Tuesday, April 12, 2016

PORTLAND, Ore.  – Episode 91 of the conference’s weekly radio show – GNAC Insider – aired Tuesday night at 7 p.m. Pacific time. The show featured Western Washington women’s golfer Kristen Hansen, Montana State Billings women’s golfer Kortney McNeil, Central Washington defensive back and SAAC President Drew Wallen and Northwest Nazarene men’s golfer Keynan Fanslow.

Hansen, a senior for the Western Washington women’s golf team, is looking to lead the Vikings to a sixth straight GNAC Championships title on Apr. 18 and 19 in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho. Last season, Hansen took medalist honors at the GNAC Championships, shooting a 10-over par 152 to win by one stroke. Her top score also led the Vikings to their fifth straight team title, and third for Hansen in her career. This season, Hansen is tied for fifth in average round score at 77.9 in 16 rounds. Western Washington leads the GNAC with a 305.9 average team score. Hansen was named the GNAC Women’s Golfer of the Year as a sophomore and the GNAC Freshman of the Year in 2013. Hansen spoke about the Vikings attempt at six straight GNAC Championships, her pre-tournament rituals and her play this season.

McNeil is a freshman for the Montana State Billings women’s golf team, which ranks second in the GNAC in average round score at 75.4. She leads the Yellowjackets into the GNAC Championships with the second best average round score of 312.3 as the team looks to claim its first conference title. McNeil’s season includes five top-10 finishes, two top-five and one first place finish at the MSUB Yellowjacket Fall Invite on Oct. 8 and 9. The Yellowjackets finish up their final tournament of the regular season today at the Bobcat Spring Invitational in Goodyear, Ariz. McNeil spoke about being the only Division II team at the Bobcat Spring Invitational, her play as a true freshman and what she hopes to do at the GNAC Championships.

Wallen is a redshirt freshman for the Central Washington football team and the president of CWU's Student Athlete Advisory Committee. Last weekend, Wallen attended the NCAA's Student-Athlete Leadership Forum in Phoenix, Ariz., where he particpated in leadership conferences with athletes across the nation. The forum is designed to help student-athletes network and discuss ways to improve the student-athlete experience at all three levels of the NCAA. Wallen was selected as one of three GNAC members to attend the forum. Wallen spoke about attending the leadership forum, why he got involved with SAAC and the connections he has made through his leadership position.

Fanslow is a senior for the Northwest Nazarene men’s golf team and is ranked fourth in the GNAC with an average round score of 73.8. He has the Crusaders with the third best average team score at 298 with 23 rounds this season. Fanslow has finished in the top-five in five of nine events this year, taking medalist honors at both the College of Idaho Invitational and the NNU vs College of Idaho Dual. Fanslow and the Crusaders finished their final regular season tournament today at the Hanny Stanislaus Invitational in Turlock, Calif. Fanslow spoke about the team's final regular season tournament, his goals for the GNAC Championships and his second round score of 69 at the Hanny Stanislaus Invitational.

GNAC Insider is hosted by Rob Lowery airing live at 7 p.m. Pacific every Tuesday and is produced by the conference office. All episodes become available as free podcasts via iTunes. To listen to archived episodes go to GNAC.TV.