletes across the nation. We are honored to be a member of the association.”