Knox College closed the 2007 fall athletics season with its annual Fall Sports Banquet Monday night in the Lincoln Room in Seymour Union. Knox College President Roger Taylor, Anne Taylor, Faculty Representative Larry Welch and Director of Athletics Chad Eisele presented awards. Head coaches also announced their 2007 team award winners and their 2008-09 team captains.

Leah Heister (Bristol, CT/Bristol Eastern High School) and Greg Leibach (St. Louis, MO/University High School) were honored as the Moller Cup and Hunter Scholastic Athletic Trophy award winners, respectively, for having achieved the highest scholastic average while earning letters in two sports during their junior years. Leibach is currently in Europe.

Heister earned letters with the soccer team and indoor and outdoor track and field teams in 2006-07. She led the Prairie Fire women's soccer team in scoring. She competed in the 100-meter hurdles and triple jump in the MWC Indoor Track and Field Championships, and in the 55-meter hurdles, long jump, triple jump and relay events at the conference outdoor track and field championships.

Leibach lettered in wrestling and baseball last year. The first baseman and designated hitter earned South Division all-conference baseball honors after hitting .349 with seven doubles and a team-best three home runs. "He is one of the most consistent athletes on the baseball team and comes to work hard every day," said head baseball coach Jami Isaacson. "His efforts in the classroom coincide with his efforts on the field, and he strives for excellence in both." Leibach also wrestled for the Prairie Fire at 197 pounds. Head wrestling coach Tony Islas described him as "the kind of kid you are elated to have on the team. To see him grow and to be an active part in his success is pretty much why coaches coach. From his freshman year when he struggled to find his niche on the mat, to a young man who was a place-finish away at regionals from being an academic all-American last year. I look forward to when he graduates so that I no longer will call him just one of my wrestlers, but one of my friends."

The K-Club Awards for Women and Men, conferred on the female and male student-athletes who maintained an outstanding academic record during their sophomore years, lettered in two sports and are selected by the Athletics Department staff as contributing most significantly to the athletics program, were presented to Jaclyn Anderson (Morton, IL/Morton High School) and Kevin Malone (Bushnell, IL/Bushnell-Prairie City High School). Malone is currently studying abroad.

Anderson earned letters last year in volleyball, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field. While appearing in all 26 matches, she led the Prairie Fire volleyball team in total blocks and service aces and finished second on the team in kills. She set a lifetime indoor PR in the high jump with a mark of 4' 8.75" at the 2007 Midwest Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships. She added a seventh-place finish in the high jump at the outdoor conference championships. She was also a member of relay teams that scored at the conference meets.

Malone lettered in football and baseball, and earned South Division all-conference honors as a centerfielder last season. He batted .350 and led Knox with 43 hits, 33 runs scored and 12 stolen bases. "He exemplifies everything we want at Knox College. Period," said Isaacson. "He defines the term student-athlete." As a kicker for the football team, he converted 10 extra points and one field goal in 2006. Head football coach Andy Gibbons said, "He is such a solid individual overall, in the classroom and on the football field."

The Arvid Pierre Zetterberg, Jr. Prizes for Women and Men were given to Ashton Heath (Maryville, IL/Nerinx Hall High School) and Sam Magnuson (Altona, IL/ROWVA High School). The prizes are given to the student-athlete who, during his/her first year, exemplify the highest qualities of character, scholarship and interest in sports.

As a first-year, Heath earned all-conference honors with her seventh-place finish at the 2006 Midwest Conference Women's Golf Championships. She had the second-lowest stroke average on the team as a freshman and was the team's low finisher in two tournaments. She was second on the team in five other events.

Magnuson was a baseball letter winner in 2007. As a first-year student-athlete, he started nine games and finished with a .304 batting average. "As a first-year, he contributed heavily and by the end of the season he was the starting shortstop," said Isaacson. "He is a leader both on the field and in the classroom."

2007 Fall Banquet Awards

Hunter Scholastic Athletic Trophy - Greg Leibach (St. Louis, MO)
Moller Cup - Leah Heister (Bristol, CT)
K-Club Award for Men - Kevin Malone (Bushnell, IL)
K-Club Award for Women - Jaclyn Anderson (Morton, IL)
Arvid P. Zetterberg, Jr. Prize for Men - Sam Magnuson (Altona, IL)
Arvid P. Zetterberg, Jr. Prize for Women - Ashton Heath (Maryville, IL)

2007 Fall Banquet Team Awards

Women's Tennis (Head Coach: Wendy Rogers)
Most Valuable Player - Monyca Fisher (Sr., Zion, IL)
Most Improved Player - Meredith Lirman (So., Seattle, WA)
2008-09 Captains - Alexa Hagen (Jr., St. Joseph, MN) and Jessica Wise (Jr., Cary, IL)

Men's and Women's Cross Country (Head Coach: Patrick Irwin)
Most Valuable Male Athlete - Avram Segaloff (Fr., Ann Arbor, MI) and Chris Mouzakitis (So., Swarthmore, PA)
Most Valuable Female Athlete - Karen Brophy (Jr., Galesburg, IL)
Most Improved Male Athlete - Jordan Lanfair (Fr., Chicago, IL)
Most Improved Female Athlete - Claire Knowlton (Fr., Westlake, OH)
2008-09 Captains (Men) - TBD
2008-09 Captains (Women) - TBD

Women's Golf (Head Coach: C.J. Rugh)
Most Valuable Player - Pam Wagner (Sr., Lake In The Hills, IL)
Most Improved Player - Sarah Janicik (Sr., Clarendon Hills, IL)
2008-09 Captains - TBD

Women's Soccer (Head Coach: Nikki McLellan)
Most Valuable Player - Leah Heister (Sr., Bristol, CT)
Most Improved Player - Rozie Smith (So., Tucson, AZ)
Rookie of the Year - Casey Patrick (Fr., Harleysville, PA)
2008-09 Captains - TBD

Men's Soccer (Head Coach: Lucas Robison)
Most Valuable Player - Cary Archer (Jr., Rockford, IL)
Most Improved Player - Evan Fisher (Jr., Topeka, KS)
Bruce Shadbolt Award - Clint Moore (Jr., Fort Lupton, CO)
Grenadier "Tough Guy" Award - Will Rutter (Sr., Chanute, KS)
2008-09 Captains - Cary Archer (Jr., Rockford, IL), Clint Moore (Jr., Fort Lupton, CO) and one TBD

Volleyball (Head Coach: Kim Schrader)
Most Valuable Player - Ashley Konicki (Jr., Oak Lawn, IL)
Most Improved Player - Christina Davis (So., Dolton, IL)
Lombardi Award - Greta Egge (So., St. Paul, MN)
2008-09 Captains - Jaclyn Anderson (Jr., Morton, IL) and one TBD

Football (Head Coach: Andy Gibbons)
Most Valuable Player (Offense) - Aaron Willits (Sr., Aledo, IL)
Most Valuable Player (Defense) - Tyler Hill (Sr., Naperville, IL)
Most Valuable Player (Special Teams) - Jarrett Corrow (Sr., Carlyle, IL)
Most Valuable Player (Senior) - Tyler Hill (Sr., Naperville, IL)
Tom Dean Award (MVP in Monmouth game) - Tighe Burke (Jr., Winnetka, IL)
Mike Cross Award(Most Valuable wide receiver) - John Boylan (Sr., Marengo, IL)
2008-09 Captains - Mike Kizior (Jr., Manteno, IL), Grant Guimond (Jr., Kankakee, IL) and Tighe Burke (Jr., Winnetka, IL)