FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, March 6, 2009

CONTACT: Ted Breidenthal 816/285-1419 tbreidenthal@d3independents.org www.d3independents.org

 

Spelts, Atkins Named Association of Division III Independents

Student-Athletes of the Month Award Winner for February

 

KANSAS CITY, MO.--- Jackie Spelts, a junior distance runner for Nebraska Wesleyan University women's indoor track and field team, and Zach Atkins, a junior first baseman for the University of Dallas baseball team, were named today as the recipients of the Association of Division III Independents Student-Athlete of the Month award for February 2009. 

Spelts won three of the four February races she competed in, setting records in both the 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters.  Spelts broke the school record by 15 seconds in the 5,000 at the Frank Sevigne Invitational, with a time of 17:19.57.  She placed fifth in the race behind four NCAA Division I runners.  The next week, she placed first in the 3,000 meters at the Dennis Young Classic, breaking the school record with a time of 10:15.54.  Spelts was named the meet’s Outstanding Female Performer for her record-setting time in the 5,000, as she broke the conference meet record by 12 seconds.  She has finished first in all but one race this season.

Atkins, a 6’4” first baseman, hit a team leading .464 in eight February games.  He had 13 hits in 28 at bats, and nine of the hits were for extra bases.  Atkins led the team in several statistical categories, including: 13 runs, five home runs, 16 RBI, 33 total bases and a 1.179 slugging percentage.  He also had three doubles, a triple, a sacrifice fly, was walked five times and possessed an on-base percentage of .529.  In the field, Atkins had 71 putouts and a .987 fielding percentage.

 

The Association of Division III Independents consists of 17 Division III independent institutions that have joined together to recognize student-athletes at independent institutions, and to provide exempted postseason championship competition in nine sports in 2008-09.  The Association recognizes outstanding athletic achievements of its student-athletes on a weekly, monthly and annual basis.  The Association provides statistical services for its members in seven sports.  In addition, it also will announce All-Independent teams at the conclusion of nine sports this year.

All competing student-athletes from the Association’s 17 members were eligible for the award.  Each school was allowed to nominate its top performing male and female student-athletes from February. The award recipients were selected after a vote of the Association’s Student-Athlete Recognition Committee.