Loyola's Martin, Morote-Ariza Honored as U.S. Army Horizon League Scholar-Athletes of the Week

Oct. 31, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

INDIANAPOLIS -- Loyola University Chicago men's soccer player Will Martin and women's soccer player Cynthia Morote-Ariza have been named U.S. Army Horizon League Scholar-Athletes of the Week for the week ending Oct. 26, League commissioner Jonathan B. LeCrone announced Thursday (Oct. 30).


Martin (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Xavier) was a starter on defense as Loyola earned a scoreless tie at League-leading Butler University Oct. 24 for its eighth clean sheet of the season. The Ramblers enter the weekend's action tied for fourth place in the League standings with a 3-2-1 record (8-4-2 overall).


As a biology major, Martin carries a 4.0 grade-point average at Loyola. He helped the Ramblers men's soccer team earn an NSCAA Team Academic Award in 2007. This is his second Scholar-Athlete of the Week award this fall, having previously received the honor Oct. 10.


Morote-Ariza (Chicago, Ill./St. Ignatius) had two goals and an assist in Loyola's 6-1 victory over Youngstown State University Oct. 26 that enabled the Ramblers to clinch a share of the League's regular-season title and the top seed in the Horizon League Championship. She has 13 goals and 17 assists this season, setting school records in both categories, and was named the League's Player of the Year for the second year in a row earlier this week. Loyola will open the tournament by hosting ninth-seed YSU on Sunday.


In the classroom, Morote-Ariza maintains a 3.45 grade-point average as a psychology major at Loyola. She was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District V Team for the second straight season earlier Thursday. This is her second Scholar-Athlete of the Week award this season after earning the honor Sept. 10.


The Horizon League instituted the U.S. Army 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, 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 MEN'S NOMINEES:
Stephen Grove, Cleveland State (men's swimming and diving, 3.88, mechanical engineering)
Nick Hegeman, Butler (men's soccer, junior, 3.376, economics)
David Prochazka, Green Bay (men's soccer, sophomore, 3.66, business administration)

OTHER WOMEN'S NOMINEES:
Angie Porche', Valparaiso (volleyball, junior, 3.668, psychology)
Kelly Zinkiewich, Cleveland State (women's soccer, sophomore, 3.46, communciations)