College: WWU's Fessler receives Helen Stephens Award

William Woods University men's basketball player Makenzie Fessler has been selected as this year's recipient of the Helen Stephens Award, named after the school's famous Olympic champion.

Fessler - a 6-foot-4 junior forward from Marceline - is majoring in accounting, with a minor in business administration.

The Helen Stephens Award is the William Woods athletic department's highest honor. It is presented annually to an outstanding junior student-athlete who has achieved excellence both in the classroom and in intercollegiate athletics.

The award is given to a student-athlete who demonstrates the talent, discipline and desire that best describes Stephens' legacy.

"As a Coach whenever you take over a program you're always nervous, anxious and optimistic about the players you will 'inherit,'" William Woods men's head basketball coach Charles Belt said. "You can only DREAM of having the opportunity to have a Makenzie Fessler on your team.

"The young man literally checks every box. He's a tremendous student, involved in all aspects of campus including 'President's 20' and is the president of a fraternity on campus."

Fessler averaged 13.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game this past season for William Woods and was named to the all-American Midwest Conference third team. A team captain who was chosen as the Owls' "NAVY SEAL" by teammates, Fessler produced seven double-doubles this season and scored a career-high 31 points in a road loss to Park University.

"I'm blessed to be his coach, and we are blessed he's a student and player at William Woods," Belt said. "I'm excited to see what he does next season in his senior year.

"Congrats Kenzie on the Helen Stephens award! Well deserved!"

In the classroom, Fessler has achieved a 4.0 grade-point average in multiple semesters at William Woods. He is the president of Pi Kappa Alpha and works with the local fire department in Fulton and continues a tradition on "bid" day for the Greek organization that includes bringing local firefighters to campus to participate.

Fessler's Greek involvement includes volunteer work and community service. He is also a member of the school's "President's 20," a collegiate honorary service society whose members serve as official ambassadors of William Woods.

"Having Makenzie as a teammate was a true honor," Owls junior guard Ian Hodges said. "On the court he is a person who everyone would want on their team a true 'lead by example' type of guy. He always worked hard, always on time for practice and in games a guy who we could always count on no matter what the situation was.

"Off the court, he was hilarious always cracking jokes with us in the locker room or even playing video games with us. It's never a dull moment with Makenzie, and I'm glad we have another year together!"

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Ryan Boland can be reached at (573) 826-2422, or on Twitter @FultonSunSports.