April 29, 2010

Five RedStorm women earn Academic All-Mid-South Conference

Rio Grande --- Five members of the University of Rio Grande women's track and field squad earned Academic All Mid-South Conference honors for their excellence in the classroom this spring. They were among 44 female athletes who were honored by the Mid-South Conference. 

Juniors Cassie Mattia (West Chester, OH) and Rachel Walker (Ironton, OH) along with sophomores Tracie Brown (Logan, OH), Cory Crutcher (Eaton, OH) and Molly Roark (South Webster, OH) all achieved the criteria set forth by the conference to earn the academic designation.

In order to be named Academic All Mid-South Conference, a student/athlete must be a sophomore, junior or senior and achieve a minimum 3.25 grade point average. Mattia also earned the honor in cross country this past fall as well as garnering an NAIA Scholar-Athlete award. 

Mattia is the daughter of Anthony & Michelle Mattia. She is majoring in Mass Communications.

Walker also earned academic all-conference in the fall as a member of the volleyball team. Walker is the daughter of Jim & Treva Walker. She is majoring in English.

Brown also won two MSC Championships in the hammer throw and the discus. Brown is the daughter of Glen & Ressa Brown. She is majoring in Early Childhood Education.

Crutcher is the daughter of Amy Anderson. She is majoring in Nursing.

Roark is the daughter of Kevin & Nita Roark; her major is Intervention Specialist. 

"We're extremely proud of all five of these young ladies," said Rio Grande head coach Bob Willey. "It's very exciting to have our student-athletes earn this honor."

"This is what it's all about," Willey added. "We aim for this honor more than we do them earning all-conference or All-American in competition."

"All five of these young ladies are very deserving of this honor. They put the time in and dedicate themselves to studying and competing," Willey said. "It's a great tribute to the type of student/athletes that they are."