Michigan State Names Athletes Of The Year
Michigan State University announced the George Alderton Athletes of the Year on Thursday.
We have co-winners on the men's side, they are tennis star Ozan Baris and track and field standout Heath Baldwin.
As for the women's side, the honoree is gymnast Skyla Schulte
Baldwin, a senior, was national runner-up in the heptathlon at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships. And he is trying to make the United States Olympic Team this summer in track and field.
Baris, a sophomore, was a semifinalist at number 1 singles in this spring's NCAA Championships. And he led the Spartans to the NCAA Tournament in the team competition.
He is the first men's tennis player ever honored with the Alderton Award.
As for Schulte, a junior from Bolingbrook, Ill, helped the Spartans win the regular season Big Ten title and a victory in the Big Ten postseason tournament. In addition to that, she made the NCAA Championships in floor exercise. And was named second-team All-American in that discipline.
Hockey captain Nash Nienhaus (a senior) was named the winner of the Chester Brewer Leadership Award. Nash was instrumental in the Spartans resurgence in hockey. He led State to the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles this season, and a berth in the NCAA Tournament regional finals.
Field hockey star Ashley Harlock won the Dr. James Feurig Achievement and Service Award. Harlock was a 4.0 student and graduated with honors this past spring with a nomination to be a prestigious Rhodes Scholar.
You can find the entire list of award winners here.