Cleveland State's Schantz, Wright State's Lewis win Horizon League Scholar-Athletes of the Week honor

Nov. 28, 2006

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INDIANAPOLIS -- Cleveland State University senior Bjorn Schantz (men's swimming) and Wright State University junior Whitney Lewis (women's basketball) have been named the Horizon League Scholar-Athletes of the Week, League commissioner Jonathan B. LeCrone announced Tuesday (Nov. 28).

Schantz earned the award for the fourth time this season after winning the 200 and 500 freestyle versus 14th-ranked Ohio State University last Tuesday (Nov. 21). His 1:39.75 clocking in the 200 was the fifth-fastest time in school history, and he added a 4:34.42 time in the 500. Schantz currently ranks second in the League in both the 500 and 1,000, while his time in the 200 was the best by a League swimmer so far this year.

In the classroom, Schantz boasts a 3.90 grade-point average as an international business/marketing major, earning CSU's Athletic Academic Award in 2005. 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. He also was a member of the Academic All-League Team in 2006.

Lewis scored 38 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in three games last week, including a career-best 21 points versus Nicholls State University on Saturday (Nov. 25). She also paced the Raiders with 11 points and three blocked shots versus Indiana University the previous day, earning a spot on the Miami University Thanksgiving Tournament All-Tournament team.

In the classroom, Lewis holds a perfect 4.000 grade-point average in her studies as a psychology major. She has received Highest Honors in each of her first seven quarters at the school, and was voted to the League's Academic All-League Team in 2005-06.

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.

OTHER MALE NOMINEES:
A.J. Graves, Butler (basketball, junior, 3.370, actuarial science) was the Most Valuable Player of the NIT Season Tip-Off, leading the Bulldogs to the tourney title with victories over the University of Tennessee and Gonzaga University. He scored 26 points versus Gonzaga on Friday (Nov. 24) and matched that total in Butler's 83-80, double-overtime triumph over Kent State University on Saturday (Nov. 25).

Tom Levin, Loyola (basketball, junior, 3.58, economics) played a supporting role in the Ramblers' victories over the University of San Diego and Fairfield University last week. His efforts as a reserve have helped Loyola compile a 5-1 record in the early portion of the season.

OTHER FEMALE NOMINEES:
Marquis Hanser, Loyola (basketball, senior, 3.37, marketing) scored a team-high 13 points versus the University of North Texas on Saturday (Nov. 25). A member of the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll in both semesters last year, she is the League's fifth-leading scorer with 15.0 points per game this season and needs 140 points to reach 1,000 for her career.

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)

MULTIPLE-AWARD WINNERS
4 - Bjorn Schantz, Cleveland State
3 - Genni Gardner, Butler
3 - Mary Parker, Detroit
2 - Kent Wories, Butler
2 - Markian Zyga, Loyola