Cervantes, Kling Named RMAC December Athletes of the Month

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Jasmine Cervantes of Metropolitan State College of Denver, and Fabian Kling of Fort Lewis College, have been named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Athletes of the Month for December 2011. The league’s 14 sports information directors nominate student-athletes from their institution which are then selected by the RMAC office.

A 5-foot-8 senior guard for the women’s basketball team, Cervantes had a month to remember for the Roadrunners, setting a couple of records and helping Metro State to a perfect 7-0 record in conference play and a No. 2-ranking nationally. She recorded the first triple-double in school history on Dec. 3 with 17 rebounds, 13 points and 11 assists to go with three blocked shots and three steals against Western New Mexico. Her performance against the Mustangs helped her win RMAC/Baden Defensive Player of the Week honors.  She notched 10 points, six assists and five rebounds in a road win at Nebraska-Kearney on Dec. 9, and neared another triple double with 13 points, 11 assists, eight rebounds and three steals the following night at Chadron State. Cervantes entered the Christmas holiday break with a season-high 19 points, five assists, five rebounds and two steals at Regis. She closed the month with two more strong performances against two of the top teams in the RMAC. Cervantes had 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and a season-high five steals and two blocked shots against Colorado Mesa on Dec. 30. The following night, she had eight points, five assists, four rebounds and three steals in a second-half rally to beat Western State. She moved into a tie for the career assists record at Metro State against WSC with 393.  For the month, she averaged 11.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 2.4 steals and 0.9 blocked shots, while shooting 49.2 percent from the floor and 77.3 percent at the line.

Kling closed out his career with the Skyhawks on top, helping Fort Lewis to their third NCAA men’s soccer national championship on Dec. 3.  The 6-foot-3 senior defender scored the game-winning goal in FLC’s 3-0 win over Millersville in the NCAA semifinals.  He also aided the Skyhawks in their 3-2 overtime win against Lynn in the championship match.  Kling finished the season with 16 total points (seven goals, two assists) despite playing central defense and missing seven games due to partially torn ACL.  He was named the NSCAA NCAA Division II National Player of the Year, and to the following teams: NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division II All-America first team, NSCAA/Continental Tire All-Central Region first team, Daktronics NCAA Division II All-America first team, Daktronics NCAA Division II All-Central Region first team, the Defensive Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Division II Final Four, and to the All-NCAA Division II Final Four Team.  Kling led Fort Lewis to its third NCAA Division II championship in men’s soccer — all three coming since 2005.  He was the starting defender on FLC’s 2009 and 2011 NCAA title teams.

December’s Men's Top Performers
Brett Green, Colorado Mines – Basketball
Oliver Harsanyi, Western State – Track & Field
T.J. Hepburn, Nebraska-Kearney – Wrestling
Fabian Kling, Fort Lewis – Soccer
Jonathan Morse, Metro State – Basketball
Greg Pollard, UC-Colorado Springs - Basketball

December’s Women's Top Performers
Jasmine Cervantes, Metro State – Basketball
Angie Charchalis, Colorado Mines - Basketball
Dana Schreibvogel, Fort Lewis – Basketball
Katrina Selsor, Colorado Mesa – Basketball
Barbara Szabo, Western State – Track & Field

2011-12 RMAC Athlete of the Month Award Winners
December – Jasmine Cervantes, Metro State (basketball), Fabian Kling, Fort Lewis (soccer)
November – Ryan Haebe, Western State (cross country), Kelsey Neal, Colorado Mines (soccer)
October – Haley Lake, Nebraska-Kearney (volleyball), Ryan Wirth, Fort Lewis (soccer)
September – Hayley Hollenga, Fort Lewis (soccer), Jake Spitzlberger, Nebraska-Kearney (football)