Youngstown State's Merrill, Anthony Named Scholar-Athletes of the Week

Penguin track and field athletes recognized for academic, athletic achievements

YSU's Aaron Merrill won the shot put at the Outdoor Track and Field Championships

May 13, 2008

INDIANAPOLIS -

Youngstown State University junior Aaron Merrill (men's track and field) and sophomore Alisha Anthony (women's track and field) have been named the U.S. Army Horizon League Scholar-Athletes of the Week, League commissioner Jonathan B. LeCrone announced Tuesday (May 13).

Merrill won the shot put, finished third in the discus and sixth in the hammer throw at the Horizon League Outdoor Track and Field Championships last weekend as Youngstown State finished second in the team standings. His shot put throw of 55 feet 8 1/4 inches was a NCAA Regional qualifying effort and more than five feet further than the second-place finisher. Merrill set personal-best marks in the discus and hammer throws, ranking third in YSU history in both events.

As a criminal justice major, Merrill maintains a 3.66 grade-point average. He has been named to the Academic All-League Team both semesters he was eligible and was previously honored as the Scholar-Athlete on March 11.

Anthony was named the women's Field Newcomer of the Year at the Horizon League Outdoor Track and Field Championships after she excelled in a variety of events. She won the triple jump, setting a school record with a mark of 39 feet, 4 inches (11.99m), was the runner-up in the 100-meter dash with a personal record time (12.37 seconds) and set another school record in the long jump with her second-place leap of 18 feet 11 inches (5.77m). Anthony also participated on the Penguins' first-place 4x100-meter relay team. She scored a total of 26 points, helping YSU to the team title.

Academically, Anthony carries a 3.75 grade-point average as an exercise science major. She earned Academic All-League honors during the indoor track and field season and also appeared on the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll last fall.

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 MALE NOMINEES:

Tom Andreoni, Loyola (track and field, sophomore, 3.65, finance) captured second place in the 400-meter hurdles at the Horizon League Outdoor Track and Field Championships, setting a personal record with a time of 54.08 seconds.

Andy Hetebrueg, Milwaukee (baseball, junior, 3.787, marketing) helped the Panthers to a 4-3 record last week, including a 3-1 mark in League play. He earned the victory against first-place UIC on Friday (May 9), giving up just two runs in eight innings of work. Hetebrueg struck out five and threw seven scoreless innings against the Flames, giving him his fourth victory in five starts.

Steve Bartholomew, Valparaiso (track and field, senior, 3.281, management) was named the men's Outstanding Field Performer at the Horizon League Outdoor Track and Field Championships as he claimed hammer throw and discus. He set a school and League championship record in the hammer with a mark of 201 feet, 10 inches while tossing 167-6 inches to win the discus. Bartholomew qualified for the NCAA Regionals in both events.

OTHER FEMALE NOMINEES:

Amy Solava, Loyola (softball, sophomore, 3.91, elementary education) was named to the Horizon League All-Tournament Team after her performance at the League Championship, as she went 3-1 with a 1.28 earned run average and 23 strikeouts in 27.1 innings of play. She pitched the Ramblers to a pair of victories on Friday and hit the game-winning two-run homer in a 2-1 win over Butler.

Laura Ring, Milwaukee (track and field, sophomore, 3.739, psychology) helped the Panthers to a runner-up finish at the Horizon League Outdoor Track and Field Championships with her victory in the 800-meter run (2:11.90) and the second-place 4x400-meter relay. Her time in the 800 was a personal record and the third-best time in school history.

Rachael Button, Valparaiso (track and field, senior, 3.697, English) recorded two top-ten finishes at the Horizon League Outdoor Track and Field Championships, helping Valpo to a third-place team finish in its inaugural League season. She finished fourth in the 10,000-meter run with a time of 37:57.44 and registered an eighth-place showing in the 5,000-meter race, crossing the finish line in 18:08.22.

PREVIOUS U.S. ARMY SCHOLAR-ATHLETES:

Aug. 28 Nina Inic (Butler, volleyball)
Sept. 5 Ryan Miller (Green Bay, cross country); Liz Fazio (Cleveland State, volleyball)
Sept. 11 Chris Honig (Valparaiso, cross country); Katarina Hanackova (UIC, volleyball)
Sept. 18 Malcolm DeBaun (Loyola, soccer); Betty Slinger (Green Bay, volleyball)
Sept. 25 Markian Zyga (Loyola, soccer); Sara Hughes (Valparaiso, volleyball)
Oct. 2 Kent Wories (Butler, cross country); Ani Michl (Valparaiso, soccer)
Oct. 9 Zeke Dombrowski (Milwaukee, soccer); Lotte Rasmussen (Green Bay, soccer)
Oct. 16 Kent Wories (Butler, cross country); Amanda Stinson (Green Bay, soccer)
Oct. 23 Robby Leibold (Milwaukee, swimming); Alyse Serritella (Loyola, volleyball)
Oct. 30 Steve Grove (Cleveland State, swimming); Genni Gardner (Butler, cross country)
Nov. 6 Steve Grove (Cleveland State, swimming); Beth Steuer (Milwaukee, soccer)
Nov. 13 Robby Leibold (Milwaukee, swimming); Cynthia Morote-Ariza (Loyola, soccer)
Nov. 20 Mike Schachtner (Green Bay, basketball); Mel Snyder (Cleveland State, volleyball)
Nov. 27 A.J. Graves (Butler, basketball); Kailey Klein (Cleveland State, basketball)
Dec. 4 Drew Streicher (Butler, basketball); Ashley Hall (Milwaukee, diving)
Dec. 11 Jake Diebler (Valparaiso, basketball); Ashley Hall (Milwaukee, diving)
Dec. 18 Samuel Haanpää (Valparaiso, basketball); Leah Hochstetler (Valparaiso, basketball)
Jan. 8 Ryan Tillema (Green Bay, basketball); Kayla Groh (Green Bay, basketball)
Jan. 15 Mike Schachtner (Green Bay, basketball); Kari Helland (Green Bay, diving)
Jan. 22 Steve Bartholomew (Valparaiso, indoor track & field), Kelsey Hausken (Green Bay, swimming)
Jan. 29 Robby Leibold (Milwaukee, swimming); Jessica Weidert (Wright State, swimming)
Feb. 5 Jeremy Waldhart (Milwaukee, swimming); Ashley Hall (Milwaukee, diving)
Feb. 12 Phil Orno (Cleveland State, tennis); Kat Krause (Loyola, softball)
Feb. 19 A.J. Graves (Butler, basketball); Elise VanBogaert (Loyola, basketball)
Feb. 26 Adam Schleis (Milwaukee, baseball); Jessica Weidert (Wright State, swimming)
Mar. 4 Julian Betko (Butler, basketball); Launa Hochstetler (Valparaiso, basketball)
Mar. 11 Aaron Merrill (Youngstown State, outdoor track & field); Andrea Zappia (Valparaiso, softball)
Mar. 18 Andy Hetebrueg (Milwaukee, baseball); Kim Sajevic (Valparaiso, tennis)
Mar. 25 A.J. Graves (Butler, basketball); Nora Schober (Loyola, softball)
Apr. 1 Andy Hetebrueg (Milwaukee, baseball); Karen Korb (Valparaiso, softball)
Apr. 8 Ryan Stohs (Valparaiso, track & field); Holly Nearman (Milwaukee, track & field)
Apr. 15 Chris Honig (Valparaiso, track & field); Genni Gardner (Butler, track & field)
Apr. 22 Sean Bidzinski (Loyola, golf); Kat Krause (Loyola, softball)
Apr. 29 Phil Orno (Cleveland State, tennis); Jenna Reisch (UIC, tennis)
May 6 Brett Bivens (Valparaiso, baseball); Ellen Kresl (Loyola, softball)