This week has been athlete recognition week for Mount Vernon Nazarene University (Mount Vernon) and Kenyon College (Gambier). The MVNU Cougars and the Kenyon Lords each had two athletes recognized for their performances.
Honored by the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) for his finish in last Saturday’s Muskingum University Invitational, Kenyon College sophomore Keegan Minahan was declared winner of the conference’s Athlete of the Week award for men’s cross country. During the 8K race, Minahan had the fastest time among NCAC runners and captured an individual fourth-place finish in a field of 91 runners. He completed the course in a time of 28:11.7, just five seconds off the third-place runner’s pace and a little more than 38 seconds off the winning time of 27:33.3 set by Marietta College’s Braeden Wallace. Minahan’s efforts helped Kenyon to a third-place finish in the final team standings.
Also gaining NCAC honors was Kenyon College quarterback Ryan O’Leary, who was named the Football Offensive Player of the Week. In the Lords’ game against Allegheny, O’Leary was responsible for all four touchdowns in the 27-13 win. O’Leary went 13 of 24 on passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns. On the ground, the junior quarterback rushed for 18 yards and two scores. During the game, O’Leary punched in the Lord’s first touchdown. In the second quarter, he completed a 21-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Schnarre to cap off an 80-yard drive. O’Leary then used his legs again, finding the end zone for his second rushing touchdown on the day. The Lords’ last touchdown came on a 15-yard touchdown pass when the Manasquan, N.J., native found James Scotto, ending an 87-yard drive.
Getting in on the honor roll, Mount Vernon Nazarene University volleyball players Ellie Ruby and Nicole Winkler each earned Player of the Week recognition from the Crossroads League on Monday, Oct. 4. This marks the second time this season that Ruby has been named as the Crossroads League Defender of the Week. Ruby had a huge performance against the Grace College Lancers as she finished the match with 31 digs and nine assists. Winkler earned her second straight Attacker of the Week honor thanks to an all-around effort vs. the Lancers. Winkler had 17 kills, 18 digs and a .306 hitting percentage in the win.
