LA MIRADA, Calif. --- As part of the COVID-19 closures, Biola Athletics had to cancel its 2020 EDDIES awards and year-end student-athlete banquet. Since we were unable to announce our awards and celebrate student-athletes at the banquet, we will take the next week to do so online and over social media.

We continue the process today by announcing the WINNER of the 2019-20 Male Student-Athlete of the Year award. This award is meant to honor the standout male student-athlete performance for the 2019-20 school year. 

The 2019-20 winner of the Biola Male Student-Athete of the Year award is Gabe Plendcio from Biola Cross Country/Track & Field. This is the third year in a row that Plendcio has won this award. He was also a recipient of the Dr. Dave Holmquist Career Achievement Award, announced last week.

Gabe Plendcio capped off his remarkable Biola career with another standout season during the full fall cross country season. 

He led the men's cross country team to its second-straight PacWest Conference title. Men's Cross Country is the only team at Biola with a league title so far in the NCAA era. 

This fall he also helped the team become the first at Biola to qualify for an NCAA Championship event. After winning his second consecutive individual PacWest Conference title and earning all-region honors by placing fourth at the NCAA West Region Championship, Plendcio led his squad to an appearance at NCAA Cross Country National Championships in Sacramento, where Biola finished 25th overall. 

He managed to finish 75th overall in a field of nearly 270 runners, leading the Biola effort that day. 

The track & field season was just beginning when it was canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak, but Plendcio was clearly primed to continue his great form. In his one event of the season, he finished second in the 3,000m with a new collegiate-best time of 8:27.57. 

Plendcio will also earn Academic All-PacWest and D2ADA Academic Achievement Awards.

Congratulations, Gabe, on another outstanding year in the Biola uniform. 

Past Male Student-Athlete of the Year Award Winners:
Jimmy Gallarda (2017)
Gabe Plendcio (2018)
Gabe Plendcio (2019)
Gabe Plendcio (2020)

Head on over to our @BiolaAthletics Instagram account to leave some love for Gabe.

On Friday, we plan to announce the 2020 recipient of the Team Community Service Award.

Mon. April 20 - Finalists Announced - Female Newcomer of the Year - Grace Catena, Kellynn Hayes, Stephanie Lee, Liza Parahnevich & Raegan Tjepkema
Tue. April 21 - Finalists Announced - Male Newcomer of the Year - Jack Kilgallon, Alexei Prokopchuk, Chris Rossow, Ben Smith & Patrick Waggoner
Wed. April 22 - Finalists Announced - Female Student-Athlete of the Year - Madyson Brown, Colbeyshae Emery, Mackenna Mason, Jennifer Morinishi & Sami Penor
Thur. April 23 - Finalists Announced - Male Student-Athlete of the Year - Michael Bagatourian, Larson Kindreich, Jake Munivez, Gabe Plendcio & Gabe Weber
Fri. April 24 - Winners Announced - Dr. Dave Holmquist Career Achievement Awards - Madyson Brown, Gabe Plendcio
Mon. April 27 - Winner Announced - Female Newcomer of the Year - Kellynn Hayes
Tue. April 28 - Winner Announced - Male Newcomer of the Year - Alexei Prokopchuk
Wed. April 29 - Winner Announced - Female Student-Athlete of the Year - Madyson Brown
Thur. April 30 - Winner Announced - Male Student-Athlete of the Year - Gabe Plendcio
Fri. May 1 - Winner Announced - Team Community Service Award