RELEASE DATE: 5/08/07

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Annual Spring Sports Awards Announced

MANSFIELD – The Mansfield University Spring Sports banquet took place last week as the track and field, baseball, and softball teams handed out their Most Valuable Player and Most Improved Player awards. The spring Athletes of the Year were not announced yet as post season awards such as All-PSAC and All-Region are not in yet and the Mountie track squad is still competing.

Baseball

Mansfield University senior standout Ryan Wyland was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2007 Mountaineer baseball team last week at the annual spring sports awards banquet.

The senior who is a projected draft pick in the upcoming Major League Draft rapped out a team high 47 hits this season en route to a .331 batting average on a team high 142 at bats.

The Mountaineer leadoff batter displayed his skills on the mound this season as well, leading the team in wins with a 5-2 record and a 3.40 ERA. Wyland threw six complete games including a ten inning heartbreaking 5-4 loss to the number 2 ranked team in the Nation at Kutztown.

Sophomore Chris Miller was named the Most Improved Player on the 2007 squad after coming up big for the Mounties down the stretch. Miller started in 20 games and finished the season with an impressive .344 batting average in 64 at bats.

The young Mountaineers finished the season at 16-22 overall and 7-13 in the PSAC East but things are looking up for next season as 17 members of the squad were freshman and sophomores this season.

Softball

Junior Jess Christ was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2007 Mountaineer Softball team at the annual spring sports banquet held last week.

The junior slugger led the team in batting this season with a .336 average including 37 hits and a team high 11 RBI.

Junior Whitney Brown was named the Most Improved Player this season after improving to the third best batting average on the team. Brown rapped out 21 hits, 10 of which were doubles, for a .259 batting average.

Brown also appeared on the mound recording 14 strikeouts in 25 innings of work.

Track and Field

Mike Gray and Dave Sanford were named the 2007 co-MVP's of the Mountaineer track and field team last week at the annual spring sports banquet while Nicole Dann took home the women's MVP honor and Clarissa Correll was named the MIP.

Gray earned the MVP for his efforts in the field this season where he established a new Mansfield record in the discus and led the PSAC all season long. Gray finished second at the championships earning him All-Conference honors as a freshman.

Sanford, a junior, was named MVP for his efforts on the track where he qualified for the PSAC championships in two events this season. He improved on his personal best in the 1500 by over five seconds at the championships finishing sixth in the event.

Senior Nicole Dann was named the MVP outright this season after crushing her previous 800 and 1500 meter records. She managed to hit an NCAA Provisional qualifying time in the 1500 and then earned All-PSAC honors with a fourth place finish at the championships.

Correll, a sophomore, was named the MIP of the track squad after improving greatly in the 1500 meters. She qualified for the PSAC meet in the last chance of the season and then improved even more to score points with a seventh place finish at the championships. This is the third MIP award she has received in three different sports (XC, Basketball, Track).