Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - Grace College cross country athlete Tim Sprankle has earned the National Christian College Athletic Association's "Wheeler Award," the highest honor given by the NCCAA to only one person each year.
John and Joanne Wheeler, who have been involved in Christian college athletic activities for several years, sponsor the award. The award was established in order to enhance excellence in Christian cross country competition. It recognizes the highest standards of Christian character, athletic achievement and campus leadership.
Sprankle, a senior, majors in biblical studies and owns a 3.90 GPA. He is a member of numerous academic honor societies and is a four-year Merit Scholar. His leadership responsibilities have included resident assistant, growth group leader and director of the drama outreach team, inner-city impact, Timothy team and men's group.
He has been named to the Mid-Central Conference all-conference team twice, the NCCAA Academice All-American team twice and the NAIA Academic All-American team twice. Sprankle has been a team captain for three years and twice has received the coach's award, an award for best exemplifying the Christian philosophy and faith through consistent Christian testimony on and off the field.
An unidentified teammate said this about Sprankle: "I can always count on him to be an encouragement, not only to work my hardest at practice but also to work my hardest at life. He puts his whole heart into running his best, yet not because he is pursuing his own glory, but because he wants to give his all to glorify God."
Sprankle plans to enter the seminary next fall to study for the pastorate.
