Wednesday, June 20, 2007

"Brainard, Lesch Named Athletes of the Year"

Walsh University has named Ingrid Brainard (Sr., Madison, OH/HS/Basketball/Tennis) and Adam Lesch (Sr., Newark, OH/HS) as 2006-07 Female and Male Athletes of the Year.  The pair will be honored on Saturday, September 15, at halftime of Walsh’s football game against Trinity International.

Brainard earned honors for two sports; basketball and tennis. She was named third team All-American Mideast Conference in basketball and led the team in scoring (13.5).  She also led the team in minutes per game (34.0), field goals (137), three-point goals (25), free throws, (52), assists (100) and steals (63).  She became Walsh’s all-time assist leader in the first game of the season, and scored her 1,000th career point later in the year.  She was the only Cavalier to play in every game.  She was also a NAIA-Daktronics Scholar-Athlete.  On the tennis court, she finished 16-3 at mostly fourth singles on Walsh’s AMC/NAIA Area IX championship team and NAIA National Qualifier.  Brainard was 12-5 playing second doubles.  She was also named to the NAIA-ITA and AMC Scholar-Athlete Team.

Lesch was a major factor in Walsh making its third straight trip to the NAIA National Tournament.  He was named first team American Mideast Conference South Division, NAIA honorable mention All-American and to the NAIA Daktronics Scholar-Athlete Team.  Lesch averaged a career-high 12.8 points and 6.2 rebounds, and led the Cavs and the AMC in field goal percentage (.606).  He was a two-time AMC Player of the Week and scored his 1,000th career point.