COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Fort Lewis College soccer player Fabian Kling was chosen as the men's Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Athlete of the Month for December 2011, RMAC Assistant Commissioner Sarah Meier announced on Wednesday.

“Fabian is the epitome of the total student-athlete,” said FLC Director of Athletics Gary Hunter. “Not only is he an outstanding soccer player, but he's a marvelous role model for our student-athletes and the youth in our community.”

Kling, a 6-foot-3 senior defender from Holbein Gymnasium in Augsburg, Germany, closed out his career with the Skyhawks on top, helping Fort Lewis to its third NCAA Division II national championship in men's soccer since 2005. The 3-2 overtime win over Lynn (Fla.) on Dec. 3 in the NCAA-II title game also marked the second national title during Kling's four-year career as a starting defender for the Skyhawks.

Kling scored the game-winning goal in FLC's 3-0 win over Millersville (Pa.) in the NCAA semifinals. He finished the season with 16 total points (seven goals, two assists) despite playing central defense and missing seven games due to a partially-torn ACL.

During 2011, he was named the NSCAA NCAA-II National Player of the Year, the Defensive Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, the Most Valuable Player of the RMAC playoffs, and the RMAC's Defensive Most Valuable Player. He was also named to the following teams: NSCAA/Continental Tire All-America first team, NSCAA/Continental Tire All-Central Region first team, Daktronics All-America first team, Daktronics All-Central Region first team, All-RMAC first team, and the RMAC All-Academic first team.

Kling becomes the third Skyhawk to receive an RMAC Athlete of the Month award during the 2011-12 academic year. He joins women's soccer player Hayley Hollenga and his own teammate, Ryan Wirth, who received the honors in September and November, respectively.

Metro State women's basketball player Jasmine Cervantes was named the women's RMAC Athlete of the Month for December.