November 9, 2009

Dring, Mitchell Tabbed October RMAC Athletes of the Month

Colorado Springs, Colo. -- November 9, 2009 -- The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference has instituted a new awards program to recognize outstanding performances by student-athletes throughout the league by honoring student-athletes each month. The league’s sports information directors nominate the student-athletes that are selected by the league office. This month’s award winners for October 2009 are Nebraska-Kearney’s Rustin Dring and Colorado Mines’ Kayla Mitchell.

A native of Kearney Neb., Dring was the Lopers top offensive threat in October. He is ranked sixth in the nation in rushing with 1,185 yards. He leads the eighth ranked team in rushing yards with 1,185 and is third on the team in receiving with 143 yards. Last month, the 6-0 sophomore running back rushed for a then career high 202 yards at New Mexico Highlands. Dring then rushed for 219 yards against Colorado Mines to reset his career high for rushing yards. He also had three kickoffs of 166 yards in a win over Fort Lewis on the road. In five games last month, Dring rushed for 738 yards (147.6 yards per game) and four touchdowns, 801 all-purpose yards (160.2 yards per game) and eight catches for 63 yards. He rushed for over 100 yards in four of the five games.

Mitchell, who was named RMAC Offensive Player of the Week three times in October (6, 13, 27), scored 16 goals, four assists (36 points), 51 shots and 36 shots on goal (.706 shots on goal percentage). In the eight games played during October, the 5-foot-3 senior from Ontario, Ore. posted six game-winning goals and four hat tricks. On Oct. 23rd, Mitchell scored four goals against CSU-Pueblo to establish new CSM single-game records for goals and points (eights). On Oct. 29th, she was named ESPN the Magazine First Team Academic All-District. Less than a week later, Mitchell was named RMAC Women’s Soccer Academic Player of the Year, marking the second consecutive year she has received this honor.

Other Top Men's Performers
Name School Sport
Rustin Dring Nebraska-Kearney Football
Steven Emory Metro State Soccer
Wally Fink Regis Soccer
Matt Friesen UC-Colorado Springs Soccer
Dennis Havrilla Western N.M. Football
Jesse Lewis CSU-Pueblo Football
David Pesek Colorado Mines Football
Michael Sweeney Mesa State Football
David Van Voris Adams State Football
Zane Wells Fort Lewis Soccer

Other Top Women's Performers
Name School Sport
Cindy Bathelt UC-Colorado Springs Volleyball
Ellen East Western N.M. Volleyball
Chelsea Flaming Fort Lewis Volleyball
Jessica Howe Regis Volleyball
Kayla Mitchell Colorado Mines Soccer
Becca Mays Metro State Soccer
Alexis Skarda Mesa State Cross Country
Ashley Michel CSU-Pueblo Volleyball
Kristen McGlynn Adams State Cross Country
Nikki Scott Nebraska-Kearney Volleyball