Oct. 30, 2014 MVC Release
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Junior women's field hockey midfielder Leah Reitmayer has been named Missouri State's fall recipient of the 2014 Missouri Valley Conference Leadership and Service Award, the league announced on Thursday. Formerly the Good Neighbor Award, the award was created by The Valley in an effort to honor the achievements of exceptional student-athletes.
Reitmayer has been a focal point on the Bears' field hockey team this season. She is one of six Bears to start in each game in 2014 and has made a team- and career-high four defensive saves this season. Reitmayer has scored eight points in her career, with five coming in this season alone. Her three assists are tied for a team-best, while she also scored the second goal of her career in a 4-1 victory over Saint Louis on Sept. 7.
The Vista, Calif., native has remained busy off the field at MSU. Reitmayer volunteers her time in a variety of different outlets within the community. The dietetics major joined fellow Bears field hockey players and other student-athletes to start Healthy Heroes in 2013, a four-week program that works with the Boys and Girls Club to promote healthy lifestyle choices to children.
Despite the time she spends on the field and in the community, Reitmayer continues to excel in the classroom. She was an Academic All-MAC Honorable Mention in 2013 and Maroon & White Scholar-Athlete in the Spring of 2014, while also making the MSU Athletics Director's Honor Roll in the Fall and Spring Semesters of 2013.
In order to be eligible for the award, the student-athlete must be in good academic standing, must demonstrate good citizenship through good sportsmanship and significant community service, and must participate in a sport, during the season of recognition. The Valley will recognize 10 student-athletes three times annually (fall, winter, spring), for a total of 30 honorees. Institutions select their MVC Leadership & Service Award honorees.
Previous Missouri State winners of the MVC Leadership and Service Award are:
Fall 2007 - Carrie Vestal, Sr., women's cross country
Winter 2007-08 - Amy Crowder, Sr., women's swimming & diving
Spring 2008 - Chris Playter, Jr., baseball
Fall 2008 - David Arkin, So., football
Winter 2008-09 - Roxy Stiles, Jr., women's basketball
Spring 2009 - Jen Carr, Sr., softball
Fall 2009 - Terry Phillips, So., women's cross country
Winter 2009-10 - Will Creekmore, Jr., men's basketball
Spring 2010 - Scott Glenn, Jr., men's golf
Fall 2010 - Heath Melugin, Jr., men's soccer
Winter 2010-11 - Rene Smith, Sr., women's swimming & diving
Spring 2011 - Emily Matthews, Jr., women's golf
Fall 2011 - Ashlee Mason, So., volleyball
Winter 2011-12 - Christiana Shorter, Jr., women's basketball
Spring 2012 - Emily Beaver, Jr., women's track/cross country
Fall 2012 - Chelsea Voet, Sr., women's soccer
Winter 2012-13 - Jared Roberts, Jr., men's swimming & diving
Spring 2013 - Kimsue Grant, Sr., track & field
Fall 2013 - Caleb Schaffitzel, football
Winter 2013-14 - Bryonna Snow, women's basketball
Spring 2014 - Eric Straub, Sr., men's golf
