BUFFALO – Freshman Mike Simpson (Rochester, N.Y./Greece-Athena) of the Buffalo State track and field team and sophomore Hannah Heil (Medina, N.Y./Medina) of the Buffalo State swimming and diving team are named Bengal Athletes of the Week on Monday. The award honors the best two student-athletes in the week ending on Sunday, Dec. 5.
Simpson, an undeclared major, made a statement in his first collegiate race, sprinting past the competition in the 60-meter hurdles with a winning time of 8.68 seconds in the final. That time qualified him for the NCAA All-Atlantic Regional Track and Field Championships, which will be held March 4-5, 2022. Simpson also competed in the 4×200-meter relay race, finishing fourth, and finished 16th in the 200-meter event.
The Bengals began the indoor season with the Houghton December Classic last Friday and will head back to Houghton College in their next meet on Jan. 22.
Heil, a fashion design major, continued her dominance in the short sprints, earning a first place finish in both the 50- (25.47 seconds) and 100-yard freestyle (54.80 seconds). The 50-yard victory was the sixth for Heil this season in all competitions, and she’s won her third consecutive 100-yard freestyle event this season.
Both Buffalo State swimming and diving teams competed in the Cortland Snowflurries Invitational this past weekend, with both squads finishing in fifth in a competition against fellow SUNYAC opponents. The teams will return to action on Jan. 8, competing in a tri-meet against Wells and Pitt-Bradford.
Kudos to: Emil Norrman, men’s hockey – career-high 54 saves vs. No. 1 Geneseo; Philbert Weekes, men’s basketball – averaged 11.5 points and 15.0 rebounds per game over two games; Angelina Cruzal, women’s hockey – two goals at Potsdam; Tashawni Cornfield, women’s basketball – tallied 22 points, 14 rebounds, and five steals at Oswego; Makhia Laster, track and field – qualified for the NCAA regionals in the 60-meter dash.
