Five-Time All-American Runs Thursday at NCAA Outdoor Meet
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletes Association announced its five female and five male finalists for the 2022-23 Ken B. Jones Award, presented by Summit Pointe Financial Group. The Ken B. Jones Award recognizes the Association's top female and male student-athletes from the academic year. The 2022-23 female finalists are golfer Morgan Brasser (Fort Hays State), long/triple jumper Auna Childress (Pittsburg State), soccer player Mackenzie Dimarco (Emporia State), softball player Sydni Hawkins (Missouri Western) and pole vaulter Madi Wulfekotter (Central Missouri). The male finalists are wrestler Dalton Abney (Central Oklahoma), soccer player Ryan McCully (Northeastern State), distance runner Matthew Oglesby (Pitt State), pole vaulter Ryan Stanley (Fort Hays) and distance runner Luke Stuckey. Stuckey (McCool Junction/York H.S.) will compete in the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships this weekend in Pueblo, Colo. He is ranked 12th nationally at 1,500-meters (3:44.76) with event prelims set for Thursday (6:25 p.m. Central) and finals on Saturday (6:45 p.m. Central). The fifth-year senior has already earned All-American status this year in cross country (36th at NCAA's) and indoor track (third in the mile and eighth in the distance medley relay). He won the MIAA indoor title in the mile and was runner up in the 1,500; he holds school records in both events. Next, Stuckey has earned 10 All-MIAA honors, been named All-Region nine times (cross, indoor & outdoor track combined) and is a five-time All-American. Off the course and track, he maintains a 3.98 cumulative GPA as a Biology (Medical) major, is a five-time MIAA Scholar Athlete and has been a member of the UNK Dean's List since the fall of 2018. Finally, Stuckey has volunteered his time with several organizations including Habitat For Humanity, the Salvation Army, Crane River Theatre, St. Luke's Episcopal Church and worked at the State High School and UNK High School cross/track meets. Finalist were selected from female and male nominations at various MIAA member schools. A 15-member committee comprised of one administrator from each full-member MIAA institution and the conference office ranked each candidate based on excellence in three categories: Athletic Achievement during the 2022-23 academic year, Career Academic Achievements, and Community/Campus Service during the 2022-23 Academic Year. The finalists will be recognized at the 2023 MIAA Awards Celebration presented by Husch Blackwell on Tuesday, June 6 in the Music Hall at the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, Mo. The female and male winners will be announced during the event as well. Reservations for the 2023 MIAA Awards Celebration can be made by completing the form, available here. To see a complete list of the award's past recipients, click here. UNK's Matt Malcom (wrestling) won the 2021-22 award, the first Loper to do so. About the Ken B. Jones Award The Ken B. Jones award is named after the MIAA's first full-time commissioner and recognizes the conference's top Female and Male Student-Athlete. Mr. Jones was appointed league commissioner in 1981 and the inaugural award, in his honor, began in the 1993-94 academic year. Each institution may nominate one female and one male student-athlete. The nominees must have completed at least their junior season of athletics eligibility by June 1 of the academic year of nomination. A nominee must have at least a 3.25 cumulative grade-point average through the previous full semester term through February 1 of the academic year of nomination at the certifying member institution. A 13-member committee comprised of one administrator from each MIAA institution and the conference office ranks each candidate based on excellence in three categories: Athletic Achievement in that academic year, Career Academic Achievements and Community/Campus Service during the Academic Year. The committee announces its five finalists 14 days before naming its winner at the annual MIAA Awards Celebration.
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