Garcia and Fintel Named Findlay Athletes of the Year

Findlay, Ohio - The University of Findlay is pleased to announce the winners of the 2022-23 Athlete of the Year Awards. For the third consecutive year, a swimmer has earned the James D. Houdeshell Male Athlete of the Year award as Daniel Garcia has been named. Women's track and field athlete Trista Fintel has earned the Sharon G. Milligan Female Athlete of the Year.

One of the most prolific DII swimmers in the country this year, junior Daniel Garcia had an outstanding campaign in the pool. Garcia's year was highlighted at the NCAA Division II National Championship where he brought home all-American status in seven events including the 200-yard breaststroke where he was the Division II National Champion. His effort at the event helped lead the Oilers to a seventh-place finish in the country, the program's highest-ever ranking to end a season. He also dominated at the G-MAC Championship where he helped the Oilers men to a sixth-consecutive conference title. Garcia was a conference champion in seven different events on his way to earning G-MAC Men's Swimmer of the Year.

A sophomore slump was not in the cards for thrower Trista Fintel who established herself as one of the top athletes in the country in her sport in the 2022-23 season. The Deshler, Ohio native kicked off the year in indoor track and field where she went on to win the NCAA Division II National Championship in shot put, also earning first team all-American in the process. She was also the Midwest Region Field Athlete of the Year in the indoor season. At Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) Championship meets, Fintel was a three-time winner, taking home both the indoor and outdoor shot put titles while also winning the hammer throw title during the outdoor season. She was an integral piece to Findlay's indoor and outdoor team G-MAC Championships, was a USTFCCCA All-Academic recipient, and was named G-MAC Athlete of the Week four times.