A WALK IN THE WOODS - University at Buffalo

PAUL HOKANSONMACKFOOTBALLMack shines on national stageThe Bulls didn’t win their football season opener atOhio State on Aug. 31, but at least one member of theteam came out on top. Senior linebacker Khalil Mackwas named the MAC East Division Defensive Player ofthe Week after recording a game-high nine tackles,2.5 sacks and an interception for a touchdown. Thegame was broadcast nationally on ESPN2, and plentyof NFL draft insiders took notice of Mack’s performance.So did Buckeyes’ coach Urban Meyer, who saidMack’s “stock in the draft just went up a little bit afterplaying against us.”Mack, who entered the season on four nationalaward watch lists, is expected to be a first-roundpick in the 2014 NFL draft in May. Mack’s teammatesBranden Oliver and Alex Neutz also were named topreseason award watch lists.BASEBALL/TRACK AND FIELDKanzler, White are athletesof the yearRecent graduates Jason Kanzler of the baseball teamand Shante White of the track and field team werenamed the 2012-13 UB Athletes of theYear. The baseball team was also honoredas UB team of the year.Kanzler was named the 2013 MACPlayer of the Year and earned his secondRawlings Gold Glove Award in June, becomingthe first player in the seven-yearhistory of the award to be recognizedKANZLERtwice, after he won in 2012 as well.In the June Major League Baseballdraft, he was selected by the MinnesotaTwins in the 20th round, and he iscurrently ending his first professionalseason as a member of the Gulf CoastLeague Twins.WHITEWRESTLING ALUMNIWhite won the 2013 Weight Throwat the MAC Indoor Championships,breaking the school record in theprocess. She would later finish 15th inthe event at the NCAA championships,earning her second team All-Americanstatus.She was one of four women’s collegeathletes to be named a finalist forthe Giant Steps award, given to thosewho use sport to make positive socialchange, and who help student-athletessucceed in all aspects of their lives.Graber named to USAweightlifting boardUB’s own Mike Graber, MBA ’08 & BS ’04, was electedto a four-year term on the USA Weightlifting nationalboard of directors. The Lancaster, N.Y., native was amember of the wrestling team at UB before taking aninterest in Olympic weightlifting in 2002.SOFTBALLPeel named head coachGRABERA proven winner at every level of competitive softball,Trena Peel was announced over the summer as theeighth coach in the history of Buffalo softball. Peelserved as head coach at Hampton University, whereshe led the team to its first MEAC Championship andNCAA Tournament berth since 1996.PEELPeel spent three seasons at Hampton, improvingthe team’s win total each season.A 2003 graduate of LSU with a bachelor of sciencein kinesiology, Peel played at LSU from 1999to 2002, where she earned NFCA Second-TeamAll-American accolades and was a semifinalist forUSA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year as a senior.She was named SEC Athlete of the Year in 2002 andalso was a three-time All-SEC honoree,selected twice to the All-South RegionalTeam.Peel was a 1999 USAJunior Olympic softballteam member and playedFor updates on all teamon the 2001 USA Nationalschedules, news andRed Team. She also wastickets go toselected to the USA EliteTeam in 2002 and 2003, www.buffalobulls.comand she played in theNational Pro FastpitchLeague.www.alumni.buffalo.edu UBTODAY Fall 2013 15