The Muskingum Student-Athlete Advisory Committee recently held its 4th Annual Golden Hook Awards presented by Jeff Drennen Dealerships in the Anne C. Steele Center. Golden Hook Awards were presented in 16 categories to Muskingum student-athletes and teams and the Muskingum Athletic Department Award honorees were also announced.

Senior wrestler Jordan Burkholder was presented the Golden Hook Breakthrough Male Athlete of the Year Award. Burkholder went 30-4 overall, was named First Team All-Ohio Athletic Conference and was an NCAA National Qualifier. 

Sophomore volleyball outside/middle hitter Brynn Guist was presented the Golden Hook Breakthrough Female Athlete of the Year Award. Guist helped lead the Muskies with 316 kills, 100 blocks, and was named Honorable Mention All-OAC

Senior wrestler Antonio Zapata was presented with the Golden Hook Spark Plug Award. Zapata led the Muskies in the heavyweight class with 13 wins and 5 falls. He finished sixth at the NCAA Regional Championships.

The Muskingum men's basketball team won the Golden Hook Award for Best Team Comeback Win for its 89-83 overtime victory against Heidelberg. The Muskies trailed by 16 points with five minutes to play and rallied to tie the game on freshman guard Trey Singleton's epic three-point shot at the buzzer. The Muskies went on to win the game 89-83 in overtime.

Sophomore volleyball outside/middle hitter Brynn Guist was presented the Golden Hook for Biggest Hit. Guist registered a 13-kill, two-block performance against Kean.

Senior softball outfielder Krissy Hughes was presented with the Best Leg Golden Hook Award. Hughes set the school records for stolen bases in a season and career, doubles and runs scored.

The volleyball sophomore duo of setter Erin Dickson and outside hitter Brooke Fatheree were presented the Golden Hook for Best Duo. Dickson led the OAC in assists with 1,210 and Fatheree led the league in kills with 452.

The Muskingum volleyball team won the Golden Hook for Best Win with its 3-2 victory at Otterbein in the semifinals of the OAC Tournament.

Volleyball sophomore setter Erin Dickson won the Golden Hook Award for Hands of Gold. She led the OAC in assists with 1,210.

Senior wrestler Jordan Burkholder was presented the Golden Hook Award for Best Male Single-Game Performance. Burkholder went 4-0 to claim the 125-pound championship at the Washington & Jefferson Tournament and did not allow an offensive point to be scored against him.

Senior softball pitcher/outfielder Rachel Eberling was presented the Golden Hook Award for Best Female Single-Game Performance. Eberling fired a complete game win against #24 Baldwin Wallace with six strikeouts and no earned runs – and also hit a solo home run to tie the game that the Muskies eventually won, 3-1.

Senior men's lacrosse attacker Tucker Haas was presented the Golden Hook Award for Comeback Athlete of the Year. He returned to the field a year after a knee injury to score 22 goals and register 11 assists.

The Muskingum softball team was honored with the Outstanding Team of the Year Golden Hook Award. The Muskies concluded the regular season winning the OAC Regular Season Championship and hosting rights to the OAC Tournament. Muskingum stood at 31-9 overall and 15-3 in the OAC. The Muskies received votes in the NFCA Top 25 Poll for seven weeks and were ranked as high as 25th. 

The Muskingum men's and women's tennis teams were presented the Hoops for Hunger Food Drive Champion award. The athletic department raised over $700 in cash donations and more than 500 canned food/non-perishable items that were donated to the New Concord College Drive Presbyterian Church Food Pantry. 

Sophomore men's basketball guard Aaron Gehlken, sophomore women's cross country runner Macy McAdams, junior women's soccer forward Emily Roberts, softball sophomore infielder Karsyn Shaffer, softball sophomore catcher Fran Stefano and junior men's soccer defender Colton Wilson were presented the Golden Hook Scholar-Athlete Awards. The scholar-athlete awards recognize student-athletes that have 3.9 GPA or higher, sophomore standing and have at least three semesters completed at Muskingum.

The Muskingum softball team received the Golden Hook Team Academic Award for having the highest GPA (3.47) as a team during the 2018 fall semester.

The Muskingum Athletic Department recognized 22 student-athletes for their achievements both in the classroom and on the field.

Senior football defensive back Jakob Yost, senior football defensive lineman Sean Gerst, senior football offensive lineman Adam Widder, senior wrestler Toby Warrington, senior men's tennis player Levi Hall, senior men's soccer goalie Josh Routte, senior softball infielder Kylie Zifer, senior women's soccer goalie Heather Maxwell, senior women's basketball forward Morgan Gossett, senior men's basketball forward Brandon Keyes and senior baseball pitcher Kyle Gannon were all honored with the Greg Riggar Dedicated to Sport Award. The award is bestowed upon senior student-athletes at Muskingum who show excellence in associated areas of dedication to sport, leadership, and practice habits. The athlete must have participated for all four years of his/her collegiate career, be held in high esteem by his/her fellow teammates and also exhibit the qualities of loyalty and discipline.

Senior women's soccer defender Rachael Waite and senior men's lacrosse attacker Tucker Haas and sophomore track & field athlete Robert Reicher were honored with the Ann White and Roy "Red" Turner Strive for Excellence Awards.

Waite helped anchor the Muskingum backline en route to aiding in three shutout wins. She was named the OAC Scholar-Athlete of the Month in September and was honored with Academic All-OAC and Academic All-Ohio accolades.

Haas returned from a knee injury to score 22 goals and record 11 assists, while Reicher led the Muskies in the hammer throw, discus and shot put where he ranks in the top 50 of Division III. 

Senior softball outfielder Krissy Hughes, sophomore volleyball outside hitter Brooke Fatheree and senior wrestler Jordan Burkholder were all honored with the Donna J. Newberry Pursuit of Perfection Award.

Hughes led the Muskies in batting average (.452), at-bats (146), hits (66), run scored (56), stolen bases (34) and doubles (24). 

Fatheree led the team in kills (452) and logged 446 digs, 48 blocks, and 43 assists.

Burkholder went 30-4 overall, was named First Team All-Ohio Athletic Conference and was an NCAA National Qualifier. He was ranked in the top 10 of the 125-pound weight class throughout the season.

Freshman softball designated player Haley Hawk, freshman men's basketball guard Trey Singleton and freshman baseball outfielder Brett Carson were presented with the William F. Lange Outstanding Freshmen Awards. 

Hawk earned led the conference with 42 RBIs off of 56 hits. She also ranked third in the OAC batting .438, secured 12 doubles, and ranked fourth in the conference with six home runs.

Singleton played in all 25 games and averaged 8.9 points and 20.8 minutes per contest. He shot .465 from the field and .466 from behind the arc.

Carson led the team in numerous hitting statistics including batting average (.319), hits (46), doubles (9), RBIs (27), walks (25) and total bases (55). He started in all 37 games and even saw action in four games as a pitcher. 

Senior softball pitcher/outfielder Rachel Eberling was recognized as the Barbara Steiner Outstanding Senior Female Athlete, while senior wrestler Jordan Burkholder was acknowledged as the William G. Moore Outstanding Senior Male Athlete.

Eberling led the Muskies with an 11-4 record on the year, with a 2.90 ERA, and a team-high 50 strikeouts. She batted .339 with 37 RBIs off of 43 hits. She also belted 11 doubles and an OAC-best 11 home runs.

Burkholder went 30-4 overall, was named First Team All-Ohio Athletic Conference and was an NCAA National Qualifier. He was ranked in the top 10 of the 125-pound weight class throughout the season.

Senior softball catcher and biology major Jolyn Shunk and senior wrestler and health and physical education major Jordan Burkholder were honored with the Ohio Athletic Conference Clyde Lamb Award. Criteria for the award include at least two years participation in an OAC-sponsored sport, senior status, a minimum grade point average of 3.00 and sportsmanlike conduct in a manner that has brought credit to the student-athlete and his or her institution. 

Shunk was a two-time Academic All-OAC honoree, a member of the Tri-Beta National Biological Honor Society, Omicron Delta Kappa Academic Honorary President, Lambda Sigma National Honor Society President, and an NFCA Academic All-American Scholar. She was also named All-OAC Honorable Mention in 2018.

Burkholder was a three-time Academic All-American and three-time All-OAC honoree. He ended his career with 98 wins and was an NCAA National Qualifier. 

2019 Golden Hook Awards Presented by Jeff Drennen Dealerships