Muskingum College honors 17 student-athletes at awards luncheon

NEW CONCORD, OHIO, May 1, 2008 - At Muskingum College's recent annual Athletic Department Awards Luncheon, a total of 17 student-athletes were recognized for their achievements in the classroom and on the field of competition.

Freshman softball first baseman Mary Margaret Boda (Delaware/Buckeye Valley) and freshman football running back/track athlete Demetrius Bailey (Buffalo, N.Y./Olean) were presented the William F. Lange Outstanding Freshmen Awards.

Boda leads the nationally-ranked Muskies in batting average (.434), runs scored (34), home runs (6) and slugging percentage (.708). She helped lead Muskingum to its 11th straight Ohio Athletic Conference regular season title. Boda was honored earlier this season as the OAC Softball Hitter of the Week.

Bailey, a two-time OAC Field Athlete of the Week honoree and All-OAC performer, won the OAC Outdoor Track & Field Championship in the triple jump with an NCAA provisional qualifying leap of 46-04.25. On the gridiron, Bailey was the Muskies second leading rusher.

Junior volleyball/basketball player Jessica McKenzie (Hopewell/West Muskingum) and freshman men’s soccer midfielder/wrestler Michael Halko (Columbus/Bishop Ready) were honored with the Roy "Red" Turner and Ann White Strive for Excellence Awards.

McKenzie led the volleyball team in kills (323), kills per game (3.26), hitting percentage (.349), blocks (121) and blocks per game (1.21). The conference recognized her achievements in the gym with Volleyball Player of the Week and All-OAC Honorable Mention accolades. On the basketball court, McKenzie averaged a double-double on the year with 16.1 points and 10.4 rebounds per outing. She led the OAC in rebounds per game and field goal shooting percentage (.638). McKenzie has been honored as the OAC Basketball Player of the Week five times and is a two-time First Team All-OAC honoree.

Halko recorded 16 wins with two falls on the mat in the 125-pound weight class and finished fourth at the OAC Wrestling Championships. He helped lead Muskingum to a six-match winning streak which was the longest since the 1998-99 season. On the pitch, Halko saw action in six games.

Senior softball catcher Kari Hoying (Russia/Russia Local) was recognized as the Barbara Steiner Outstanding Senior Female Athlete, while senior wrestler Dave Minner (Marion/Marion Pleasant) and senior cross country/track athlete Justin Walters (Pickerington/Pickerington Central) were acknowledged as the William G. Moore Outstanding Senior Male Athletes.

Hoying has helped lead the nationally-ranked softball team to four straight OAC regular season titles, three straight NCAA Regional tournaments and two NCAA World Series appearances. She is a two-time OAC Gayle Lauth Player of the Year honoree and two-time Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division III All-American. Additionally, Hoying holds the OAC record for hits in a season with 82.

Minner is an All-Ohio Athletic Conference honoree and the reigning 157-pound OAC champion. He led the Muskies this season with 31 wins and five falls en route to representing Muskingum at the NCAA National Wrestling Championships. Minner, an OAC Wrestler of the Week honoree, ended his stellar career with 85 wins and was named Academic All-American by the NCAA Division III Wrestling Coaches Association. Minner’s success on the mat this season helped lead the Muskies to a six-match winning streak which was the longest since the 1998-99 campaign.

Walters, an Economics and Education major, who carries a 4.00 grade-point-average, is an ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American and United States Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic Award honoree. He is the current Muskingum record holder in the indoor mile, distance medley relay, 1,000 meter, 3,000 meter, 4x800 and 3,000 meter steeplechase. Walters is the two-time reigning Ohio Athletic Conference champion in the steeplechase and won the All-Ohio championship in the steeplechase in 2008. His accomplishments have earned him All-OAC and OAC Track Athlete of Week honors.

Senior softball outfielder Kelli Mann (Canton/Perry), senior softball catcher Ashley Burkett (Toledo/St. Ursula Academy), senior cross country athlete Melissa Kollman (New Philadelphia/Tuscarawas Central Catholic), senior men’s basketball forward Andy Glass (Medina), senior football offensive lineman Joe Rohrig (Wheeling, W.Va./The Linsly School), senior football defensive back Jordan Rhodes (Somerset/Sheridan), senior football offensive lineman Kirk Washburn (Millersport), senior cross country/track athlete Tom Aluise (Columbus/Bexley), senior cross country athlete Justin Metzger (Lakeview/Indian Lake), were all honored with the Greg Rigger Dedication to Sport Award. The award is bestowed upon senior student-athletes at Muskingum College who show excellence in associated areas of dedication to sport, leadership, and practice habits. The athlete must have participated for all four years of his/her collegiate career, be held in high esteem by his/her fellow teammates and also exhibit the qualities of loyalty and discipline.

Hoying and senior baseball designated hitter Brock Huntsman (Barnesville) were honored with the OAC Clyde Lamb Award. Criteria for the award include at least two years participation in an OAC-sponsored sport, senior status, a minimum grade point average of 3.00 and sportsmanlike conduct in a manner that has brought credit to the student-athlete and his or her institution. Hoying, a physical education major, carries a 3.53 grade-point-average. Huntsman, a biology/environmental science major, carries 3.41 grade-point-average. He is a career .308 hitter with 89 runs and 84 RBI’s. Huntsman is an Academic All-OAC and All-OAC honoree who has played in 123 collegiate contests. This season, he is second on the squad with four home runs and 26 RBI’s.