U.S. Army Horizon League Scholar-Athletes of the Week
May 13, 2008
Men's Track and Field
Aaron Merrill, Youngstown State
Sophomore
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.
Women's Track and Field
Alisha Anthony, Youngstown State
Sophomore
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.
U.S. Army Horizon League Scholar-Athletes of the Month (April, 2008)
Men's Golf
Sean Bidzinski, Loyola University Chicago
Junior
Last month, Bidzinski placed 23rd at the Horizon League Championship with a 233 scoring total (78-77-78). He shot a two-under-par 70 in the first round of the competitive Boilermaker Invitational, eventually posting a 221 total (70-74-77) to lead all Rambler golfers. Bidzinski also recorded a 15th-place finish at the Caputo Invitational with a 236 (77-79-80).
In the classroom, Bidzinski carries a 3.92 grade-point average as a finance major. He has been a member of the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll, as well as a Scholar-Athlete of the Week on April 22 of this year.
Women's Golf
Paige McCracken, Butler University
Senior
McCracken was named Butler's Most Outstanding Female Athlete on April 24. She was also honored as a Horizon League First Team All-League golfer and as an All-Tournament Team member after tying for fourth-place at the League championship. McCracken's efforts helped the Bulldogs to their fourth-straight Horizon League title. She also was the medalist at the Cardinal Classic on April 13-14, and Butler's leading scorer during the month of April with a 78.3 average.
As an English Literature and Spanish double major, McCracken boasts a 3.866 grade-point average. She has been a National Golf Coaches Association All-Amercian Scholar, as well as a two-time honoree on the Horizon League Academic All-League team. She has also been named to the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll and a Josten's Scholar-Athlete in 2006 and 2007.
