LC graduate recipient of MIAA Tom Renner award

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Recent Calvin University graduate Jake Libolt has been named the recipient of the MIAA's Tom Renner Associate (Student) SID Award.

e Renner Award recognizes outstanding e orts by a student assistant in MIAA (Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association) member schools' sports information departments. A native of Lynden, Washington, Libolt graduated from Calvin University in April 2023 with a degree in Geology and a minor in Business.

Also a graduate of Lynden Christian High School, Libolt was a four-year student employee for the Knights. As a senior, he was the primary sport contact for their two ACHA (D1 and D3) ice hockey teams, produced game day and post-game graphics, and wrote recaps of every game for their website throughout the 2022-23 academic year. Libolt was also a student statistician for every sport Calvin produced live stats for including baseball, softball, lacrosse, basketball, volleyball and soccer.

He was particularly invaluable during the COVID spring of 2021 when the sports information o ce was spread thin. Libolt was able to run a press box, lead a student crew and serve as the lead statistician without Sports Information Director Je Febus being present.

He also developed into a solid broadcaster, lling in as either a play-by-play or color commentator on broadcasts of basketball, volleyball and softball games. In addition, Libolt lled in as the public address announcer at Calvin's baseball and softball games, helped compile statistical research projects along with other historical archiving, and would occasionally take action photos of competitions.

"I'm extremely pleased to see Jake receive this recognition," said Febus. "He exempli es the characteristics of what this award is about. He is hard-working, conscientious and willing to provide service wherever needed. at was most apparent as we worked through the pandemic spring of 2021 when he displayed the ability to wear many hats. at willingness to pitch in wherever possible continued over the next few years and is a big reason why he is being honored with this award. In my 28 years as a sports information director, I have had several outstanding student assistants and Jake de nitely belongs in that upper tier."

Calvin student assistants have claimed the Renner Award six times since the accolade was formed in 2008.

Tom Renner served as sports information director for 47 years before stepping down from his position in 2013. For 41 years, Renner was also the MIAA publicist (1967-2008) and still serves as the league's historian.