Clark, Holmquist honored

Kaitlyn Clark and Jared Holmquist have been named the winners of Trine University's top senior male and female student-athlete awards.

Clark, a native of Mount Juliet, Tennessee, was voted the recipient of the Cheryl L. Coons Award, given to the senior female student-athlete who best embodies the qualities of leadership, character, citizenship, scholarship and the spirit of true competition. Holmquist, a native of Reed City, Michigan, was awarded the Robert L. Greim Award, given to the senior male student-athlete who best represents the qualities of leadership, character, citizenship, scholarship and athletic accomplishment. Clark and Holmquist were honored at Trine University's 2016 Honors Day program.

Kaitlyn Clark

Clark has been a standout member of the Thunder softball team and an active member of the campus community over the past four years.

Among Clark's honors during her athletic career have been two National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Region selections, including one First Team honor, and three All-MIAA campaigns. Clark is the MIAA's all-time leader and the school’s record-holder in RBIs during conference play. She ranks in the top 10 in program history in every offensive statistical category, and is closing in on the team's all-time home run record.

Clark has been a key contributor for a program that has won four MIAA regular-season titles, three MIAA Tournament crowns, one NCAA Regional title and one NCAA Super Regional title during her time at Trine. Clark was also a part of the first Thunder softball team to make an appearance in the National Championship round in 2014.

An offseason injury could have cost Clark a significant amount of her senior season, but she was able to make her way back on the field for Trine this spring. She is batting .352 with a .555 slugging percentage, six home runs and 31 RBIs in what will likely be a fourth all-conference campaign.

"Kaitlyn is one of the most polite and honorable kids I have coached," said Don Danklefsen, head coach of the Trine softball team. "She is a true competitor who gives you everything she has every game."

Clark is a member of Kappa Sigma Alpha and has completed numerous volunteer and service projects. Clark's volunteer work has included time spent raising money for Make-A-Wish Foundation, working with the Steuben County Humane Society and collecting bottled water for the citizens of Flint, Michigan. She also has worked with Court Appointed Special Advocates. 

Clark will return to Trine in the fall to complete her degree in chemical engineering with a minor in environmental engineering.

Jared Holmquist

Holmquist is one of the most-decorated players ever to suit up for the men's basketball program and has represented the Thunder at a high level in the classroom and in the community.

Excellence on the court and in the classroom led to Holmquist being voted the 2015-16 CoSIDA Academic All-American® of the Year for Division III men's basketball. He also was named a finalist for the 2016 Jostens Trophy. This season's accolades also included All-Region honors from two organizations, a second-consecutive All-MIAA First Team honor, DIII News Player of the Month for November, D3hoops.com Team of the Week recognition and three MIAA Player of the Week awards.

Holmquist wrapped up his career having scored 1,538 career points, the ninth-most in team history. Holmquist started in all but one game in which he appeared, paving the way for a career that produced the second-most blocks and third-most rebounds in team history. This season, Holmquist led the Thunder to its first-ever appearance in the MIAA Championship game.

"During my 16 seasons as a college basketball player and coach I can confidently say that I have never been associated with a team member who has had a larger impact on the growth of a program than Jared Holmquist," said Brooks Miller, head coach of Trine's men's basketball team. "It would also be impossible to quantify what an integral role Jared has had in our team chemistry through his leadership and work ethic."

Outside of Trine, Holmquist has been a visible member of the Angola community. He spent time volunteering at the YMCA with the organization's Challenger Basketball program for people with disabilities. Holmquist and his teammates also spent regular hours volunteering at the Steuben County Humane Society. His work in the classroom netted him three appearances on the MIAA Academic Honor Roll.

Holmquist will graduate Saturday with a degree in accounting. Upon graduating, he will begin working for an accounting firm in Grand Rapids, Michigan.