The American Midwest Conference released its postseason basketball roster and four players from Park University earned recognition.
On the men’s side, junior Zach Rutland landed third-team honors on a team announced on Monday, March 5, while Mason Stuteville and Ernest Myles also earned honors.
Rutland, a guard, led the Pirates in scoring with 16.2 points per game, fifth-best in the AMC. He hit 37 percent from the 3-point line with 37 treys and went 95-for-110 from the free throw line this year — 86.4 percent.
Rutland, from Indianapolis, Ind., scored in double figures in 21 of 26 games and scored a season-high 30 against Bellevue University.
Stuteville earned honorable mention honors, while Myles was named to the AMC All-Freshman Team.
Stuteville, from Orangevale, Calif., averaged 13.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game this year for Park. The 6-foot-10 center blocked 31 shots this year, while scoring in double figures in 18 of the 24 games he played.
Myles, from Detroit, started in five of 26 games in his first season at Park, while scoring 6.2 points and grabbing 5.7 rebounds per game.
“Looking back on the season, we just got started finding our identity as a team too late,” Park coach Jason Kline said. “These three guys deserve the praise, though, because they were all a big reason for why we were able to finish the way we did, and even had a shot at the postseason.”
The Pirates finished 12-14 in the regular season, 9-13 in league play — ninth overall and just outside of a spot in the conference tournament.
On the women’s side, Krystal Forrester is the lone Pirate honored, earning recognition twice.
The freshman from Evanston, Ill., was an honorable mention selection, while also landing on the All-Freshman Team.
For the season, Forrester averaged 6.3 rebounds, 6.2 points and 1.2 blocks per game.
“Krystal was asked to play at a very high level early in her career, and she stepped up to the challenge for our program this year,” Park coach Kenneth Cooper said. “She will continue to grow in to a very good player in this conference, and this year was a great step in that direction.”
Park ended the season in ninth place in the American Midwest Conference, going 8-19 overall and 8-16 in league games.
Brown earns another All-American honor
Aaliyah Brown earned her first All-American honor at the NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships in Pittsburg, Kan.
The Park senior from St. Louis placed fourth in the shot put event on Saturday, March 3, at the Robert W. Plaster Center at Pittsburg State.
Brown earned All-American honors at the Outdoor Track & Field finals in 2016 and 2017.
Her best throw came on her second attempt, sailing 13.99 meters. Last year at nationals, she placed 23rd.
“I’m extremely proud of what Aaliyah was able to accomplish today because, she will tell you, she did not hit her own standards in previous weeks, after that big throw at Pitt State in February,” Park coach Brian Renshaw said. “She is a competitor, and she used that motivation the right way. I’m very pleased with the work she and (assistant coach Jessie Shepherd) did to get ready for this meet. She deserves to be proud of her finish today.”
Also competing at the NAIA finals for Park was Jerosan Fletcher.
Fletcher competed in a trio of events on Friday, March 2.
She began by running in the 400-meter dash, where she placed 13th in 57.99 — a personal best time — but failed to qualify for the finals. The St. Petersburg, Fla. Native then competed in the long jump, where she finished 16th with a leap of 5.52 meters.
She wrapped up her day by taking 18th in the 200-meter dash, running 25.54.
Academic success
Park basketball player Selena Dunn was named the 2017-18 College Sports Information Directors of American (CosIDA) Academic All-District team.
The Liberty, Mo. native is pursuing her MBA in management information systems and has a 3.88. She graduated with a bachelor of science in business and carried a 3.95 GPA. To be eligible for the team, student-athletes must have a 3.30 GPA on a 4.0 scale, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at the current institution and nominated by the school’s SID.
She has started seven games for the Pirates, scoring 4.6 points per game, while grabbing 146 rebounds and getting 43 steals during the season.
Academic success x2
The American Midwest Conference released its All-Academic basketball team and a total of 16 players from Park made the team.
To be eligible for the team, student-athletes must be in their second semester at their respective AMC institution, have at least a 3.0 grade point average, and finish the year on the team.
Brooklyn Campbell, Camille Buttorff, Cautia Wadood, Cecilia Cuneo, Imani Simmons, Jenae Row, Kiana Matthews, Kiana Smith, Krystal Forrester, McKena Arlt and Selena Dunn represented the women’s team.
Allen Hyatt, Connor Lee, Jacob Kline — all Park Hill South graduates — Ernest Myles and James Wanjara were named from the Pirates’ men’s squad.