Bishops Receive All-Academic Honors

OHIO WESLEYAN seniors Nathan Osborn (Edgerton) and Preston Osborn (Edgerton) and junior Sean Patrick (Delaware/Hayes) were named to the Division III All-Academic Track and Field Team by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Nathan Osborn won All-North Coast Athletic Conference honors in the 200-meter dash and placed in the 400-meter dash at the conference championship meet this outdoor season. He majors in politics & government.

Preston Osborn was named NCAC Sprinter/Hurdler of the Year this outdoor season. He won the 400-meter hurdles in a time of :53.44, breaking an 18-year-old conference record. He majors in psychology.

Patrick won the 200-meter dash and placed fifth in the 100-meter dash this outdoor season.

All 3 Bishop standouts were part of the Ohio Wesleyan 1600-meter relay team that won the NCAC championship in 3:16.99, breaking a 23-year-old conference record.

A total of 168 Division III male student-athletes from 78 institutions were named to the Division III All-Academic Track and Field Team. To be considered for the award, a student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 (on a 4.0 scale) and have met the NCAA Division III indoor or outdoor automatic or provisional qualifying standard in their respective event.

Men's & Women's Swimming

Ohio Wesleyan junior David Gatz (Delaware/Hayes) was named a Scholar All-American by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America.

Gatz majors in pre-medicine and biochemistry.

A total of 83 Division III male student-athletes from 31 institutions were named CSCAA Scholar All-Americans. To be considered for the award, a student-athlete must qualify to participate in their respective national championship meet, as well as achieve a minimum 3.5 grade point average in either a semester/quarter or a school year, or have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5 on a scale of 4.0.

The entire Ohio Wesleyan men's and women's teams also were honored by the CSCAA. The Bishop men ranked second among NCAA Division III institutions with an overall team grade point average of 3.53, while the women tied for seventh place in Division III with an overall team grade point average of 3.50. A total of 53 men's teams received Scholar All-American status, while 83 women's teams were honored. To be considered for the CSCAA Team Scholar All-American award, a team must have compiled an overall grade point average of at least 3.00.

Men's Swimming

Ohio Wesleyan junior David Gatz (Delaware/Hayes) was voted to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® College Division Men's At-Large teams.

Gatz was a first-team Academic All-America® selection.

Gatz, a member of the Battling Bishop men's swimming team, earned All-America honors in the 100 and 200 breaststroke this year, becoming Ohio Wesleyan's first multiple All-American since 1994. He placed fourth in the nation in the 200 breaststroke, equaling the best individual finish ever by an Ohio Wesleyan swimmer, and was sixth in the 100 breaststroke. He successfully defended his North Coast Athletic Conference titles in both events. Gatz is a pre-medicine and biochemistry major with a cumulative grade point average of 3.99. He was a second-team Academic All-America® selection last year.

The ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® teams are selected by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America. To be considered for the teams, one must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 or better and be a starter or important reserve. The men’s at-large program for the Academic All-America program includes the sports of fencing, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming, tennis, volleyball, water polo, and wrestling.

Women's Track & Field

Ohio Wesleyan juniors Ashlie Britton (LeRoy/Painesville Riverside) and Sarah Shinn (Edinboro, Pa./General McLane) were named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV track & field/cross country teams.

Britton and Shinn were second-team Academic All-District selections.

Britton was a member of Ohio Wesleyan's 800-meter relay team that won All-NCAC honors as the Battling Bishops tied for the 2009 North Coast Athletic Conference indoor track & field championship. She is an 8-time All-NCAC selection in hurdles and relay events. Britton is a psychology major with a cumulative grade point average of 3.95.

Shinn anchored the Bishops' first-place 1600-meter relay team that won the meet's final event as the Bishops tied for the 2009 North Coast Athletic Conference indoor track & field championship. She also won All-NCAC honors in the 800-meter run, the mile run, and the long jump indoors; and in the mile relay and the 800-meter run outdoors. She is a 14-time All-NCAC selection in middle distance, distance, relay events and cross country and a 2-time national qualifier in the 800-meter run. Shinn is an accounting major with a cumulative grade point average of 3.94.

The ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District teams are selected by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America, with District 4 consisting of schools in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama. To be considered for the teams, one must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 or better and be a starter or important reserve.

Men's Swimming, Golf

Ohio Wesleyan junior David Gatz (Delaware/Hayes) and senior Andy Schillig (Pataskala/Licking Heights) were named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District® IV at-large teams.

Gatz was a first-team Academic All-District® selection and will advance to the national ballot for consideration for the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® teams. Schillig was a second-team Academic All-District® pick.

Gatz, a member of the Battling Bishops' men's swimming team, earned All-America honors in the 100 and 200 breaststroke this year. His fourth-place finish in the 200 breaststroke tied the best individual finish ever by an Ohio Wesleyan swimmer at the NCAA Division III championship meet, and in combination with his sixth-place finish in the 100 breaststroke, made him Ohio Wesleyan's first multiple All-America swimmer since 1994. He also repeated as North Coast Athletic Conference champion in both events. Gatz is a pre-medicine and biochemistry major with a cumulative grade point average of 3.99.

Schillig, a member of the Ohio Wesleyan golf team, was a third-team All-America pick this season. He tied for 22nd place with a 297 at last week's NCAA Division III championship tournament. Schillig finished second at the NCAC Invitational this spring and was a first-team All-NCAC selection after ranking second in the league with a 663 total for the 4 conference events. Schillig is an economics management major with a cumulative grade point average of 3.71.

The ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District® teams are selected by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America, with District 4 consisting of schools in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama. To be considered for the teams, one must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 or better and be a starter or important reserve.

Golf

Ohio Wesleyan junior Jordan Benner (Beavercreek), junior Jesse Chiero (Westerville/South), junior Tommy Harman (Perrysburg), and senior Andy Schillig (Pataskala/Licking Heights) were were named Cleveland Golf All-America Scholars by the Golf Coaches Association of America.

To be considered for Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar honors, one must be a junior or senior and must have at least a 3.2 cumulative grade-point average. In addition, golfers must have a stroke average under 76.0 for Division I, under 78.0 for Division II and under 79.0 for Division III. A recipient must also be of high moral character and be in good standing at his college or university.

Softball

Ohio Wesleyan juniors Sarah Cook (Sidney/Fairlawn) and Rita Cook (Sidney/Fairlawn) were named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV softball teams.

Sarah Cook was a first-team Academic All-District® selection and will advance to the national ballot for consideration for the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® teams. Rita Cook was a second-team Academic All-District® selection.

Sarah Cook, an outfielder for the Battling Bishops, batted .270 with 8 RBI this season. She is an ACS chemistry major with a cumulative grade point average of 3.94.

Rita Cook, a third baseman for the Battling Bishops, batted .272 with 15 RBI this season. She is an ACS chemistry major with a cumulative grade point average of 3.97.

The ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District teams are selected by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America, with District 4 consisting of schools in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama. To be considered for the teams, one must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 or better and be a starter or important reserve.

Baseball

Ohio Wesleyan junior Steve Ruygrok (Centennial, Colo./Cherry Creek) was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV baseball teams.

Ruygrok was a second-team Academic All-District® selection.

Ruygrok, a catcher for the Battling Bishops, leads the North Coast Athletic Conference in runners caught stealing with 21. He batted .308 with 3 home runs and 25 runs batted in this season. Ruygrok is a sports management major with a cumulative grade point average of 3.32.

The ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District teams are selected by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America, with District 4 consisting of schools in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama. To be considered for the teams, one must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 or better and be a starter or important reserve.

Men's Basketball

Ohio Wesleyan University Kyle Holliday (Van Wert) was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® College Division Men's Basketball teams.

Holliday was a second-team Academic All-America® selection.

Holliday, a wing for the Battling Bishops, leads the team and ranks sixth in the North Coast Athletic Conference in scoring with an average of 15.7 points per game, and his average of 6.3 rebounds per game ranks seventh in the league. He is tied for fourth in the conference in 3-point field goals (2.36/game), and ranks sixth in 3-point field goal percentage (.434) and 15th in assists (2.28/game). Earlier this season, Holliday became the 25th Ohio Wesleyan men's basketball player to surpass the 1000-point mark during his career. Holliday is an accounting major with a cumulative grade point average of 3.87.

The ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® teams are selected by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America. To be considered for the teams, one must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 or better and be a starter or important reserve.

Men's Basketball

Ohio Wesleyan senior Kyle Holliday (Van Wert) was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV men's basketball teams.

Holliday was a first-team Academic All-District® selection and will advance to the national ballot for consideration for the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® teams. He was a second-team Academic All-District® selection in 2008.

Holliday, a wing for the Battling Bishops, leads the team and ranks sixth in the North Coast Athletic Conference in both scoring and rebounding with averages of 16.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. He also ranks third in the conference in 3-point field goals (2.33/game), fourth in 3-point field goal percentage (.462), and 14th in assists (2.39/game). On Saturday, Holliday became the 25th Ohio Wesleyan men's basketball player to surpass the 1000-point mark. Holliday is an accounting major with a cumulative grade point average of 3.87.

The ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District teams are selected by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America, with District 4 consisting of schools in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama. To be considered for the teams, one must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 or better and be a starter or important reserve.

Women's Cross Country

Ohio Wesleyan junior Claire Everhart (Edinboro, Pa./General McLane) and senior Leah Schmelzer (Marion/Pleasant) were named to the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's All-Academic teams.

Everhart majors in international studies and Spanish, while Schmelzer is a biology major.

A total of 221 Division III female student-athletes from 103 institutions were named to the 2008 USTFCCCA Cross Country All-Academic teams. To be considered for the award, a student-athlete must carry a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average and must finish in the top 25 percent of the field at their respective NCAA regional meet.

The entire Ohio Wesleyan squad also was honored by the USTFCCCA as one of 156 Division III women's teams to receive All-Academic Team honors for the 2008 season. To be considered for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team award, a team must have competed and compiled a team score at an NCAA regional meet, and must have a team cumulative grade point average of at least 3.10.

Football

Ohio Wesleyan junior Mike Browning (East Islip, N.Y.) was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV football teams.

Browning was a second-team Academic All-District selection.

Browning, a defensive end for the Battling Bishops, ranks third on the team with 5½ tackles for loss for a net loss of 15 yards. He has compiled a total of 25 tackles this season. Browning is a journalism major with a cumulative grade point average of 3.52.

The ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District teams are selected by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America, with District 4 consisting of schools in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama. To be considered for the teams, one must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 or better and be a starter or important reserve.