OKLAHOMA CITY (Jan. 11, 2021) – Collegiate Ultimate's postseason honors began with a flourish for Oklahoma Christian on Tuesday, as Ultiworld.com named OC's Kyle Henke as its Division III Player of the Year, presented by the National Ultimate Training Camp.

Henke, a graduate student from Austin, Texas, who transferred to OC from Texas Tech, led the Eagles to their first national title in the USA Ultimate Division III College Championships last month in Norco, Calif. It was the first appearance in the national tournament for OC, a scholarship club program that began competing with the 2019-20 academic year.

In an article about Henke on Ultiworld.com, the site's editors declared Henke to be their "unanimous" selection for the honor, saying "he was in a tier of his own this season" while "playing at maybe the highest level we've ever seen from an individual in the division."

Henke teamed with Elliott Moore to lead what was the most productive offensive line among any of the 16 Division III teams that qualified for the national tournament. During OC's three bracket-play games in the tournament – wins over sixth-seeded Whitman (Wash.), top-seeded Richmond and second-seeded Middlebury (Vt.) – Henke scored 15 goals, five more than any other player in the tournament, and he tied for third in assists with nine.

In the title-match win over Middlebury, according to Ultiworld.com's statistics, Henke led the Eagles in receiving yards (263) and was second in throwing yards (396) while finishing with two goals and five assists with only one turnover on 45 touches.

"Kyle obviously made a difference on the field, but it also should be noted the impact that he made for our team off the field," OC coach Garrett Taylor said. "I think he brought a different perspective to what we were able to do in our preparation and that translated into what we were able to accomplish in California."

Ultiworld's editors also were effusive in their praise: "Henke anchored the best O-line in the division, and he was utilized on that line in a variety of ways. Whether receiving the centering pass and starting in the handler space or serving as the initiating cutter, Henke was prominently involved in every pull play for the Eagles.

"Not just restricted to the O-line, Henke frequently rotated onto the Oklahoma Christian D-line, patrolling the deep space and leading the offense after a turn. He threw the first break in the final, and on a line that struggled to get breaks throughout the weekend, much of their success came on the points where Henke was on the field."

Henke doesn't plan to play for the Eagles during the 2022 spring season, during which OC will be looking to accomplish the rare feat of winning a second national title in the same sport during the same academic year. The situation was made possible due to schedule delays and changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ultiworld.com will name several other award winners for the 2021 season – offensive and defensive players of the year, breakout player of the year, rookie of the year and coach of the year – during the next few days, followed by the release of its All-America first- and second-team lists. As the player-of-the-year winner, Henke won't be eligible for any of the other individual honors.