The Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) recently announced their season awards. Several Cardinals were honored for their success both on and off the field. Tyson Kleinfelter and Calvin Syrjala highlighted the Cardinals honors earning first team all-conference. Head Coach Zach Johnston was named the WHAC Coach of the Year.
Kleinfelter led the Cardinals on the mound with a breakout season. Kleinfelter was among the WHAC leaders in several statistical categories. Kleinfelter led the team and the WHAC in ERA with a 2.08. He was second in the WHAC innings pitched (82), opp batting average (.213), win (8) and was 4th in total strikeouts (79). Kleinfelter recorded double digit strikeouts in atleast two games this season. He was also named the WHAC and NCCAA Pitcher of the Week during the season as well.
Syrjala showed his versatility and consistency throughout the year. Syrjala earned first team all conference as an outfielder for the first time in his career. Syrjala played in every game for the Cardinals and led the team in on base percentage (.448) and slugging percentage (.621). Syrjala was also among the team leaders in RBIs with 51.
In his 7th season as the Cardinals skipper, Johnston earned the WHAC Coach of the Year as voted on by league coaches for the first time in his career. Johnston continues to raise the bar every year and lead the Cardinals to new heights. The Cardinals posted the best winning percentage (.750) in the WHAC and earned the 2 seed in the conference tournament which were both program bests. The Cardinals recognized in the NAIA Coaches Poll as receiving votes during the season.
The Cardinals placed five on the second team. Jacob Henry and Grant Steinborn were recognized as starting pitchers. The pitching duo led the Cardinals to 12 wins on the season. Steinborn recorded four complete games and was named the WHAC Pitcher of the Year in 2019. Dylan Steinke and Jimmy Wressel swept the two catcher honorees on second team. The two catcher split time behind the plate effectively for the Cardinals. Adam Purdy led the Cardinals in batting average and hits with a .340 and 71 hits respectively.
The Cardinals placed four on the WHAC Gold Glove team. The WHAC names one player at each position based on the highest fielding percentage. The following were named to the Gold Glove team and their respective positions; Kleinfelter (Pitcher), Jimmy Wressel (Catcher), Victor Diaz (SS), Calvin Syrjala (RF). The Cardinals had the most representatives on the team.
The WHAC honors athletes through the All-Academic team for those student-athletes of junior academic status having atleast a 3.25 cumulative GPA. Qualifying for the Cardinals this season were RJ Bortle, Caleb Chamberlain, Jacob Henry, Jordan Sherman, Johnny Shields, Jake Smith, Grant Steinborn, Dylan Steinke, Calvin Syrjala, Joseph Tany, Billy Blair, Chris Lowe, Preston Sherman, and Brendan Lyons.
The WHAC prioritizes the NAIA's core values of respect, integrity, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership. In celebration of these core values the WHAC honors representatives from each sport that epitomize these core values and their respective institutions. Brendan Lyons was named Concordia's recipient of the Champions of Character.
