Wrestling 5/23/2023 11:35:00 AM Chris Brannick

Dalton Abney Named Finalist For Ken B. Jones Award

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Dalton Abney was named a finalist for the 2022-23 Ken B. Jones Award, the MIAA announced Tuesday.

Abney, a two-time national champion for the UCO wrestling team, is one of five male student-athletes selected as a finalist for the MIAA's top award.

2022-23 Female Finalists
Morgan Brasser, Golf, Fort Hays State; Auna Childress, Track & Field, Pittsburg State; Mackenzie Dimarco, Soccer, Emporia State; Sydni Hawkins, Softball, Missouri Western; Madi Wulfekotter, Track & Field, Central Missouri
2022-23 Male Finalists
Dalton Abney, Wrestling, Central Oklahoma; Ryan McCully, Soccer, Northeastern State; Matthew Oglesby, Cross Country/Track & Field, Pittsburg State; Ryan Stanley, Track & Field, Fort Hays State; Luke Stuckey, Cross Country/Track & Field, Nebraska Kearney

The Ken B. Jones award is presented by Summit Pointe Financial Group. The 10 finalists will be recognized at the 2023 MIAA Awards Celebration, presented by Husch Blackwell, on Tuesday, June 6 in the Music Hall at the Kansas City Convention Center with both male and female winners announced that night.

Abney likely had the best resume in the field with his athletic accomplishments after winning the second national championship at 197 pounds. The Tulsa, Oklahoma native went 25-2 this season to win his second consecutive title. He earned his fourth All-American honor in doing so. Abney also did all this after missing seven weeks with an ankle injury.

Abney also excels in the classroom. The Kinesiology major has a 3.3 grade point average and was named a NWCA Division II Scholar All-American earlier this season. The third category considered for the Ken B. Jones Award is community service, where Abney also shines on campus and in his church.

About the Ken B. Jones Award:
The Ken B. Jones award is named after the MIAA's first full-time commissioner and recognizes the conference's top Female and Male Student-Athlete. Mr. Jones was appointed league commissioner in 1981 and the inaugural award, in his honor, began in the 1993-94 academic year.

Each institution may nominate one female and one male student-athlete. The nominees must have completed at least their junior season of athletics eligibility by June 1 of the academic year of nomination. A nominee must have at least a 3.25 cumulative grade-point average through the previous full semester term through February 1 of the academic year of nomination at the certifying member institution.

A 13-member committee comprised of one administrator from each MIAA institution and the conference office ranks each candidate based on excellence in three categories: Athletic Achievement in that academic year, Career Academic Achievements and Community/Campus Service during the Academic Year. The committee announces its five finalists 14 days before naming its winner at the annual MIAA Awards Celebration.

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Players Mentioned

Dalton Abney: 6' 1"; Junior; 197

Players Mentioned

Dalton Abney
: 6' 1"; Junior; 197