Post-grad Blackhawks still excel

We journalists do a lot of legwork in producing stories for you to read. I mean that literally when it comes to sports.

But we also rely on sources outside the newsroom. Sources who might provide insights into local topics, and sources who keep tabs on what people who used to live in this community are doing in the great big world out yonder.

In this case, I’m speaking of the latter. I’m blessed to have someone who tracks what former Cheney High School athletes are doing out there in the collegiate world and takes the time to zap me an email to let me know.

Who is it? Not telling. Trade secret.

But I will let you know what I found out about three former Blackhawks: Eli Mason, Calvin Berstler and Kinsey Pease.

Mason, a 2013 graduate who captured a state title at 152 pounds as a sophomore in 2011, placed eighth for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at the NAIA national championships in Des Moines, Iowa. According to a news release from the Arizona school, the junior lost his first match of the day at 197 pounds, but then reeled off three straight wins before losing an 11-3 decision and falling in his final match for seventh or eighth place.

Mason was also named as an All-American for the first time.

Berstler placed third in the heptathlon and seventh in the long jump for the Air Force Academy at the Mountain West Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships Feb. 22-24, helping the Falcon men to their first MWAC title since 2012. The senior won the 60-meter hurdles in a career-best 8.39 seconds and was first in the 1,000-meter run in 2:40.57, finishing the event with 5,331 points.

In the process, the 2013 CHS graduate earned Air Force’s first all-conference honor in the event since 2013, and moved up to fourth all-time in points at the academy.

And, at the Air Force Combined Event in Colorado Springs on Jan. 19, Berstler earned the second-highest heptathlon score in the Academy’s history with 5,418 points.

Finally, Pease — a 2014 CHS graduate — was honored with the 2018 Cliff Hamlow Champion of Character Award by the Golden State Athletic Conference. The award is given annually to a male and female at each of the NAIA conferences eight member universities.

A senior at Arizona Christian University, Pease is a two-sport athlete in volleyball and track and field. She maintains a perfect 4.0 grade point average and has earned CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) Academic All-District and NAIA and GSAC Scholar-Athlete honors.

According to the GSAC website, “The Cliff Hamlow Champion of Character Award is given to one male and one female student-athlete on each GSAC campus who demonstrates outstanding athletic achievement, campus and community leadership, future ambition and embraces the five core character values of the NAIA Champions of Character program (Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Sportsmanship and Servant Leadership). Student-athletes must be at least a junior academically and carry a 3.0 GPA.”

The GSAC website continues, “The award is named after former Commissioner Cliff Hamlow who served the conference from its inception in 1986 to 2012. Dr. Hamlow was also a key leader in the creation of the NAIA’s Champions of Character program.”

Well done Mason, Berstler and Pease. And thank you to my source for taking the time to relay the accomplishments of some of Cheney’s finest.

If you’d like to become an informant for the Cheney Free Press, just take this one easy step — contact us.

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].