Thomas More golfers named All-America Scholars; NKU basketball attendance growth among nation’s best

NKyTribune staff

Thomas More College men’s golfers Carter Hibbard and Matt Striegel have been named Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-America Scholars by the Golf Coaches Association of America.

Hibbard, a Boone County High School graduate, capped his college career as a three-time All-Presidents’ Athletic Conference selection and four-time PAC Academic Honor Roll selection. This past season he had a 77.36 stroke average and finished tied for first at the PAC Fall Championship.

Striegel, who is entering his senior season, is a two-time All-PAC second team selection. The Newport Central Catholic graduate also finished tied for first at the PAC Fall Championship this past season and had a 77.94 stroke average.

To be eligible for Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar status, an individual must be a junior or senior academically, compete in at least three full years at the collegiate level, and participate in 50 percent of his team’s competitive rounds.

The candidates must also have a stroke-average under 76.0 in Division I, 78.0 in Division II, 78.0 in NAIA and 79.0 in Division III, and maintain a minimum cumulative career grade point average of 3.20.

A recipient must also be of high moral character and be in good standing at his college or university.

The Saints open the 2018-19 season on Sept. 8, when they compete at the Cameo Pizza Battle at the Brook hosted by Ohio Wesleyan at Plumbrook Country Club in Sandusky, Ohio.

TMC FOOTBALL OPENS SEASON SEPT. 1: The Thomas More football team opens the season Sept. 1 with a road game at North Carolina Wesleyan.

The Saints are at Hanover on Sept. 8, and then play their home opener on Sept. 15 against Wisconsin-Platteville. Thomas More posted a 6-4 record last season.

NKU ATTENDANCE GROWTH AMONG NATION’S LEADERS: Northern Kentucky University’s program-record 4,135 attendance figure per game last season in men’s basketball ranked 119th nationally, putting the Norse in the upper-third of the 351-member NCAA Division I rankings.

According to the NCAA’s recently released statistical analysis of attendance, NKU was one of 18 programs to see a positive change in attendance of more than 1,000 fans.

Nationally, only three non-Power 5 programs saw better year-over-year growth: Arkansas-Pine Bluff (2,129), Western Kentucky (1,572) and Boise State (1,351).

Dating back to the 2014-15 campaign, when an average of 2,016 fans passed through the turnstiles at BB&T Arena, NKU ranks among the nation’s power brokers in growth based on actual attendance numbers as well. Attendance has more than doubled, growing by 2,119 fans during that time.

Only 11 programs, just two of which compete in mid-major conferences (Nevada and Middle Tennessee State), have shown more growth in average attendance. NKU’s growth also ranks just ahead of West Virginia (2,114), Miami (2,006), Maryland (1,980), Virginia Tech (1,934) and Florida State (1,809).

Student attendance at NKU home games has also increased during the last four years, going from an average of 300 in 2014-15 to 621 last season.

During the last two years, NKU has posted a 46-21 overall record. The Norse have also fashioned a 24-4 record at BB&T Arena the past two seasons.

(Information provided by both Thomas More Athletic Communications and NKU Athletic Communications)