Grace’s Rufenacht Given Prestigious NCCAA King Award

November 15, 2022 at 11:18 p.m.
Grace’s Rufenacht Given Prestigious NCCAA King Award
Grace’s Rufenacht Given Prestigious NCCAA King Award

By Josh Neuhart-

WINONA LAKE - Logan Rufenacht of Grace men’s cross country earned one of the NCCAA’s top honors.

Rufenacht was named the 2022 Elvin and Joyce King Award recipient, part of the NCCAA’s Game Plan 4 LIFE award series. The award series recognizes one outstanding student-athlete in each sport across several areas, including athletics, academics, as well as spiritual and community involvement.

According to Grace’s coach Jake Poyner, Rufenacht is a leader who puts his teammates first and who loves the Lord and serves others well. He has frequently helped call the men’s team to a deeper prayer life together during practices and competitions, while also participating in team Bible studies. He has also helped coordinate numerous community service projects involving the Warsaw Salvation Army, Fellowship Missions and Feed My Starving Children.

On the course, Rufenacht was the individual national champion at the 2022 NCCAA National Championships, and he was the national runner-up in 2021. He helped Grace win back-to-back team national titles at the NCCAA race.

“Logan most often shines when he is serving by example,” Poyner said. “He encapsulates everything you would want out of a leader.”

Rufenacht is the third Lancer for men’s cross country to earn the NCCAA’s top character award, joining Art Woodruff (2001) and Tim Sprankle (2000).

The Lancers also earned several Scholar-Athlete honors from the NCCAA. Eleven members from the women’s side were named NCCAA Scholar-Athletes (Makenzie Adams, Alana Bohls, Tara Friesen, Mallory Hiatt, Anna Hulstedt, Kaelyn Johnson, Emma Lingenfelter, Heather Plastow, Madison Schneiderwind, Madelyn Skidmore, Ellie Wagoner). Eight men’s members were also Scholar-Athletes (Dakota Ames, Macallister Cheek, Bryan Hernandez-Rios, Dimitri Margaritidis, Carson Martin, Hayden Mullett, Rufenacht, Tanner Sallee).

WINONA LAKE - Logan Rufenacht of Grace men’s cross country earned one of the NCCAA’s top honors.

Rufenacht was named the 2022 Elvin and Joyce King Award recipient, part of the NCCAA’s Game Plan 4 LIFE award series. The award series recognizes one outstanding student-athlete in each sport across several areas, including athletics, academics, as well as spiritual and community involvement.

According to Grace’s coach Jake Poyner, Rufenacht is a leader who puts his teammates first and who loves the Lord and serves others well. He has frequently helped call the men’s team to a deeper prayer life together during practices and competitions, while also participating in team Bible studies. He has also helped coordinate numerous community service projects involving the Warsaw Salvation Army, Fellowship Missions and Feed My Starving Children.

On the course, Rufenacht was the individual national champion at the 2022 NCCAA National Championships, and he was the national runner-up in 2021. He helped Grace win back-to-back team national titles at the NCCAA race.

“Logan most often shines when he is serving by example,” Poyner said. “He encapsulates everything you would want out of a leader.”

Rufenacht is the third Lancer for men’s cross country to earn the NCCAA’s top character award, joining Art Woodruff (2001) and Tim Sprankle (2000).

The Lancers also earned several Scholar-Athlete honors from the NCCAA. Eleven members from the women’s side were named NCCAA Scholar-Athletes (Makenzie Adams, Alana Bohls, Tara Friesen, Mallory Hiatt, Anna Hulstedt, Kaelyn Johnson, Emma Lingenfelter, Heather Plastow, Madison Schneiderwind, Madelyn Skidmore, Ellie Wagoner). Eight men’s members were also Scholar-Athletes (Dakota Ames, Macallister Cheek, Bryan Hernandez-Rios, Dimitri Margaritidis, Carson Martin, Hayden Mullett, Rufenacht, Tanner Sallee).
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