Jan. 23, 2006

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Missouri juniors Kim Massaro and Ben Stafford were named this week's Lathrop & Gage Varsity M Student-Athletes of the Week for their exceptional contributions to their respective athletic teams, combined with their strengths in the classroom and time spent in the local community.

A native of San Antonio, Texas, Massaro is a math major and holds a 3.889 grade-point average. As a member of the Tiger diving team, Massaro won the 1-meter diving competition against Illinois and host Iowa on Saturday, Jan. 21 for her first top finish of the season. Against Big 12 Conference for Iowa State on Friday, Jan. 20, Massaro took home second place. A 2005 Academic All-Big 12 honoree, Massaro finished 13th at the 2005 NCAA Zone Diving Championships. Out of the pool, she volunteered at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church Outreach and Angel Tree in her native Texas.

Stafford, a javelin thrower on the Tiger track and field team, holds a 3.775 grade-point average in geography. The Leawood, Kan. native set a personal best in the event at the 2005 Tulsa Duals with a 189-4 throw to finish in second place. An Academic All-Big 12 selection in 2005, Stafford also earned the team's Marvin L. Patterson award, given to a non-scholarship athlete for academic and athletic excellence. Stafford, a member of the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, also volunteers at the Central Missouri Humane Society and the Boys and Girls Club of Columbia.

The women's swimming and diving team will next face Drury on Friday, Feb. 3, at 4 p.m., in Springfield, Mo. This weekend, the indoor track and field team travels to Manhattan, Kan. for the Kansas State Invitational on Friday, Jan. 27. The Missouri outdoor track and field team opens the 2006 campaign at the Arizona State Invitational scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, March 25-26 in Tempe, Ariz.