Ridgnal named Junior College Male Athlete of the Year; Suied named Female runner-up

Following a stellar sophomore season which saw him help the Cowley College men's basketball team to a national runner-up finish, Dalen Ridgnal was named the Junior College Male Athlete of the Year at the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission Sports Banquet held Thursday at the Downtown Drury Plaza-Broadview in Wichita, KS.

Along with Ridgnal, Cowley College cross country and track and field standout Lubna Suied was named the runner-up to Butler Community College softball player Madi Young in the voting for the Junior College Female Athlete of the Year award.

A reception and silent auction were held prior to the banquet and former Kansas City Chief return specialist Dante Hall, who holds seven franchise records, was the featured speaker.

Ridgnal was named this past season's Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division Men's Basketball Most Valuable Player. He was also named a First Team All-Conference and All-Region selection for the second straight year. The 6-foot-seven forward was recently named just the third, two-time All-American in the history of the Tiger men's basketball program.

Ridgnal, who signed to continue his playing career at the University of Georgia, led Cowley in scoring (21.1) and rebounds (12.8) per game as he finished his career as the ninth all-time leading scorer in the history of the program.

He helped Cowley to a record of 50-11 during his two years at the school. With Ridgnal leading the way, the Tigers captured back-to-back conference titles, qualified for back-to-back national tournament appearances, won a region title for the first time in 64 years and finished as the 2020-2021 national runner-up.

"I am so honored and grateful to be named the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission Junior College Male Athlete of the Year," Ridgnal said. "The Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission is such an amazing organization that helps individuals of all ages enhance their life through sports, events and activities. I can honestly say that my life would not be what it is today without organizations like this that create opportunities for individuals in their community."

Lubna Suied, who finished as the women's cross country program's first-ever individual national champion, helped the Lady Tigers win its first national championship in 10 years. The win capped an amazing season for Suied as she placed first in five of six races on the season.

She continued her success during the indoor and outdoor track and field seasons. She earned All-American honors in three events at the NJCAA National Indoor Championships and broke the school record in the 5,000-meter run during the outdoor season.

She was named the top point getter in the women's indoor Jayhawk Conference Championships as she was the conference and region champion in the 3,000-meter run and mile run, and was also the conference champion in the 5,000-meter run.

She went on to receive All-American honors in the 1,500-meter run, 5,000-meter run, and 10,000-meter run at the NJCAA National Outdoor Championships and has signed to continue running at Wichita State University.

The event also handed out awards for the Lynette Woodard High School Female Athlete of the Year, Barry Sanders High School Male Athlete of the Year, College Female and Male Athletes of the Year, Professional Athlete of the Year, Gene Stephenson Coach of the Year, Girls and Boys High School Coach of the Year, and the Buster Posey Catcher of the Year.