Gamble and Craig Honored with Natalie Steele and Gates-Howard Awards
UPLAND, Ind. – Mollie Gamble and Aidan Craig were named the winners of Taylor's annual Natalie Steele and Gates-Howard Awards, which recognize TU's top senior female and male student-athletes for excellence in competition, academics, character and leadership. Student-athletes are nominated for the prestigious honor and voted on by the Taylor head coaches.
Gamble was named the Natalie Steele Award recipient after graduating from Taylor with a 3.30 cumulative grade-point average in exercise science. The standout distance performer was a four-time USTFCCCA Scholar-Athlete for her work in the classroom.
Gamble piled up six NAIA All-American honors and nine All-Crossroads League awards during her time with the TU cross country and track and field programs. Additionally, Gamble raced at NAIA Nationals all four years of her cross country career, while also being a seven-time national qualifier in eight track seasons. Gamble's top highlights include finishing fourth at the 2023 NAIA Cross Country National Championships, winning two CL individual league titles on the track, holding the top-five 6,000-meter times in Taylor history and holding the indoor 5,000-meter program record.
"When I think of Mollie the first word that hits me is perseverance," said TU head cross country coach Quinn White. "This young lady has overcome so much and those challenges have made her as resilient as about anyone I have met. Mollie's career was stellar with so many awards and accolades, but knowing her story, I am not surprised. I am honored and blessed to have been in this chapter of her life."
"Mollie had such a career it is hard to actually put into words the legacy she leaves behind," stated TU head track and field coach Derek Gay. "Beyond all the athletic accomplishments, I think I respect more than anything the way she has always gone about her work, day in and day out. Mollie is the kind of person who never needs the spotlight but constantly finds herself in it. It was a joy to watch her compete these past four years."
Craig was named the Gates-Howard Award recipient and graduated with a degree in marketing with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.06.
On the field Craig set the standard for TU men's lacrosse during his time in Upland, becoming the program's first NAIA All-American and first Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Player of the Year. On his way to those historic recognitions, Craig set the TU and WHAC records for assists in a game, season and career, ending his time with 191 assists and as the lone Trojan to reach 100. In addition to the being one of the NAIA's best assist artists during his career, Craig also piled up 50 goals and 241 points in his 51 total games played.
"Aidan was a cornerstone for our program for four years," reflected TU's head men's lacrosse coach Chad Newhard. "His success was very evident on the field and it has been great to see him get recognized for this. He was also well respected by his teammates and voted a three-year captain. AC set the example for our team every day on and off the field with his infectious attitude and genuine excitement for his faith, the game and his teammates. Starting a new program has its challenges and I am proud of how Aidan and our team navigated those challenges as our program continued to grow and improve. It has been a joy to watch his growth over the past four years."