April 30, 2015
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University track and field team recently capped off another fine outdoor season with a phenomenal showing at the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships. The conference tilt was held on the campus of Transylvania University on April 24-25.
Sophomore TREY EVERETT (Sidney/Fairlawn) added a new event to his repertoire, the triple jump, one week before the conference championship and for his efforts, earned a second straight Men's Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year Award thanks to three gold medals in Lexington, Ky.! He dominated the competition with wins in the long jump and high jump as well as the triple jump! "It is a gift having an athlete of Trey's talent on our team. The contribution he made to the men's team score was immense with three individual wins and being a member of a relay. He was most deserving of the vote of the head coaches to be the Men's Field MVP of the meet." It marked a clean sweep for the sophomore who also took home the Indoor Male Field Athlete of the Year while being named the HCAC men's Field Athlete of the week six times this year!
JEFF PARKER (Bristol, Ind./Northridge) capped off a record-setting career with his fourth Heartland Conference javelin title. "I am extremely proud of Jeff for winning the javelin four years in a row," stated Coach Brandt. "He was a revelation when he picked up the javelin for the first time in his freshman year and took to the event like the proverbial duck to water."
Also coming home a champion was TERRILL WEBB (Kenton). In spite of a nagging injury which has plagued her throughout the season, Webb was able to keep her championship record intact, winning both the indoor and outdoor women's vault two years in a row. Coach Brandt had this to say about her talented sophomore "After struggling with a shoulder problem all season, it was most gratifying to see Terrill defend her pole vault title. She is so passionate about her event and very much wanted to bring the title back to Bluffton again."
Earning Second Team All-HCAC honors was freshman D'NAE REESE(Columbus/Upper Arlington) who placed second in the hammer. Coach Brandt said, "I am really proud of D'Nae for placing second in the hammer. She came in as the sixth seed but emerged as the runner-up. That's quite an accomplishment for a freshman. She was pretty choked up about her performance when she came out of the ring."
Also working his way to Honorable Mention All-Heartland Conference status was EDGAR GONZALEZ (Melvindale, Mich./Melvindale). "Edgar has had an up and down season in the hammer and I know he's not satisfied with his performance but he brought honor to the program with his third place finish," stated Coach Brandt."
Coach Brandt was proud of her athletes named to the HCAC All-Sportsmanship Team and had this to say about the two individuals honored this season. "D'Nae and KYLE KNEZOVICH (Utica) were most deserving of the coaches' votes for the outdoor track & field sportsmanship awards. D'Nae is a hard worker, she never has a negative word, she has a smile for everyone and every situation. Kyle is one of those athletes we can turn to when he need a 'hole" filled in an event. He will be there for his team."
-BEAVERS-