By: Jolie Winemiller ’19, assistant editor
Not one but two student-athletes received the MAC Rookie of the Year award for the Men’s Cross Country and Women’s Volleyball teams.
Noah Griffin, a freshman cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field athlete, was named the Rookie of the Year in the MAC Conference. Reily Shelly, a freshman outside and right slide hitter, was named the Rookie of the Year in the MAC Conference for women’s volleyball.
“I contribute my success to my coach, James O’Brien, for developing and cultivating my skills as a runner and putting it all together to shape my freshman season,” Griffin said. “I also contribute it to my mom, who has always pushed me to go beyond what I thought I could do and never settle for anything less than my very best.”
At the MAC Championship, LVC men’s cross country team finished sixth as a team. Griffin placed 23rd with a time of 27:53.7 and received the ROTY award after the race.
“It was a goal at the beginning of the season,” Griffin said. “Getting caught up in the success of my team-mates caused it to drift to the back of my mind until I finished my race at MAC’s and realized it was still a possibility. The accumulation of all of the hard work of my season was absolutely incredible seeing it all pay off in the end.”
Shelly had an impressive season in 2018. She is second on the team with 172 kills, has 19 service aces and 232 digs this season. She finished 10 of the matches with double-digits in digs. Her career best for digs was played against Rowan University with 19.
“I contribute my success to my teammates and coaches who have always encouraged and supported me at all times,” Shelly said. “I feel honored being Rookie of the year, it was something that I did not expect but it shows that my hard work and dedication was noticed, nothing is impossible and that you can do anything if you set your mind to it.”
The volleyball team fell to Arcadia in the MAC Tournament Semifinals. The cross country team is back in action on Nov. 10 for the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships. Griffin along with the men’s and women’s cross country teams will compete at DeSales University.
Photos provided by Noah Griffin and Reily Shelly