Kent State women's athletic program earns second consecutive Jacoby Trophy
For the second consecutive year and 11th time overall, Kent State has earned the Jacoby Trophy awarded annually to the top women's athletic program in the Mid-American Conference.
"Receiving the Jacoby Trophy is an incredible honor, and is a testament to the hard work that is consistently put in throughout the year," Golden Flashes Director of Athletics Randale L. Richmond said. "This is truly a department award, and exemplifies our guiding principle of being student-athlete centered, coach led, and administrator supported."
The Flashes competed in 11 women's sports throughout the 2021-22 campaign, earning conference titles in women's golf (MAC-record 23rd consecutive season), field hockey and gymnastics. Women's soccer tied for second in the regular season and made the MAC championship game last fall, while women's track and field added a runner-up finish at the MAC Outdoor Championships.
Miami finished second, followed by Akron.
Since the MAC began giving out the all-sports award in 1983, the Flashes have won or finished runner-up in 20 of 39 years. Kent State also won the Jacoby Trophy in back-to-back years in 1996-96 and 2004-05.
The Flashes men’s program finished second to Toledo in the Reese Trophy standings.
Baseball: Justin Kirby named first team All-MAC
Kent State senior outfielder Justin Kirby earned first-team All-MAC honors while three teammates also received postseason recognition.
Kirby led the Flashes in extra-base hits (33), doubles (17) and homers (15) this spring while batting .323 with 14 stolen bases (tied for first). His 13 home runs in MAC play tied for the conference lead. Kirby finished among the top 10 in the MAC overall in several categories, including slugging percentage (third, .646), hits (10th, 64), doubles (ninth, 17) and home runs (second).
Kirby was the MAC Freshman of the Year and a Freshman All-American in 2019.
Sophomore shortstop Mike McNamara and sophomore outfielder Josh Johnson were named second-team All-MAC, while KSU junior catcher Justin Miknis was named to the MAC All-Defensive team.
McNamara hit .338 overall and .368 during MAC play. He ranked fourth in the MAC in slugging percentage (.641), and finished with 11 homers and 39 RBIs in 39 games.
Johnson enjoyed a breakout season in 2022, hitting .371 overall (fourth in the MAC) and .381 in conference play — both team highs. Johnson piled up 10 doubles, nine home runs, 43 RBIs and 14 stolen bases.
Miknis recorded a .990 fielding percentage with 25 assists behind home plate. He threw out 15 runners on the basepaths, which ranked second in the MAC.
Ben Cruikshank named MAC Pitcher of the Week
Kent State junior left-hander Ben Cruikshank was named MAC Pitcher of the Week after throwing a one-hit shutout in his final start of the 2022 season last Friday.
Cruikshank walked just three while striking out eight in seven innings, leading the Flashes to a 5-0 victory over Eastern Michigan.
Opposing batters hit just .185 during the 2022 season against Cruikshank, the lowest average in the MAC. He went 3-1 with a 4.39 ERA in conference play.
Field hockey: Azure Fernsler named Academic All-District
Kent State goalkeeper Azure Fernsler has been named to the Academic All-District Women's At-Large First Team for District 5. The 2021 MAC Defensive Player of the Year and National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division I Senior Team selection graduated in December with a degree in environmental studies.
Fernsler ranked eighth nationally in save percentage (.800) last fall.
Softball: Jessica LeBeau receives all-region honors
Flashes sophomore pitcher Jessica LeBeau was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division I All-Mideast Region third team. She ranked among the MAC’s top five in ERA (2.58), strikeouts (155) and opponent batting average (.198).
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Kent State has captured its second consecutive Jacoby Trophy
