As a result of being nominated for and winning the North Coast Athletic Conference's (NCAC) 2023 Don Hunsinger Award, recent Kenyon College graduate Mart Niehoff advanced as one of two conference nominees for the Division III Commissioners Association (D3CA) Men's Sport Student-Athlete of the Year award.
Much like the Hunsinger Award, the Men's Sport Student-Athlete of the Year honor recognizes graduating student-athletes who distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership. Niehoff, a member of the Owls swimming and diving team, graduated in May with a near-perfect grade point average as an economics and mathematics major. He was a constant on Kenyon's Merit List, a two-time College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Scholar All-American and a three-time member of the NCAC Academic Honor Roll. In 2023, Niehoff was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and earned high honors and distinction in economics. He was also inducted into the Pi Mu Epsilon Mathematics Honor Society in 2021.
As a result of his hard work and discipline in the classroom, Niehoff was recently named a recipient of an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. Away from the pool, Niehoff served as a tutor for multiple math and economics classes, and his proficiency with numbers led to him volunteering his time, for two years, as the swimming and diving team's treasurer. He was also a member of the team's bonding committee, in which he coordinated events to encourage team cohesion and help teammates develop leadership skills. His volunteer work also included participation in the Walk to End Alzheimer's and as a meet-management worker during Kenyon track and field events.
Niehoff wrapped up his collegiate swimming career with qualification for the 2023 NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships. At the meet, he helped the Owls to a runner-up finish in the team standings while claiming an All-American performance after capturing the national title in the 200-yard freestyle relay. During the 2023 NCAC Championship, Niehoff was a part of the conference title-winning team in the 200-yard freestyle relay.
The initial round of voting for the D3CA award will be conducted by commissioners within each of the 10 regions, with the top honoree (including ties) earning Regional Student-Athletes of the Year honors. Those regional winners will then be recognized as finalists for the Awards Committee to select the Division III Commissioner's Association Men's Sport Student-Athlete of the Year.
