April 25

Purple & Gold Banquet honors DC student-athletes

DEFIANCE, Ohio—The Defiance College Athletic Department held its 33rd annual Purple & Gold Banquet honoring the Yellow Jacket student-athletes on Monday evening.

The event, held at the Karl H. Weaner Center, included an address by Ben Davis, 1967 Defiance College graduate and 10-year veteran of the National Football League. Prior to Davis remarks on his trip from the field at DC to the NFL, several student-athletes were awarded top honors.

Meghann Savard, a four-year women’s basketball standout, was awarded the Duane Hocking Female Athlete of the Year Award, while Kris Zajac, DC’s star linebacker on the gridiron, was named the Marv Hohenberger Male Athlete of the Year. James Yenser, a four-year centerfielder on the diamond took home the Purple & Gold Distinguished Athlete Award for leadership and character.

Renee Steffen and Stefan Faerber were awarded the top academic honors for student-athletes. Steffen, a softball starter, won the AAUW Women’s Scholastic Award, while Faerber, men’s tennis’ ace, was given the Gene Geren Award, given to the highest GPA among male student-athletes.

Also recognized were academic all-conference selections and four-year letterwinners in each sport.