DURANGO, Colo. — Fort Lewis College men's soccer player Fabian Kling received the Don Whalen Outstanding Senior Male Athlete of the Year award at last night's Skyhawk Awards Banquet.

“Fabian is one of the most outstanding student-athletes that I have had the pleasure to experience,” said FLC Director of Athletics Gary Hunter. “His leadership on and off the field and in the classroom is exceptional.”

Kling, a 6-foot-3, 195-lb. defender from Holbein Gymnasium in Augsburg, Germany, won national championships in 2009 and 2011 with the Skyhawks. He recently joined the San Antonio Scorpions of the North American Soccer League and is finishing up his final internship needed for graduation with a youth soccer club in Texas.

Kling was named the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) NCAA Division II Player of the Year, the Most Outstanding Defensive Player of the NCAA Division II Final Four, the Most Valuable Player of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament, and the RMAC Defensive Player of the Year as a senior.

Following his collegiate career, he was drafted in the second round of the MLS Supplemental Draft and was on trial with Reading F.C., an English association club that plays in the Championship, the second tier of English professional football, prior to signing with San Antonio. He joins former teammates Euan Purcell and Jeff Jennings and former FLC head coach Tim Hankinson with the Scorpions.

“Fabian is in my opinion one of the greatest footballers we have ever had at Fort Lewis College,” said third-year FLC head coach Oige Kennedy. “Winning two national championships, the NCAA Division II Player of the Year and being selected in the MLS draft by Chivas USA, has distinguished him in to a very elite group. He will go down as one of the great captains of this program like Luc Cisna, Bryan Eisenbraun, Zane Wells, and Jeff Jennings. He displayed the characteristics of all strong leaders and was the driving force behind our 2011 success. As a coach, I count myself very lucky to have worked with Fabian over the past few years and I am delighted to see him chase his professional soccer ambitions. We will miss him on and off the field.”

Kling is a four-time All-American (NSCAA and Daktronics first teams in 2011, NSCAA and Daktronics third teams in 2010). He's also a six-time All-Central Region selection (three each by NSCAA and Daktronics). Earlier this season, Kling was also named to the RMAC All-Academic first team.

Despite missing seven games due to a serious knee injury, Kling still totaled 16 points on seven goals and two assists from his central defender position. He ranks among FLC career leaders in games played (fourth, 86), goals (sixth, 28), and total points (tenth, 61).

The Skyhawks captured their third NCAA Division II championship in 2011, having previously won national titles in 2005 and 2009. FLC was national runners-up in 1999 and 2006. Fort Lewis posted a 24-1-0 overall record, 13-1-0 in RMAC games. The Skyhawks also won NCAA-II Central Region, RMAC regular season, and RMAC tournament titles.

The Don Whalen Outstanding Senior Male Athlete of the Year award is presented annually to the most outstanding senior male athlete(s) at Fort Lewis College. It is named after Dr. Don Whalen, a longtime coach, administrator and supporter of Skyhawk Athletics. During his career at Fort Lewis from 1959-88, he served as men's basketball coach, golf coach, director of athletics, dean of education, vice president and, ultimately, two stints as interim president. He died in 2006, age 75.

Past recipients of the Don Whalen Award include:

• 2011 – Jamie Cunningham (soccer)
• 2010 – Tom Settle (soccer), Zane Wells (soccer)
• 2009 – Mark Meng (football)
• 2008 – Devon Manning (basketball)
• 2007 – John Cunliffe (soccer)
• 2006 – Nick Clark (soccer)
• 2005 – Joe Moore (football)
• 2004 – Andrew Webb (football)
• 2003 – Kevin Hatch (basketball)
• 2001 – Brandon Kaplan (soccer), Jeremy Marlow (basketball)
• 2000 – Luc Cisna (soccer)
• 1999 – Rich Hansen (soccer)
• 1998 – Rocky Schneider (football)
• 1997 – Steve Schutz (basketball)
• 1996 – Jeff Rickert (football)
• 1995 – Thad Trujillo (football)
• 1994 – Johnny Cox (football)