Butler's Gardner, West named Horizon League Scholar-Athletes of the Week
Feb. 20, 2007
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INDIANAPOLIS -- Butler University junior Genni Gardner (women's indoor track and field) and Bulldog senior Evan West (men's tennis) have been named the Horizon League Scholar-Athletes of the Week, League commissioner Jonathan B. LeCrone announced Tuesday (Feb. 20).
Gardner won the award for the fourth time this year, with the first three coming during the cross country season. The latest honor follows her performance at the Hoosier Hills Invitational last Friday (Feb. 16), as Gardner won the 3,000-meter race in a time of 9:57.15---the best mark by a Horizon League runner this season. Her clocking puts Gardner more than 24 seconds ahead of her nearest competitor on this year's League leader board, while the junior also owns the circuit's best time in the mile (4:54.01).
In the classroom, Gardner carries a 3.946 grade-point average as a communications disorders major. She was an Academic All-League selection and a First-Team All-League performer in cross country last fall, and earned Academic All-League honors in track and field as a sophomore. Her trophy case also includes a District V Academic All-District certificate from the College Sports Information Directors of America.
West scored a pair of victories at the No. 4 singles position last weekend. He was the lone Bulldog victor against No. 34 University of Kentucky last Saturday (Feb. 17), defeating Kenny Hodge in straight sets (7-5, 6-3), and came back to record a "double-bagel" (6-0, 6-0) triumph over Bradley University foe Matt Metully on Sunday (Feb. 18). He now carries an 8-9 record in singles play this season.
In the classroom, West owns a 3.795 grade-point average, majoring in chemistry with a minor in Spanish. He was an Academic All-League selection last spring and has been a member of the League's Academic Honor Roll in each of the past three semesters.
The Horizon League instituted the Scholar-Athlete of the Week awards for this academic year as a way to recognize outstanding academic and athletic achievement by its student-athletes. To be eligible for the honor, a student-athlete must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 3.20 or better (on a 4.00 scale), have completed at least one year at the member institution and passed 24 semester or 36 quarter hours, and perform well during the week's competition. Winners are selected by a group of League faculty athletic representatives, from nominations provided by sports information directors.
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OTHER MALE NOMINEES:
Rob West, Cleveland State (baseball, senior, 3.76, history) hit .300 (3-for-10) in a season-opening series versus West Virginia University. He had two doubles, including an RBI two-bagger in the eighth inning to drive in the go-ahead run in the Vikings' 3-0 victory on Sunday (Feb. 18).
Zach Everingham, Detroit (basketball, junior, 3.25, business) averaged ten points, two steals and an assist in two games last week. He scored a career-high 16 points---14 in the first half---against Youngstown State University on Wednesday (Feb. 14), eclipsing his previous high of 12.
Tom Levin, Loyola (basketball, junior, 3.63, economics) helped the Ramblers to a six-game winning streak, averaging 8.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in two victories last week. He matched a career-high with 12 points and grabbed three rebounds in Saturday's (Feb. 17) victory over Eastern Illinois University.
Ryan Tillema, UW-Green Bay (basketball, sophomore, 3.406, business administration) averaged 16 points off the bench in two road triumphs. He scored 15 points with five three-pointers to help lift the Phoenix past the University of Illinois at Chicago on Wednesday, and came back with four treys as part of a 17-point effort versus Northern Illinois University on Saturday.
Adam Scheis, UW-Milwaukee (indoor track and field, sophomore, 3.351, history) broke his own school record in winning the 60-meter hurdles at the UWM Triangular on Saturday. His time of :08.10 eclipsed the previous standard of :08.21, set earlier this season, and helped power the Panthers to a pair of League victories.
Drew Burleson, Wright State (basketball, senior, 3.237, communications studies) led the Raiders to two wins last week, extending the team's winning streak to nine games. He netted 13 points with nine rebounds and three assists against Cleveland State University on Wednesday, and posted nine points with seven caroms against California State University-Fullerton on Saturday.
OTHER FEMALE NOMINEES:Annie Moore, Detroit (tennis, sophomore, 3.59, communications) went 2-1 in singles play last week and also posted a victory at the top doubles slot. The team's top singles entry recorded a 6-0, 6-0 triumph versus Robert Morris College and a three-set win against an opponent from Bradley University.
Marcia Faustin, Loyola (indoor track and field, senior, 3.48, biology) won the high jump at the UWM Triangular on Saturday, clearing 1.66 meters to take top honors. The senior attempts to defend her individual title in that event at this weekend's League Championships.
Amanda Popp, UW-Green Bay (basketball, senior, 3.793, psychology/human development) helped the Phoenix extend its winning streak to a school-record 18 games, averaging 11 points in two road victories last week. She hit double figures for the ninth time in her last ten games with 12 points against Cleveland State University on Saturday (Feb. 17).
Erin Magargee, UW-Milwaukee (indoor track and field, junior, 3.672, psychology) posted her first collegiate victory at the UWM Triangular, topping the field in the 1,000 meters with a time of 3:03.29. Her performance in the event helped the Panthers claim victories over League foes Loyola University Chicago and UIC.
Steph Comisar, Wright State (basketball, senior, 3.233, accounting) scored 12 points in the Raiders' 65-54 victory over the University of Detroit Mercy last Thursday (Feb. 15). The two-sport (basketball, soccer) standout hit a trio of three-point field goals in the game, while also collecting five rebounds and six steals.
Bethany Anderson, Youngstown State (indoor track and field, junior, 3.35, health/pre-med) became the first female thrower in school history to provisionally qualify for the NCAA Championships, setting a YSU record in the weight throw for the third consecutive week. Her mark of 63 feet, seven inches at the Kent State University Tune-Up last Saturday is the best by a League athlete this season by nearly 13 feet.
PREVIOUS SCHOLAR-ATHLETES OF THE WEEK Aug. 29-- Aaron Thompson (Butler, soccer), Liz Fazio (Cleveland State, volleyball)Sept. 5-- Kent Wories (Butler, cross country), Genni Gardner (Butler, cross country)Sept. 12 -- Kent Wories (Butler, cross country), Stephanie Gross (UW-Green Bay, soccer)Sept. 19 -- Markian Zyga (Loyola, soccer), Ginny Graczyk (UW-Milwaukee, soccer)Sept. 26 -- Paul Mongillo (Butler, soccer), Liz Fazio (Cleveland State, volleyball)Oct. 3 -- Tom Sadd (Cleveland State, soccer), Mary Parker (Detroit, soccer)Oct. 10 -- Billy Meier (UW-Milwaukee, soccer), Mary Parker (Detroit, soccer)Oct. 17 -- Nick Hawley (UW-Milwaukee, cross country), Mary Parker (Detroit, soccer)Oct. 24 -- Bjorn Schantz (Cleveland State, swimming), Betty Slinger (UW-Green Bay, volleyball)Oct. 31 -- Bjorn Schantz (Cleveland State, swimming), Genni Gardner (Butler, cross country)Nov. 7 -- Markian Zyga (Loyola, soccer), Sarah Rauen (UW-Green Bay, volleyball)Nov. 14-- Bjorn Schantz (Cleveland State, swimming), Genni Gardner (Butler, cross country)Nov. 21-- Robby Leibold (UW-Milwaukee, swimming), Sarah Moore (UW-Milwaukee, volleyball)Nov. 28-- Bjorn Schantz (Cleveland State, swimming), Whitney Lewis (Wright State, basketball)Dec. 5 -- Bjorn Schantz (Cleveland State, swimming), Amanda Popp (UW-Green Bay, basketball)Dec. 12-- Tom Levin (Loyola, basketball), Jenna Real (Loyola, basketball)Dec. 19-- Mike Schachtner (UW-Green Bay, basketball), Steph Comisar (Wright State, basketball)Dec. 27-- A.J. Graves (Butler, basketball), Jenna Real (Loyola, basketball)Jan. 9-- Mike Schachtner (UW-Green Bay, basketball), Jenna Real (Loyola, basketball)Jan. 16-- Dan Lindstrom (UW-Green Bay, swimming), Whitney Lewis (Wright State, basketball)Jan. 23-- Robby Leibold (UW-Milwaukee, swimming), Jackie Closser (Butler, basketball)Jan. 30 -- Drew Streicher (Butler, basketball), Molly Cox (UW-Green Bay, swimming)Feb. 6 -- Blake Booher (UIC, swimming), Lindsay Caldwell (UW-Milwaukee, swimming)
Feb. 13 -- Drew Burleson (Wright State, basketball), Jenni Saarinen (UW-Milwaukee, indoor track and field)
