Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

The Your Prep Sports Alumni Report is a weekly segment that recognizes the accomplishments of graduates from YPS area schools that are continuing their careers as student athletes at the collegiate level. Alumni News is a way for readers to keep tabs on former area standouts.

Zeb Gnida

Solon graduate and current Loras College senior Zeb Gnida won the 174-pound title at the NCAA Division III Region VI wrestling tournament last weekend in Cedar Rapids to earn a spot at the NCAA Division III national tournament.

Gnida went 3-0 on his way to the 174-pound title defeating LJ Richardson of Coe College 4-1 in sudden victory in the title match.

Gnida finished third at the NCAA tournament last season and is ranked third at 174 pounds in the National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III rankings this season.

Gnida improved to 17-0 on the season with his regional title performance and will compete at the NCAA championships March 14-15 in Providence, Rhode Island.

Ella Cook

City High graduate and current University of St. Thomas senior Ella Cook helped the Tommies go 5-0 at the Gopher Indoor Classic last weekend.

Cook went 7-for-16 with three doubles, two home runs, four runs scored and eight RBI as St. Thomas defeated Wagner and Miami (Ohio) twice and added a win over host Minnesota in a 5-0 performance that improved the Tommies to 11-7 on the season.

In an 8-6 win over Minnesota Cook went 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored.

On the season Cook leads St. Thomas with a .412 batting average and 1.206 OPS and has six doubles, three home runs 17 RBI and eight runs scored in 18 games.

Cook is also 3-5 with a 3.52 ERA with 33 strikeouts in 30.2 innings pitched this season.

Ava Locklear

Former Clear Creek Amana all-stater and current Saginaw Valley State freshman Ava Locklear was named Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference defensive player of the week on Monday.

Locklear had double-doubles in wins over Lake Superior State and Ferris State last weekend.

The 5-foot-11 Locklear had 12 points and 10 rebounds in the win over Lake Superior State and had 11 points and 10 rebounds in the win over Ferris State.

Locklear also had three blocks in the two wins.

On the season Locklear has six double-doubles and is averaging 9.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per game while helping Saginaw Valley State to a 15-13 record.

If you know of a Your Prep Sports area graduate currently excelling at the collegiate level let us know by sending information to rmurken@yourprepsports.com or @yourprepsports on Twitter.

Did you enjoy this subscription free article? Help keep Your Prep Sports free by donating.