Eastern Michigan Athletics
MAC Names 20 Eagles Distinguished Scholar Athletes
12/19/2016 11:05:00 AM | Men's XC, Women's XC, Football, Soccer, Volleyball, General
Eagles have the fifth-most student-athletes out of all MAC institutions
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) -- The Mid-American Conference announced Monday, Dec. 19, its list of Distinguished Scholar Athletes from the seven fall sports for the 2016-17 academic season. Out of 236 student-athletes on the list, 20 Eagles were recognized as the 'best of the best' from each sport's Academic All-MAC teams.
With its 2016 MAC Championship, the women's cross country team each saw six harriers earn the conference's Distinguished Scholar-Athlete accolade. Meanwhile, the seven-time defending league champion men's cross country squad had two make the list. Seven members of the Eastern football team earned spots on the list, while soccer was represented with three and volleyball with two. Out of EMU's 20 MAC Distinguished Scholar Athletes, 12 boasted a GPA of 3.75 or better, including a trio of 4.0 student-athletes.
From the Academic All-MAC Teams, the faculty athletic representatives selected the 'best of the best' of our Academic All-MAC Teams to be honored with Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Award for the 2016-17 season. The number of Distinguished Scholar Athletes from each sport were equivalent to the number of first-team selections or 33% of nominees, whichever was greater.
The Distinguished Scholar Athlete is a third-year award given to students who have excelled in athletics and academics. Following each season from the fall sports schedule, any student with a 3.20 GPA and participation in at least 50 percent of the contests was automatically named to the previously announced Academic All-MAC Team from each sport. Also, first-year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence were not eligible for the award.
Later this winter and spring, the MAC will announce the Distinguished Scholar Athletes from the remaining 16 winter and spring sports sponsored by the Conference.
2016-17 EMU MAC Distinguished Student-Athletes
Men's Cross Country
John Knox, Senior, 4.00, Aviation Technology (Gloversville, N.Y.)
^*Nick Raymond, Senior, 3.61, Art (Erie, Mich.)
Women's Cross Country
^Anna Aldrich, Senior, 3.93, Nursing (Fremont, Ind.)
Alsu Bogdanova, Senior, 3.90, Individualized Studies Program (Kazan, Russia)
Natalie Cizmas, Junior, 3.63, Exercise Science (Clinton Township, Mich.)
^Sofie Gallein, Senior, 3.79, Individualized Studies Program (Gits, Belgium)
^Jordann McDermitt, Junior, 4.00, Exercise Science (Davison, Mich.)
Sydney Meyers, Sophomore, 3.81, Marketing (Zionsville, Ind.)
Football
Paul Fricano, R-Freshman, 3.38 GPA, Exercise Science (Rochester, N.Y.)
Cole Gardner, Senior, 3.30 GPA, MBA (Batavia, Ill.)
Jeremiah Harris, Sophomore, 3.35 GPA, Sport Performance & Fitness (Lambertville, Mich.)
Clay Holford, R-Freshman, 3.75 GPA, Business Administration (Carrollton, Texas)
^Jake Hurcombe, Senior, 3.70 GPA, MBA (Lincolnshire, Ill.)
Brendan Renius, Senior, 3.56 GPA, Exercise Science (Lambertville, Mich.)
Ike Spearman, Junior, 4.00 GPA, Communication (Saint John, Ind.)
Women's Soccer
Gabriella Mancini, Senior, 3.91, Special Education (Troy, Mich.)
Ellie Tillar, Redshirt senior, 3.53, Special Education (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Kaylin Williams, Sophomore, 3.62, Criminology (Kansas City, Mo.)
Volleyball
Devon Murray, Senior, 3.91, Communication/Electronic Film & Media (Shelby, Ohio)
Jordan Smith, Sophomore, 3.92, Psychology (Solon, Iowa)
*2014 Distinguished Scholar Athlete
^2015 Distinguished Scholar Athlete
With its 2016 MAC Championship, the women's cross country team each saw six harriers earn the conference's Distinguished Scholar-Athlete accolade. Meanwhile, the seven-time defending league champion men's cross country squad had two make the list. Seven members of the Eastern football team earned spots on the list, while soccer was represented with three and volleyball with two. Out of EMU's 20 MAC Distinguished Scholar Athletes, 12 boasted a GPA of 3.75 or better, including a trio of 4.0 student-athletes.
From the Academic All-MAC Teams, the faculty athletic representatives selected the 'best of the best' of our Academic All-MAC Teams to be honored with Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Award for the 2016-17 season. The number of Distinguished Scholar Athletes from each sport were equivalent to the number of first-team selections or 33% of nominees, whichever was greater.
The Distinguished Scholar Athlete is a third-year award given to students who have excelled in athletics and academics. Following each season from the fall sports schedule, any student with a 3.20 GPA and participation in at least 50 percent of the contests was automatically named to the previously announced Academic All-MAC Team from each sport. Also, first-year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence were not eligible for the award.
Later this winter and spring, the MAC will announce the Distinguished Scholar Athletes from the remaining 16 winter and spring sports sponsored by the Conference.
2016-17 EMU MAC Distinguished Student-Athletes
Men's Cross Country
John Knox, Senior, 4.00, Aviation Technology (Gloversville, N.Y.)
^*Nick Raymond, Senior, 3.61, Art (Erie, Mich.)
Women's Cross Country
^Anna Aldrich, Senior, 3.93, Nursing (Fremont, Ind.)
Alsu Bogdanova, Senior, 3.90, Individualized Studies Program (Kazan, Russia)
Natalie Cizmas, Junior, 3.63, Exercise Science (Clinton Township, Mich.)
^Sofie Gallein, Senior, 3.79, Individualized Studies Program (Gits, Belgium)
^Jordann McDermitt, Junior, 4.00, Exercise Science (Davison, Mich.)
Sydney Meyers, Sophomore, 3.81, Marketing (Zionsville, Ind.)
Football
Paul Fricano, R-Freshman, 3.38 GPA, Exercise Science (Rochester, N.Y.)
Cole Gardner, Senior, 3.30 GPA, MBA (Batavia, Ill.)
Jeremiah Harris, Sophomore, 3.35 GPA, Sport Performance & Fitness (Lambertville, Mich.)
Clay Holford, R-Freshman, 3.75 GPA, Business Administration (Carrollton, Texas)
^Jake Hurcombe, Senior, 3.70 GPA, MBA (Lincolnshire, Ill.)
Brendan Renius, Senior, 3.56 GPA, Exercise Science (Lambertville, Mich.)
Ike Spearman, Junior, 4.00 GPA, Communication (Saint John, Ind.)
Women's Soccer
Gabriella Mancini, Senior, 3.91, Special Education (Troy, Mich.)
Ellie Tillar, Redshirt senior, 3.53, Special Education (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Kaylin Williams, Sophomore, 3.62, Criminology (Kansas City, Mo.)
Volleyball
Devon Murray, Senior, 3.91, Communication/Electronic Film & Media (Shelby, Ohio)
Jordan Smith, Sophomore, 3.92, Psychology (Solon, Iowa)
*2014 Distinguished Scholar Athlete
^2015 Distinguished Scholar Athlete
Distinguished Scholar Athletes by School
Bowling Green - 26
Kent State - 24
Ohio - 22
Western Michigan - 21
Eastern Michigan - 20
Toledo - 20
Akron - 17
Ball State - 17
Northern Illinois - 16
Central Michigan - 15
Miami - 15
Buffalo - 13
Players Mentioned
/ Women's XC
/ Women's XC
/ Women's XC
K
/ Football
/ Women's XC
OL
/ Football
DL
/ Football
DL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
/ Men's XC
MF/D
/ Soccer
/ Women's XC
/ Women's XC
RS/MB
/ Volleyball
/ Men's XC
K
/ Football
OH
/ Volleyball
LB
/ Football
MF
/ Soccer
GK
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