RELEASE DATE: 3/30/09

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mallory Moore and Mike Gray named MU Winter Athletes of the Year

MANSFIELD – Women’s basketball standout Mallory Moore (Beech Creek/Central Mountain) and track and field record-holder Mike Gray (Elmira,NY/Horseheads) have been named the 2008-09 Mansfield University Female and Male Winter Athletes of the Year.

Moore led the Mountaineers in scoring (10.9 ppg) and rebounding (6.7 rpg) as a freshman this season. She was the leading scorer in 10 games during the season and leading rebounder 17 times. Moore also had the highest shooting percentage on the team and ranked second in steals.

A two-time PSAC East Freshman of the Week selection, Moore is just the third freshman in school history to lead the team in scoring. She also ranked among the top 20 in the PSAC this season in offensive rebounds, overall rebounding and free throw percentage.

Gray enjoyed a record-breaking season for the Mountaineer men’s indoor track and field team this year. A junior, Gray was almost unbeatable against NCAA Division II completion in the shot put while shattering the school record in the weight throw a combined eight times during the season.

Gray became just the third Mountaineer male athlete to capture a conference indoor championship winning the PSAC indoor title with a toss of 52-07.25 feet – more than 2 ½ feet better then the next closest competitor. He also earned All-PSAC honors by finishing third in the weight throw with a school –record throw of 55-03.75.

In addition to the athlete of the year, each winter sport also announced its Most Valuable Player and Most Improved Player of the Year awards.

Men’s Basketball – MVP Yuseff Carr, MIP Chris Pender
Women’s Basketball – MVP Courtney Brooks, MIP Rebecca Pollack
Women’s Swimming – MVP Tricia Learn, MIP Megan Smickley
Men’s Indoor T&F – MVP Mike Gray, MIP Sean Vallenweider
Women’s Indoor T&F – MVP Brooke McDaniel, MIP Erica Ferguson