Youngstown State's Neu, Valparaiso's Drozdowski Earn Athlete of the Week Honors

INDIANAPOLIS – Youngstown State freshman Connor Neu (Brook Park, Ohio) and Valparaiso senior Sarah Drozdowski (Roselle, Ill.) have been named Horizon League Indoor Field Athletes of the Week for the week of February 4-10.

At the YSU Invitational, Neu continued his impressive season in the weight throw. His mark of 20.02m was both a personal best and a League best mark. In fact, his throw is 1.55m better than the second best League mark of the season. Neu has posted a top three finish in each meet this season.

Drozdowski smashed the Valparaiso school record in back to back days at the Meyo Invitiational and the Windy City Rumble. At the Meyo Invitational, her throw of 18.49m placed her fifth among 29 competitiors and topped the previous school record by 1.22m. The next day in the Windy City Rumble, Drozdowski turned in a weight throw of 18.71m to place second and set another school record. The distance is also a League best mark by 1.69m.

At the YSU Invitational, Neu continued his impressive season in the weight throw. His mark of 20.02m was both a personal best and a League best mark. In fact, his throw is 1.55m better than the second best League mark of the season. Neu has posted a top three finish in each meet this season.

Drozdowski smashed the Valparaiso school record in back to back days at the Meyo Invitational and the Windy City Rumble. At the Meyo Invitational, her throw of 18.49m placed her fifth among 29 competitors and topped the previous school record by 1.22m. The next day in the Windy City Rumble, Drozdowski turned in a weight throw of 18.71m to place second and set another school record. The distance is also a League best mark by 1.69m.

Youngstown State continues its season at the SPIRE Division I Invitational on Friday and Saturday while Valparaiso competes at the Purdue Invitational on Saturday.

Other Top Athletes of the Week:
Alex Chollet, Milwaukee (Jr., Aurora, Ill.) - At the Parkside Classic, placed second in both the shot put and the weight throw with measurements of 15.19m and 17.85m, respectively. Shot put distance set a new school record.
Jacob Frey, Valparaiso (Jr., St. Paul, Minn.) - Finished first in the weight throw and second in the shot put at the Windy City Rumble. His shot put of 13.22m marks a Crusader season best.
Dylan Kruis, Detroit (Fr., Elkhart, Ind.) - Made his pentathlon debut at the YSU Invitational and finished No. 3 on school’s all-time list with 3,739 points.        
Mariya Denisenko, UIC (Sr., Skokie, Ill.) - Took home first-place honors at the Windy City Rumble with a long jump of 5.44m.
Matt Marzahl, UIC (Sr., Richmond, Ill.) - Placed first at the Windy City Rumble with a high jump of 1.96m.
Whitney Rogers, Detroit (Sr., Flint, Mich.) - Registered a first-place finish at the YSU Invitational in the triple jump with a mark of 11.55m, just off her personal best of 11.59 set at 2013 YSU Invitational.
Mackenzie Sturtz, Youngstown State (Fr., Marion, NY.) - Won her second high jump event in as many weeks with a mark of 1.70m at the YSU Invitational.

Indoor Athletes of the Week:
Dec. 10: C.J. Gozdor (Oakland); Maria Harrison (Wright State) 
Jan. 14: Seyi Ogunleye (UIC); Sarah Drozdowski (Valparaiso)
Jan. 21: Aaron Dillon (Milwaukee); Meagan Joiner (Oakland)
Jan. 28: Bobby Grace (Youngstown State); Maria Harrison (Wright State)
Feb. 4: Seyi Ogunleye (UIC); Allyson Koglin (Detroit)
Feb. 11: Connor Neu (Youngstown State); Sarah Drozdowski (Valparaiso)