Reaper, Petty Named Athletes of the Year

Chris Reaper and Kasey Petty, two recent graduates of the University of Findlay, have been selected as the 2015-16 Male and Female Athlete of the Year award winners.

"These two individuals truly embody what it means to be an Oiler," said University of Findlay Director of Athletics, Brandi Laurita. "Kasey and Chris exemplify achievement, success and dedication and I could not be more excited to present them with this esteemed honor." 

Reaper, a consensus All-American for the Oilers football team, captured the James D. Houdeshell Male Athlete of the Year award after a standout senior season. The left tackle took home All-American accolades from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), D2Football.com and Don Hansen's Football Gazette among others. He was also tabbed the 2015 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Offensive Lineman of the Year and was a first team all-conference and all-region pick.

Reaper helped pave the way for the Oilers to average 477.5 yards per game in 2015, the third-best mark in the GLIAC and the 18th best total in all of NCAA Division II football at the end of the regular season. His pass blocking efforts enabled the team to establish a new school record for passing yards in a season (3,350) as well. The Toledo, Ohio native also helped the Oilers churn out 273 first downs and 36.1 points per game in 2015. Their first down total led the GLIAC and ranked tenth in the nation at the end of the regular season.

Petty, a standout golfer for the Oilers women's golf team, was picked as the Sharon G. Milligan Female Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive season. Petty capped an outstanding career with a historic senior season for the Oilers women's golf team. She was tabbed the 2016 GLIAC Golfer of the Year and earned first team NCAA Division II All-American honors.

A first team all-region and first team all-conference pick in 2016, Petty closed her senior season on an incredible run that began when she finished in a tie for the lead after 54-holes at the GLIAC Tournament (April 22-24). Petty would fall in sudden death, but fired a 1-under par score of 215 (70, 74, 71) at the tournament.

At the NCAA Division II East Regional (May 2-4), Petty again shot 1-under for the tournament and finished with a 215 (67, 74, 74) as she garnered runner-up honors. Her opening round, 5-under par score of 67 set a new 18-hole school record as well.

Petty then capped her career by taking runner-up honors at the 2016 NCAA Division II National Championship (May 18-21). She shot a school record 5-under par score of 283 (73, 71, 69, 70) and recorded 17 birdies at the event, the second-best total at the tournament.

Petty's run did not end even though her eligibility at Findlay had. A few days after taking runner-up honors at the NCAA Division II National Championship, she won a qualifying tournament at the Westwood Country Club on May 24 in St. Louis to punch her ticket to the 2016 U.S. Women's Open.

Both Chris and Kasey will be on hand at the first Oilers Club Luncheon of the year on Sep. 2 at Winebrenner Theological Seminary. The two will receive their awards and make statements at the luncheon followed by a brief question and answer session. The luncheon is scheduled to begin at noon on Sep. 2 at Winebrenner with the doors opening at 11:30 a.m.