Wright State's Parker, Detroit's Rafter named U.S. Army Scholar-Athletes of the Week

April 17, 2007

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INDIANAPOLIS -- Wright State University sophomore Justin Parker (baseball) and University of Detroit Mercy junior Kaleigh Rafter (softball) have been named the U.S. Army Horizon League Scholar-Athletes of the Week, League commissioner Jonathan B. LeCrone announced Tuesday (April 17).

Parker batted .471 (eight-for-17) in five games last week, helping the Raiders to a 3-2 record in League competition. Six of his eight hits were doubles, as he scored six runs and drove in two more while also recording two walks and a stolen base. He rapped three two-baggers and crossed the plate four times in a doubleheader sweep of Butler University on Tuesday (April 10) and added four hits in a weekend series at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

In the classroom, Parker owns a 3.564 grade-point average, majoring in organizational leadership. He has garnered Highest Honors (3.50 or better GPA) once and High Honors (3.25 or better GPA) twice during his tenure at Wright State, and is a member of the Horizon League's Academic Honor Roll.

Rafter etched her name into the Titan record books, becoming UDM's all-time leader with 20 career home runs after clearing the fences three times last week. She broke the previous standard with a pair of round-trippers versus Oakland University on Tuesday (April 10) and added one more on Saturday (April 14) versus Butler. For the week, Rafter hit .471 (8-for-17) and drove in nine runs as the Titans won two of the five games they played. Rafter leads the League with eight homers, 26 runs batted in and a .534 on-base percentage this season.

In the classroom, Rafter carries a 3.840 grade-point average as a criminal justice major. She was an Academic All-League selection and National Fastpitch Coaches Association's Scholar-Athlete honoree last spring. On the field, Rafter was a member of the Canadian national team at the 2007 Pan-American and World University Games and will contend for a spot on the Canadian squad for the 2008 Summer Olympics.

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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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)
Feb. 20 -- Evan West (Butler, tennis), Genni Gardner (Butler, indoor track)
Feb. 27 -- Blake Booher (UIC, swimming), Lindsay Caldwell (UW-Milwaukee, swimming)
Mar. 6 -- Rob West (Cleveland State, tennis), Amy Meissner (UW-Green Bay, tennis)
Mar. 13 -- Mark Sommerfeld (Detroit, golf), Jackie Closser (Butler, basketball)
Mar. 20 -- A.J. Graves (Butler, basketball), Kat Krause (Loyola, softball)
Mar. 27 -- John Westra (Cleveland State, baseball), Natalie Berglin (UW-Green Bay, basketball)
Apr. 3 -- Josh Page (Youngstown State, baseball), Kat Krause (Loyola, softball)
Apr. 10 -- Steven Wipprecht (Cleveland State, tennis), Jenni Saarinen (UW-Milwaukee, outdoor track)

MULTIPLE-AWARD WINNERS
5 - Bjorn Schantz, Cleveland State
4 - Genni Gardner, Butler
3 - Mary Parker, Detroit
3 - Jenna Real, Loyola
2 - Blake Booher, UIC
2 - Lindsay Caldwell, UW-Milwaukee
2 - Jackie Closser, Butler
2 - A.J. Graves, Butler
2 - Kat Krause, Loyola
2 - Whitney Lewis, Wright State
2 - Robby Leibold, UW-Milwaukee
2 - Mike Schachtner, UW-Green Bay
2 - Kent Wories, Butler
2 - Markian Zyga, Loyola