By DOUG DONNELLY

When Kolby Masserant took the podium Thursday, he etched his name permanently into Siena Heights University history.

The 2024 Whiteford graduate became the final All-American in SHU Saints athletic history when he earned an eighth-place finish in the men’s decathlon at the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at North Carolina-Asheville.

It was one of the final performances for any SHU athlete as the school has closed its doors.

“With SHU closing we were the last sport going on,” Masserant said. “Campus life was very empty as it was only track athletes left, which really reminded us the harsh reality that SHU really was closing. The neat thing is I will go down in the books as the last All-American SHU will ever have.”

Masserant was a football, basketball and track athlete at Whiteford. He set numerous Bobcat football records as a receiver and is in the athletics hall of fame. He went to Siena Heights to do the long jump in track and field.

“I went to college to become a long jumper only,” he said. “I had no knowledge of what a multi-athlete is. After I learned what that entails, I was all for it as one of my favorite things in life is a good challenge.”

A multi-athlete means competing in the decathlon and heptathlon.

“The decathlon is one of the most challenging things, athletic wise, you can put your body and mind through,” Masserant said. “It is held as the most accurate measure to tell a person’s athletic ability. Between each event you have 30 minutes until the next, including the warm-up and measuring steps. One of the most difficult parts is the recovery aspect between Day 1 and Day 2, because of the final event for Day 1 being the 400. This takes a lot out of you for Day 2.”

Masserant, under the tutoring from Coach Kirk Richards, qualified for nationals.

“Going into nationals in North Carolina, it was my goal to come home as an All-American, not only for myself but for my coach because of how much he has developed me as an athlete and person,” Masserant said.

In the decathlon, he competed in the Javelin, Long Jump, 110 Hurdles, 1500, 100, High Jump, Shot Put, 400, Discus and Pole Vault. His best finishes were in the Javelin (second) and Long Jump (third). His most important finish was in the 1500-meter run, which is what the decathlon came down to.

“I had to set a personal-best by 11 seconds, running a 5-minute mile to do so,” Masserant said.

He did better than that, running it in 4:54, and secured his All-American status.

“That was a result of all my training paying off. It was truly a test of strength,” he said.

Masserant plans to transfer to another college to continue his academic and athletic career and wants to continue as a multi-athlete.

“I’m in talks with multiple colleges and I’m slowly narrowing down the choices,” he said.