Kreckie, Hebenstreit Awarded 2008 GNAC Sportsmanship Awards

Saint Joseph's (ME) Michael Hebenstreit and Simmons College's Lauren Kreckie have
been chosen as the 2008 GNAC Sportsmanship Award recipients. The Conference
award qualifies both Michael and Lauren for the NCAA Sportsmanship Award that is
presented later this summer.

The award honors student-athletes who through their actions in the competitive arena of
intercollegiate athletics, have demonstrated one or more of the ideals of sportsmanship,
including fairness, civility, honesty, unselfishness, respect and responsibility. The NCAA
Committee on Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct will select one male and one female
student-athlete from each of the three divisions (six total) and then one male and one
female from those six finalists as the NCAA Sportsmanship Award winners.

Lauren Kreckie (Braintree, Mass.) is a three-year letterwinner and co-captain of the
Sharks basketball program. Kreckie just completed her junior year at Simmons, where
she is majoring in education.  She was an All-GNAC third-team selection last season
and twice earned GNAC Weekly Honor Roll accolades. Kreckie’s ability to make friends
with many of her opponents is an excellent example of her sportsmanship.  Kreckie is
also heavily involved in many volunteer activities and even finds time to be a Big Sister.
Head basketball coach Tony Price states “Lauren has that rare quality of balancing
competitiveness and humility. She conducts herself with class and dignity on and off the
court.”

Michael Hebenstreit (Centerville, Mass), catcher on the Monks baseball team and sport
management major, enters his senior year this fall. Hebenstreit was recognized as a
member of the 2008 GNAC Baseball Sportsmanship Team at the conclusion of the
season. His sportsmanship is on display on a daily basis as he is known for his
unselfish behavior as a role player for head coach Will Sanborn and is respected by his
teammates for his valuable contribution to the team. Mike also displays leadership and
enthusiasm off the field by leading many of the team’s community service activities. He
even finds time to volunteer assistant coach for his local American legion Baseball Team
in the summers. Coach Sanborn describes Mike as “always having a smile on his face
and having an infectious enthusiasm. Mike always demonstrates integrity and respect
towards opponents and the game of baseball.”