Jake Menzer (men's swimming) and Alex Mumme (baseball) have been chosen as recipients of the Ronald Kichline Prize.
The Kichline Prize is awarded annually to a senior (or seniors) who have excelled in athletics.
Menzer is one of the premier performers in Ursinus men's swimming history, graduating with school records in the 200 free, 500 free, and 1650 free in addition to four relays; he also ranks among the top-five on the performance charts in the 1000 free (2nd), 200 IM (3rd), 200 IM (4th), and 100 free (4th).
The 2019 Centennial Conference champion in the 500 free, Menzer owns the remarkable distinction of having reached the finals at the championship meet in all nine of his attempts – the only Ursinus male swimmer to do so. In those nine finals, he never finished lower than fourth, ultimately collecting three silver medals and two bronzes to go with his gold in the 500 free.
Menzer was similarly skilled in the academic arena, three times earning Academic All-America honors from the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA). To receive this honor, swimmers must hit an NCAA consideration time while maintaining a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or better. Menzer currently holds a 3.82 GPA and has been accepted into three different medical schools.
Mumme is, put simply, the best offensive player in the history of the storied baseball program at Ursinus. In three-and-a-half seasons, he seized school records in home runs (30; 9 more than the next closest player); runs scored (131); doubles (58; 14 more than 2nd place); and slugging percentage (.737) while ranking second in RBIs (113) and hits (169) and fourth in on-base percentage (.444).
Mumme became the second Centennial Conference player of the year in program history in 2019, when he posted school records for doubles (21), home runs (14), RBIs (45), runs (60), and slugging percentage (.844). Mumme led the CC in runs, doubles, RBIs, and total bases and was the Division III statistical champion in runs per game at 1.67 en route to earning first team All-American status from D3baseball.com and second-team recognition from ABCA/Rawlings.
A two-time first team All-CC performer and the only two-time D3baseball.com All-Mid-Atlantic Region honoree in Ursinus history, Mumme earned All-CC honorable mention as a rookie. During his freshman season, Mumme set a school record with 20 doubles to rank 4th in the country, and became just the seventh player in conference history to hit two home runs in a playoff game as he helped lead the Bears to the CC championship series.
Named a first team preseason All-American by D3baseball.com, Mumme was batting .275 with four home runs and 10 RBI through the first 12 games of the 2020 campaign.
Remaining Awards Schedule
Friday: Most Outstanding Male Athlete(s)
Saturday: Most Outstanding Female Athlete(s)
Sunday: Athletic Director's Award