Cleveland State's Schantz, Butler's Gardner named Horizon League Scholar-Athletes of the Week
Oct. 31, 2006
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INDIANAPOLIS -- Cleveland State University senior Bjorn Schantz (swimming and diving) and Butler University junior Genni Gardner (cross country) have been named the Horizon League Scholar- Athletes of the Week, League commissioner Jonathan B. LeCrone announced Tuesday (Oct. 31).
Schantz won the men's award for the second consecutive week after recording first-place finishes in the 200, 500 and 1000 freestyle events in Cleveland State's victory over the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay on Saturday (Oct. 28). He also participated on the Vikings' victorious 400 free relay quartet, leading CSU past the Phoenix in an early-season dual meet.
The Viking senior was the League's Athlete of the Year in 2005-06 as well as the Swimmer of the Meet after helping CSU to the 2006 League Championship---the school's first title in any sport since 1999. In the classroom, he carries a 3.83 grade-point average as an international business/marketing major, earning Dean's List honors on several occasions as well as CSU's Athletic Academic Award in 2005. He also was a member of the Academic All-League Team in 2006.
Gardner also becomes a two-time award-winner, adding this week's certificate to the one she received on Sept. 5. The latest accolade recognizes her third-place finish at the 2006 Horizon League Women's Cross Country Championships on Saturday. Her 18:18.55 timing earned her First-Team All-League honors, and helped pace the Bulldogs to a fifth consecutive League title as BU claimed the top four individual finishes.
In the classroom, Gardner carries a 3.932 grade-point average as a communications disorders major. She was a Second-Team All-League performer last year (finishing 12th at the loop summit), when she also earned Academic All-League honors and was named to the College Sports Information Directors of America District V Academic All-District Team.
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:
Aaron Thompson, Butler (soccer, senior, 3.369, accounting) scored what proved to be the match-winner in Butler's 2-1 upset of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the opening round of the Horizon League Men's Soccer Championship on Saturday (Oct. 28). He also sparked a strong defensive effort, helping hold the Panthers scoreless on ten shots in the second half.
Tim Baldes, Loyola (soccer, senior, 3.73, finance) helped pace the Ramblers to a 3-2 victory over Cleveland State University in the quarterfinals of the League Championship. His defensive efforts have enabled Loyola to post eight shutouts this year and register a double-digit victory total (now 10-7-1) for only the second time since 1996.
OTHER FEMALE NOMINEES:
Liz Fazio, Cleveland State (volleyball, sophomore, 3.96, biology) collected a match-high 17 kills in the Vikings' four-game victory over the University of Illinois at Chicago on Friday (Oct. 27). She again led all players with 23 kills at Loyola University Chicago on Saturday, adding seven digs in a five-game loss. Fazio leads the League with an average of 3.75 kills per game for the year.
Mary Parker, Detroit (soccer, senior, 3.801, biology/pre-med) set up the game-winning goal in the Titans' 1-0 victory over the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay in the quarterfinals of the League Championship on Saturday. The League's Player of the Year now has a circuit-leading 36 points (15 goals, six assists) for the season.
Mary Dale, Loyola (soccer, senior, 3.45, sports management) scored two goals in Loyola's 3-0 victory over Youngstown State University on Saturday, her first action since gaining Second-Team All-League honors earlier in the week. Dale stands second on the school's all-time career list with 25 goals and 58 points, and ranks second on the team with seven markers and 17 points this fall.
Cheryl Hegemann, UW-Milwaukee (volleyball, senior, 3.757, education) tallied 16 kills in leading the Panthers to a three-game sweep over UW-Green Bay on Friday, keeping UWM atop the League standings at 9-1 in loop play. She added seven digs and three blocks while bringing her career kill total to 994.
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)
