Louisiana College's McLaughlin, Hardin-Simmons' Kuykendall
Named American Southwest Conference Athletes of the Year

RICHARDSON, Texas –– Louisiana College senior football player Ben McLaughlin and Hardin-Simmons University soccer player Amy Kuykendall have been selected as the 2010-11 American Southwest Conference Athletes of the Year, the league office announced on Wednesday (June 22) after a vote of the conference's sports information directors and ASC Outstanding Media Service Award members.

The American Southwest Conference Athlete of the Year award, in its 12th year, recognizes the male and female student-athlete whose athletic accomplishments during the current athletic year best contributed to their sport, their institution's overall athletic program and to the conference. Each ASC member institution nominates its campus Athlete of the Year award recipients to the conference-wide ballot.

McLaughlin (Dierks, LA / DHS), a math education major, completed 284 of 446 passes for 3,770 yards and a conference-record 42 touchdowns against just 13 interceptions. His passing yardage was over 700 yards more than anyone else in the country, while his TD total topped all others by seven. McLaughlin also added four rushing scores in an ASC offensive player of the year campaign that saw the Wildcats go 7-3 overall and a program-record 7-1 in league play. The 6-3, 205-pound All-American won the Mehlberger Award and was a final four finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy – both national player of the year honors.

"It's been a crazy year. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I'd be the one receiving these types of awards," McLaughlin said. "This, like any honor, is truly recognition of the team at Louisiana College. The guys who played with me on offense, the defense and the special teams put me in a position to receive this honor so I accept in on their behalf. It's an honor that my teammates and I will carry with us the rest of our lives."

McLaughlin becomes the second ASC Athlete of the Year from Louisiana College, following softball player Sandi Clark in 2005-06. He is also the record seventh football player to win the league's top honor, joining McMurry's Jake Mullin (2009-10), Mary Hardin-Baylor's Jerrell Freeman (2007-08), Josh Kubiak (2006-07), Cody Fredenburg (2003-04) and Preston Meyer (2002-03), and Austin College's Aaron Kernek (2000-01).

Kuykendall (Weatherford, TX / WHS), an accounting major, fueled the Cowgirls' 24-0-1 season that resulted in the first NCAA Division III national championship in program history. The 5-10 All-American forward led the league with 64 points, including 28 goals to add to her all-time ASC career record of 76. Her point and goal totals ranked second in the country. In addition, Kuykendall registered eight game-winning scores and eight assists during an ASC offensive player of the year season to help HSU capture conference and regular season crowns. She also earned academic All-American status.

"This is a tremendous honor," Kuykendall said. "I had a great experience at Hardin-Simmons and had the best teammates and coaches you could ask for. To be honored as the top female athlete in a conference that is as competitive as the ASC in all sports is truly humbling. There are so many great athletes in the ASC."

Kuykendall becomes the first soccer player to earn the conference's prestigious award. She is also part of HSU's record four female student-athlete winners, joining track and field athlete Ashley Huston (2008-09) and basketball player Kendra Anderson (2001-02, 2002-03).

In the ASC Athlete of the Year men's voting, Mary Hardin-Baylor senior football player Quincy Daniels (Belton, TX / BHS) finished second and Texas Lutheran University senior golfer Ryan Kiel (Seguin, TX / SHS) was third. Daniels was a national finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy, while Kiel recorded a fourth-place individual finish at the NCAA tournament. Both fueled their teams to ASC titles.

On the women's side, Louisiana College basketball player Tillisha Givens (Monroe, LA / Ouachita Parish HS) was second in balloting, followed by University of Texas at Tyler senior softball player Brittanni Hanna (Mesquite, TX / North Mesquite HS). Givens earned All-American honorable mention status and led her squad to an at-large berth into the NCAA tourney, while Hanna was an All-American and guided her squad to the NCAA finals.

2010-11 AMERICAN SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

2010-11 TOP THREE VOTE RECIPIENTS

Male

Female

ALL-TIME ASC ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Year            Male                                                                                        Female

ALL-TIME ASC ATHLETES OF THE YEAR BREAKDOWN

Combined

Male Only

Female Only

Multiple Winners

By Sport

2010-11 MEMBER CAMPUS ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Institution                                              Male                                                                Female