June 16, 2005
Normal, Ill. -
Matt Maskel has the confidence a PGA professional needs to succeed. That made him an excellent choice for the 2005 D.A. Weibring Endowed Scholarship, named for Illinois State's best-known professional golfer.
Maskel's confidence comes from his dedication.
"It's an honor to receive this scholarship. I try to work hard everyday," said Maskel. "I've made a lot of improvement during my time at Illinois State."
Established in 1994 with proceeds from the D.A. Weibring Redbird Golf Classic, the scholarship is named for the former Redbird golfer who later starred on the PGA Tour and currently on the Champions Tour. It honors a Redbird golf student-athlete who shows performance and dedication. In 1995, it became the first athletics endowment to become fully funded at Illinois State. Maskel is the 11th honoree.
Illinois State men's golf head coach Ray Kralis believes that 2005-06 could be Maskel's most successful in his collegiate career.
"It wouldn't surprise me to see him win some tournaments and break some records. He's ready to win and contend on a weekly basis," said Kralis. "He has an unbelievable game, and belief in himself and the team. He could shoot so low this year it's scary."
Maskel, a senior recreation programming major from Morris, Ill., who was also the 2004 L. Durwood Boone Endowed Scholar, believes this upcoming season could be big for him and the team, the defending Missouri Valley Conference champions.
"I expect a lot out of myself and the team," Maskel said. "I want to compete every week; and we have a strong nucleus of players coming back. I want to see us in the NCAA Finals at the end of the season."
The D.A. Weibring Endowed Scholarship is one of 12 endowed scholarships available to Illinois State student-athletes that are funded by private donors. Six of them are already fully funded, including the Weibring Endowed Scholarship. For more information about supporting Illinois State University endowments for student-athletes, call The Redbird Club office at (309) 438-3803.
