April 29, 2009

Petz, Juden named Student Athletes of the Year

With another successful year of Cowley College athletics nearing an end, more than 350 people attended the college’s 2008 Athletic Awards Banquet Tuesday night in the Arkansas City Agri Business Building.

“It’s a great celebration and a way for us to honor our student athletes,” Cowley College athletic director Tom Saia said.

Saia, along with Tiger Booster Club President Mark Patrick, provided a run down of the Tiger athletic programs. Those in attendance were then treated to a steak dinner and slide show prior to the awards ceremony.

Then came time to announce the college’s Male and Female Student Athlete’s of the Year. This year’s winners were, Andy Petz of the baseball team, and Jacey Juden from the softball team.

Petz is the son of Tom and Susan Petz. The pre-engineering major has been a solid contributor to the Cowley College baseball team and as a student at the school. As a freshman, he batted .271 with eight doubles and 31 runs batted in, while splitting time at first base and behind the plate as he helped the Tigers capture the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division title.

As a sophomore, Petz has been one of the Tigers hottest hitters down the stretch as he is batting .444 over the past nine games. He helped Cowley capture its third straight conference title and is batting .327 with six doubles, two home runs and 16 runs batted in.

Having posted a 4.0 grade point average at Cowley, he was named the school’s October Student of the Month.

Along with playing baseball at Cowley, the pre-engineering major is also a resident assistant in the Storbeck Dormitory and serves as a Cowley tutor. After Cowley, he hopes to find a school with a good engineering program where he can continue playing baseball.

Juden is the daughter of Bob and Reatha Juden. The education major has enjoyed two extremely successful years at Cowley College. As a freshman member of the Lady Tiger softball team, she was named the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division Most Valuable Player as she went 22-5 with a 1.89 earned run average on the mound, while striking out 199 batters and walking only 38. She also batted .430 with three home runs and 40 runs batted in.

As a sophomore, she has tossed three perfect games, including the program’s first ever seven-inning perfect game, and has posted a record of 17-4. She has also put together another stellar season at the plate as she is batting .365 and is third on the team in home runs with eight, and runs batted in with 54.

She was named the school’s October Student-Athlete of the Month and was a finalist for Queen Alalah.
She recently helped lead the Cowley College softball team to its sixth straight Jayhawk East title and an undefeated conference season. She has signed to play softball next season at Northwest Oklahoma State.

It was then time to announce the winners of the Conrad and Janet Jimison Tiger Booster of the Year. Conrad spent 37 years working at Cowley College prior to retiring in 2005.

This year’s recipient of the award was Marshall Brentlinger of Arkansas City. Brentlinger is an avid Tiger supporter and can be seen at numerous Cowley College sporting events.

“I was surprised and honored to receive the award,” Brentlinger said.

You can find Brentlinger at every home cross country and track and field meet, including some away meets.

“The track and cross country teams make me feel like I am a part of them, I feel they appreciate me being there,” Brentlinger said.

With so many outstanding boosters to choose from, the decision was not an easy one.

“I would like to give a hundred of these out each year, we have got such a long list of wonderful boosters,” Saia said. “Marshall is one of the many we want to honor each year.”

The evening concluded with Cowley College President Dr. Patrick J. McAtee thanking the student athletes, coaches, and Saia for their hard work and dedication to Tiger athletics.

2008-2009 Student Athletes of the Month that were recognized at the banquet:
September — Courtney Goodrum, Women’s Basketball October — Jacey Juden, Softball November — Boomer Saia, Men’s Tennis December — Willy Lucero, Men’s Track January — Austin Sacket, Men’s Soccer February — Kasha Kelly, Volleyball March — Kati Rinehart, Spirit Squad April — Bernard Kamwa, Men’s Basketball May — Breayle Tackett, Softball