Kent State softball pitcher Andrea Scali earns MAC's Nan Harvey Award

Kent State redshirt senior pitcher Andrea Scali has received the 2022 Nan Harvey Award, given annually to a Mid-American Conference softball student-athlete who demonstrates the type of commitment, leadership, toughness and tenacious attitude of former Buffalo player, coach and administrator Nan Harvey.

Scali bounced back from three major knee injuries during her five-year career with the Golden Flashes. She was named MAC Pitcher of the Year in 2019, but following the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign suffered a season-ending knee injury in Kent State’s 2021 opener.

Scali returned to the circle this spring and earned Second Team All-MAC honors after finishing with seven wins and a 3.07 ERA. She’s been a consistent leader both on and off the field throughout her Kent State career.

Flashes sophomores Jessica LeBeau and Madison Hershberger also earned Second Team All-MAC accolades, while Kylie Ringler and Savannah Wing were voted to the MAC All-Freshman Team.

LeBeau is a second team choice for the second straight year. In MAC competition she ranked second in the league with a 2.13 ERA and .177 opponent batting average. LeBeau also hit three homers this spring.

Hershberger batted .333 and was tied for second on the team with six doubles despite being limited to 66 at-bats.

Ringler posted a 5-3 record with a 3.14 ERA and a team-high three shutouts in her first collegiate season, including just the fifth perfect game in program history in just her second start against Howard on Feb. 26.

Wing batted .274, and ranked second on the team with 31 hits while driving in 14 runs.

Colin McCracken, Cameron Shedenhelm earn MAC Medal of Excellence

Kent State student-athletes Colin McCracken and Cameron Shedenhelm have earned the MAC’s 2021-22 Medal of Excellence, presented annually to one male and one female student-athlete from the graduating class of each MAC institution.

McCracken was a two-time NCAA wrestling championships qualifier and 2022 MAC championships runner-up at 184 pounds. He finished his career with 80 victories, including 14 pins. McCracken was also earned two Scholar All-American honors and three Academic-All MAC awards. He claimed an undergraduate degree in applied engineering, and is now pursuing a Master's of Engineering Technology degree.

Shedenhelm was an All-MAC first-team women’s soccer selection in the fall, leading the conference in points (30) and goals (12). A two-time all-conference performer for her career, Shedenhelm ranks fifth in Kent State history in goals (24), sixth in points (65) and seventh in assists (17). She earned was a Second Team Academic All-American in 2021, and a three-time Academic All-MAC choice. Shedenhelm earned her undergraduate degree in business administration, and is pursuing an MBA.

Track and field: Flashes athletes earn wins in West Virginia

The Kent State track and field teams combined for eight event titles last weekend at the regular season-ending WVU Last Chance meet.

Nolan Landis recorded a season-best mark of 170 feet, 10 inches to win the discus, and also took first in the shot put (53-0.75). Grace Tennant captured the discus event with a personal-best mark of 181-2, Briana Wright added a victory in the hammer throw (177-11), and Leah Pasqualetti cleared a season-best 13-7.75 to win the women’s pole vault.

Jaheim Jones clocked a winning time of 21.63 seconds in the men's 200 meters, Baidy Ba ran the men's 800 meters in 1:52.86 to win the event, and Alex Stamper cruised to victory in the men's 5,000 meters (15:07.40).

Men's golf: Flashes dominate All-MAC team

Junior Chris Vandette, the 2021-22 MAC Golfer of the Year, was joined on the All-MAC First Team by Kent State teammates Josh Gilkison and Cade Breitenstine. Gilkison (grad student) was the individual champion at the 2022 MAC Championships, while Breitenstine (junior) also played a key role to help the Flashes secure their sixth straight MAC crown.

Sophomore Jordan Gilkison was named to the All-MAC Second Team.

Kent State will compete in the Norman Regional beginning May 27 in Oklahoma.

Women's lacrosse: Jackie Wolford, Jordan Zablo earn All-MAC accolades

Sophomore Jackie Wolford and junior Jordan Zablo were named All-MAC first-team after leading the Kent State women’s lacrosse team to the most successful season in the program’s short history.

Wolford set a program record with 40 goals, and ranked among the MAC’s top seven in shots per game (3rd, 5.82), goals per game (4th, 2.35), and points per game (7th, 2.71). The reigning MAC Freshman of the Year also recorded 28 draw controls, 22 ground balls, and 16 caused turnovers.

Zablo finished the season tied for eighth in the MAC in ground balls with 32 (1.88 per game). She also registered 15 draw controls, seven caused turnovers and four goals.

Flashes sophomore Lily Miller was named Second Team All-MAC. She led Kent State with 36 ground balls and was second on the team with 13 caused turnovers.

Volleyball: Will Boyd joins KSU coaching staff

Will Boyd has joined the Kent State volleyball coaching staff as an assistant under first-year head coach Haley Eckerman. Boyd served as an assistant coach at St. Edward's University this past fall, and will work with the Flashes' setters and middles.

Golf: Mackenzie Hughes, Corey Conners shine on PGA Tour

Former Kent State standouts Mackenzie Hughes and Corey Conners continue to enjoy stellar seasons on the PGA Tour.

Hughes recorded his third top-10 finish of the 2021-22 season, finishing in a tie for ninth at last week’s Wells Fargo Championship in Maryland to earn $218,250. He has pocketed just under $1.9 million on the tour this season, and currently ranks 34th in the FedExCup standings.

Conners tied for 21st at the Wells Fargo Championship, and has now cracked the top 35 in seven straight events. He’s currently ranked 32nd in the FedExCup standings, and has made $2.5 million this season.

Conners (32nd) and Hughes (60th) are both currently listed among the top 60 in the World Golf Rankings.

Former Kent State teammate Taylor Pendrith, a first-year member of the PGA Tour, has not played since mid-March due to a rib injury.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Kent State pitcher Andrea Scali earned the 2022 Nan Harvey Award