Top student athletes named at Hesston athletic banquet

Jacob Landis and Hayley Gately, Hesston College student athletes of the year 2012-13

Hayley Gately, Roseville, Calif., a sophomore co-captain on the softball team, and Jacob Landis, Sterling, Ill., a men’s cross country runner, are the 2012-13 Hesston College Student Athletes of the Year.

Gately, an all-region infielder, is the Larks all-time leader in homeruns, doubles, triples, runs and runs batted in. Off the field, she served the Hesston campus as a student ambassador and resident assistant. Gately follows Emily Wagner-Davis, also of Roseville, Calif., as this year’s Larks’ Female Student Athlete of the Year.

“Hayley made countless contributions to our program and the broader Hesston campus,” said Hesston softball coach Andrew Sharp. “She demonstrated tremendous leadership through her words, and more importantly, her actions. We will miss her, but are excited for her very bright future.”

A two-time competitor in the NJCAA national cross country meet and all-region runner, Landis placed 44th among over 300 runners at the 2011 national meet. Landis served Hesston College as a resident assistant, a chemistry lab assistant, a ministry assistant and a student ambassador. Landis helped the men’s cross country team to the second highest team GPA in the nation.

“Jacob is a gifted, well-rounded person,” said Hesston cross country coach Gerry Sieber. “He’s had a meaningful engagement with so many aspects of the Hesston College community, and I expect he will make significant contributions to the church and the world.”