Muskingum University Athletic Department honors 23 student-athletes

NEW CONCORD, OHIO, April 28, 2011 -The Muskingum University Athletic Department has announced that a total of 23 student-athletes were recognized for their achievements both in the classroom and on the field.

Freshman volleyball libero Kim Seitter (Dayton/Fairmont), freshman women’s basketball guard Gabbi Davis (Wintersville/Indian Creek) and freshman track & field athlete D.J. Smith (Cleveland/Lutheran East) were presented with the William F. Lange Outstanding Freshmen Awards.

Seitter played in all 30 matches and led the team in digs (591) and was second in service aces (19). She averaged 5.4 digs per set in her 109 sets played.

Davis, who saw action in all 26 games, averaged 6.8 points per outing with 2.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists. She tallied 26.8 minutes per contest and was third on the squad in three-pointers made (34).

Smith, an All-Ohio Athletic Conference honoree, set the school indoor record in the weight throw with his heave of 52-7.50 at the OAC Indoor Track & Field Championships. He also set the school mark in the outdoor hammer throw with his toss of 157-6.00 at the All-Ohio Championships.

Sophomore women’s basketball guard and softball infielder Jendy Weppler (Whipple/Gahanna Lincoln) and sophomore football linebacker and track & field athlete Steve Stooksbury (Centerburg/Highland) were honored with the Ann White and Roy "Red" Turner Strive for Excellence Awards.

Weppler played in 20 basketball games and averaged 2.4 points and 1.4 rebounds per outing. She registered 22 assists and averaged 15.5 minutes per game. On the softball field, Weppler saw action in 10 games before a season-ending injury. In her limited time, Weppler had seven hits, six RBIs and two steals.

Stooksbury saw action in eight games on the gridiron and logged 20 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. For track & field, Stooksbury has shined in the shot put and discus. He has set personal best marks this year in both events. In outdoor season, Stooksbury has logged throws of 47-3.00 and 130-6.00 in the shot put and discus, respectively. In indoor season, he set his best mark of 47-3.50 in the shot put.

Senior softball first baseman Mary Margaret Boda (Delaware/Buckeye Valley) was recognized as the Barbara Steiner Outstanding Senior Female Athlete, while senior track & field athlete Demetrius Bailey (Olean, N.Y.) and senior football quarterback Jake Burns (Marion/Pleasant) were acknowledged as the William G. Moore Outstanding Senior Male Athlete.

Boda, a two-time Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division III All-American, is a three-time All-Ohio Athletic Conference honoree and OAC Hitter of the Week selection. She leads the team in batting average (.458), hits (38), doubles (14), home runs (3), RBIs (21), slugging percentage (.735) and on-base percentage (.545). Throughout her outstanding career, Boda has helped lead the Muskies to three OAC Tournaments, one OAC championship, one NCAA Regional Softball title and one NCAA World Series appearance. She was recognized her freshman year with the William F. Lange Outstanding Freshman Award.

Bailey is a four-time indoor NCAA national qualifier in the triple jump, three-time outdoor NCAA national qualifier in the triple jump, four-time Ohio Athletic Conference champion in the indoor triple and three-time Ohio Athletic Conference champion in the outdoor triple jump and garnered All-OAC in the indoor long jump. Overall, Bailey is an eight-time All-OAC honoree. He is the Muskingum record holder in the indoor triple jump (46-10.75), outdoor triple jump (48-3.50) and pentathlon (3,017). Bailey owns the All-Ohio Championship records in both the indoor triple jump and outdoor triple jump and is the meet record holder in the triple jump at the Muskingum Amy Adams Memorial Meet, Kenyon Invitational Meet and the Allegheny Gator Invitational. He owns the facility records in the triple jump at the Muskingum Johnson Family Track, the Capital University Center and the Allegheny College Stadium. Bailey was honored his freshman year with the William F. Lange Outstanding Freshman Award and his sophomore year with the Roy "Red" Turner Strive for Excellence Award.

Burns, who directed the Muskingum spread-option offense, ended his tenure as the all-time career leader at Muskingum in passing yards (5,170) and total offense (6,265 yards). Throughout his time on the field, Burns rewrote the Muskie record book and stands atop numerous categories including passing yards in a season (1,866), passing attempts in a career (759), passing completions in a career (434), passing touchdowns for a season (14), passing attempts in a season (269), passing completions for a season (163), total offense for a season (2,326 yards) total offense for a game (381 yards) and is tied for all-time record in passing touchdowns for a career (30) and total touchdowns in a season (23). He was a two-time All-Ohio Athletic Conference honoree and OAC Football Player of the Week selection.

Senior volleyball middle hitter Diana Biller (Louisville) and senior wrestler Michael Halko (Grove City/Bishop Ready) were honored with the Ohio Athletic Conference 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.

Biller, a business and economics major, carries a 4.0 grade-point-average. She was second on the team with 196 kills and had a team-high .267 hitting percentage, which ranked seventh in the league. She ranked first on the team with 99 total blocks, including 54 solo blocks. Biller is a two-time Academic All-OAC selection and was honored with ESPN Academic All-District IV accolades.

Halko, a biology/pre-medicine major, carries a 3.74 grade-point-average and is a two-time Academic All-OAC honoree and OAC Scholar-Athlete of the Month recipient. He is a two-time placer at the OAC Wrestling Championships and has been honored by the league with OAC Wrestler of the Week honors.

Senior women’s basketball post Yasmyn Inskeep (Rushsylavania/Ben Logan), senior baseball pitcher Austin Frederici (Bellville/Northmor), senior men’s soccer goalie Matt Seas (Westerville/South), senior men’s golfer David Snider (Coshocton), senior football linebacker Brian Madzia (Cleveland/Trinity), senior football running back Joe Shafer (Medina), senior cross country runner and track athlete Bri Lally (Columbus/Whetstone), senior track & field athlete Ben Pasley (Granville), senior men’s tennis player Malcolm Reed (Squirrell Hill/The University School), senior wrestler Shawn Feistamel (Solon), senior men’s basketball guard Logan Scott (Loudonville), senior volleyball middle hitter Mary Richardson (Marion/Marion Catholic) and volleyball outside hitter Christine Stephan (Lancaster/Bloom Carroll) were all honored with the Greg Riggar Dedication to Sport Award. The award is bestowed upon senior student-athletes at Muskingum 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.