February 22, 2017
BLUFFTON, Ohio - Earning First Team All-Heartland Conference honors at the Indoor Heartland Conference Track and Field championships following his victory in the pole vault was junior KYLE KNEZOVICH (Utica). He highlighted a day of both school and personal records as the men placed third while the women took fifth at Rose-Hulman on Saturday, Feb. 18.
Knezovich was the Beaver athlete of the day with a winning school-record clearance 15’ 5” in pole vault; a 5th in the high hurdles; 400 leg of the 3rd place distance medley relay; and leadoff in the school-record 2nd place finishing 4 x 400 relay (3:28.75).
Three men, including the Heartland Conference Freshman of the Year, earned Second Team acclaim for their work on Saturday. Stanley Williams (Sterling Heights, Mich./Chippewa Valley) continued his impressive rookie season with the Beavers, earning top freshman honors in the process. In addition to his relay efforts, which included a 2nd place in the school-record 4 X 400, Williams went 2nd in long jump, 3rd in the high jump and 10th in the 200 meters.
Senior Jack Fisher (Norwalk/St. Paul) anchored the 1600 meters in the 3rd place distance medley relay; brought home 2nd place finishes in both the mile (4:28.32) and 800 (2:00.62) and contributed a quick leg to the 4 x 400. Prior to anchoring the 4 x 400, sophomore Quincy Salcido (Van Wert) netted a 2nd in the 400 meters with a PR 50.35 and 7th in the 200, also a PR, 23.05.
Sophomore Jacob Hill (Dayton/Wayne) and freshman Connor Gulick (St. Louisville/Utica) earned Honorable Mention All-HCAC recognition after teaming with Knezovich and Fisher on the 3rd place distance medley relay squad.
In conjunction with the All-HCAC honorees, the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference also announced the All-HCAC Sportsmanship Team. Junior Erick Benge (Monrovia, Ind./Monrovia) was selected to the All-Sportsmanship Team from Bluffton. This award has been developed as part of a conference-wide sportsmanship initiative. Members of the All-HCAC Sportsmanship team are selected by the coaches and their teammates as individuals who demonstrate the ideals of positive sportsmanship both on and off the field/court of competition.
Several All-Heartland Conference athletes will compete Saturday, Feb. 25 at Anderson University in preparation or for potential qualification to the NCAA championship meet in March.
-BEAVERS-
