13 Valparaiso University student-athletes earned spots on the Horizon League Spring Academic All-League teams, as announced by the league office today. The men’s track and field team had four honorees from the outdoor season, while the women’s squad had three honorees. Three baseball players earned Academic All-League accolades, while softball, men’s golf and men’s tennis each had one recipient apiece.

Valparaiso University senior Jacob Smutz (West Lafayette, Ind./Harrison) competed for the final time in a Crusader uniform on Thursday as he represented Valpo at the NCAA East Preliminary Round in Jacksonville, Fla., competing in the hammer throw.

Valparaiso University senior Jacob Smutz (West Lafayette, Ind./Harrison) will close out his Crusader career in the postseason, as he has qualified for the NCAA East Preliminary Round in the hammer throw and will compete next Thursday, May 26 in Jacksonville, Fla.

A number of Valparaiso University track and field athletes competed in a pair of last chance meets Friday at Grand Valley State and North Central College.

The third and final day of the 2016 Horizon League Outdoor Track and Field Championships took place at Valparaiso University on Sunday afternoon. Junior Liz Bloy claimed the league championship in the 1,500m run, while freshman Connor Hickey was honored as the Men’s Freshman Field Athlete of the Meet as the Crusader men matched their best-ever finish in the Horizon League.

Freshman Connor Hickey stole the show on Saturday for the Valparaiso University track and field squads on the second day of competition at the 2016 Horizon League Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Valparaiso, rallying to earn the event victory in the decathlon. Hickey’s performance led the Crusader men as they closed the day in third place, while the Valpo women sit in seventh position entering the meet’s final day.

The Valparaiso University men’s and women’s track and field teams played host as they kicked off the 2016 Horizon League Outdoor Championships Friday at Warren G. Hoger Track at Brown Field. Friday’s events included the first five events of the men’s decathlon, the first four events of the women’s heptathlon, and the men’s and women’s pole vault, shot put, javelin throw and 10,000m run.

Valparaiso University will be hosting the 2016 Horizon League Outdoor Track and Field Championships this weekend – Friday, May 6 through Sunday, May 8 – at the Warren G. Hoger Track and the Eastgate Throws Complex.

Eight Valparaiso University student-athletes earned spots on the Horizon League Winter Academic All-League teams, as announced by the league office today. The men’s track and field team had three honorees from the indoor campaign, while men’s basketball and men’s swimming had two student-athletes recognized and women’s track and field had one honoree.