Honig, Hanackova named U.S. Army Scholar-Athletes of the Week

Sept. 11, 2007

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INDIANAPOLIS - Valparaiso University senior Chris Honig (cross country) and University of Illinois at Chicago sophomore Katerina Hanackova (women's volleyball) have been named the U.S. Army Horizon League Scholar-Athletes of the Week, League commissioner Jonathan B. LeCrone announced Tuesday (September 11).

At the Crusader Open on Friday (Sept. 7), Honig finished fourth in the 6K race with a time of 20:12, just two seconds behind the third-place finisher. Leading Valpo to a second-place team finish, this was the second straight year Honig placed in the top five at this event.

In the classroom, Honig earns a 3.64 grade-point average in history. In 2006, he received Mid-Continent Academic All-Conference honors and helped his team earn U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic Team honors for the 2006 season.

Hanackova was named the UIC Invitational Tournament Most Valuable Player, having picked up three straight double-doubles over the weekend. In a four-game match against McNeese State University on Saturday (Sept. 8), Hanackova notched a career-high 24 kills and 22 digs. Throughout the week, she totaled 60 kills, averaging 3.53 per game.

Academically, Hanackova registers a 3.82 grade-point average as an economics major, the highest on the 2006 Flames squad.

The Horizon League instituted the Scholar-Athlete of the Week awards 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:

Kevin Sasena, Butler (golf, junior, 3.798, marketing) tied for 23rd place in the final individual standings at the Indianapolis Invitational on Wednesday (Sept. 5). Posting a 36-hole total of 150, his final round 75 tied teammate Kyle Thomas for the low Bulldog round of the final day.

Mike Barton, Cleveland State (soccer, sophomore, 3.71, business economics) helped anchor the Viking defense that went 1-0-1 last week, and was instrumental in helping CSU post a 1-0 shutout at Western Michigan University on Wednesday, and a 1-1 draw at Kentucky on Sunday.

Ryan Miller, Green Bay (cross country, senior, 3.79, communication and the arts) placed 15th overall to lead the Phoenix at the Crusader Open on Friday (Sept. 7). He posted a time of 20:51 for the 6K race.

Thomas Greene, Loyola (golf, sophomore, 3.50, finance) tied for 36th and finished second among Loyola golfers with a 77 at the Purdue Midwest Shootout on Saturday (Sept. 8).

Nick Hawley, Milwaukee (cross country, senior, 3.456, kinesiology) earned third-place at the Crusader Open on Friday with a time of 20:10, just 19 seconds behind the first-place finisher. Hawley's effort led Milwaukee to a third-place team finish among the six teams competing.

OTHER FEMALE NOMINEES:

Michelle DeGeeter, Butler (volleyball, senior, 3.406, pharmacy) averaged 4.67 kills and 2.56 digs per game in helping the Bulldogs to the West Virginia Volleyball Classic Title over the weekend, where she was also named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. She earned her third double-double in the match against Indiana State University, and led the team with 15 kills against East Tennessee State University.

Jennifer Wieand, Cleveland State (soccer, 3.55, junior, physical education) totaled eight points in three matches as CSU went 2-1 last week. Wieand scored two goals and assisted on another as the Vikings beat Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne 5-4 on Tuesday (Sept. 4). Her first goal sent the match into overtime, while her second goal was the game-winner. She is tied for the team lead in goals (3), assists (2) and points (8).

Brooke Wikgren, Green Bay (soccer, senior, 3.663, environmental policy and planning) posted a 0.95 goals against average in two games last week. She also made a season-high eight saves against Northern Iowa on Sunday (Sept. 9). Wikgren currently is the all-time Green Bay leader in career goals-against average.

Caitlin Brown, Loyola (soccer, junior, 3.90, accounting) has started all 47 matches in her career, and was a key member of a Loyola defensive effort that posted a 2-0 shutout against city foe DePaul Wednesday. Brown scored her first career goal in Loyola's 3-2 loss to LaSalle University on Saturday.

Becky Peters, Milwaukee (volleyball, junior, 3.408, nursing) was named the Most Valuable Player of the Panther Invitational, while leading Milwaukee to the tournament title. She collected 13 kills and 30 digs in a comeback win over Big East squad Cincinnati, and earned a double-double against Bradley. She also made her first career start at outside hitter after playing over two seasons at libero.

Laura Rolf, Valparaiso (cross country, junior, 3.40, new media-journalism) won the Crusader Open for the second straight year Friday, posting a time of 17:51 in the 5K. Rolf defeated the field by over a minute, and posted the second-fastest 5K time of her career. The win marked her eighth top-five finish of her career.

PREVIOUS SCHOLAR-ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Aug. 28Nina Inic (Butler, volleyball)
Sept. 5Ryan Miller (Green Bay, cross country); Liz Fazio (Cleveland State, volleyball)