Dale J. Bruce Scholar-Athlete Dinner

OHIO WESLEYAN junior David Gatz (Delaware/Hayes) won the highest honor at the fifth annual Dale J. Bruce Scholar-Athlete Awards Dinner, held on April 23 in the Benes Rooms of the Hamilton-Williams Campus Center on the Ohio Wesleyan campus.

Gatz, a member of the men's swimming team, received the Presidential Award, recognizing the University's top athlete and person. The top honor awarded by the Ohio Wesleyan athletics department, the Presidential Award is based on athletics ability and achievement, academic excellence, character, leadership, activities and inspiration. Gatz (at left) is pictured with Dr. Rock Jones, president of Ohio Wesleyan University.

Receiving Top Nine Awards were senior Allie Cozzone (Chagrin Falls/Kenston), senior Janna Dagley (Beavercreek), senior Megan Downing (Mentor/Gilmour Academy), junior Claire Everhart (Edinboro, Pa./General McLane), junior Kevin Fahey (Delaware/Hayes), senior Kyle Martin (Dublin/Wellington), sophomore Sean Patrick (Delaware/Hayes), junior Rachel Seibel (Johnstown/Johnstown-Monroe), and senior Corey Turner (Cleveland/Marshall). The Top Nine Award is voted upon by the Ohio Wesleyan Athletics Council and is based upon the student-athlete's impact upon their family, their team, the University and the Delaware community. Cozzone is a member of the women's soccer team, Dagley is a member of the volleyball team, Downing is a member of the women's swimming and women's track & field teams, Everhart is a member of the women's cross country and track & field teams, Fahey is a member of the men's swimming team, Martin is a member of the golf team, Patrick is a member of the men's track & field team, Seibel is a member of the women's basketball and softball teams, and Turner is a member of the football team. Pictured in the front row, left to right, are Everhart, Downing, Martin, Patrick, Seibel, and Cozzone. Pictured in the back row, left to right, are John Kercher '64, president of the Alumni "W" Association, Fahey, Dagley, Turner, and Jones.

The Dr. Richard Gordin Award, recognizing the highest cumulative grade point average among senior male student-athletes, went to senior Kyle Holliday (Van Wert), a member of the men's basketball team.

The Mary Parker Award, recognizing the highest cumulative grade point average among senior female student-athletes, went to senior Jessica Merrill (Columbia Station/Columbia), a member of the women's track & field team.

The Dr. Jay Martin Award, honoring the top male senior student-athlete, went to Holliday.

The Nan Carney-DeBord Award, recognizing the top female senior student-athlete, was shared by Dagley and senior Hannah Mudge (Baltimore, Md./St. Paul's School), a member of the women's lacrosse team.

Also recognized were Ohio Wesleyan's top 50 student-athletes by cumulative grade point average. They were: junior Laura Bartholomae (Chicago, Ill./Shaker Heights (Ohio)), junior Dani Beauford (Baltimore, Md./Loch Raven), senior Laura Binkley (Columbus/Bishop Watterson), junior Maddie Branden (Solon), junior Ashlie Britton (LeRoy/Painesville Riverside), junior Jessie Chiero (Westerville/South), sophomore Christa Cocumelli (Dublin/Bishop Watterson), junior Rita Cook (Sidney/Fairlawn), junior Sarah Cook (Sidney/Fairlawn), senior Allie Cozzone (Chagrin Falls/Kenston), senior Megan Downing (Mentor/Gilmour Academy), junior Claire Everhart (Edinboro, Pa./General McLane), sophomore Bridget Fahey (Delaware/Hayes), junior Kevin Fahey (Delaware/Hayes), sophomore Josh Gardner (Youngstown/Boardman), junior David Gatz (Delaware/Hayes), senior Katie Germano (Towaco, N.J./Montville Township), junior Tommy Harman (Perrysburg), sophomore Ryan Harmanis (Hilliard/Davidson), sophomore Kyle Herman (Stow/Stow-Munroe Falls), senior Kyle Holliday (Van Wert), sophomore Brenna Irrer (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer), junior Usman Javaid (Lahore, Pakistan/Aitchison), junior Kristin Kovach (Chagrin Falls/Kenston), and junior Sarah Marous (Bexley).

Also, senior Kyle Martin (Dublin/Wellington), junior Bryce Mathias (Centerburg), sophomore Sean-Paul Mauro (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township), senior Jessica Merrill (Columbia Station/Columbia), sophomore Marisa Obuchowski (Baltimore, Md./Pikesville), senior Nathan Osborn (Edgerton), junior Christopher Potterton (Needham, Mass.), junior Kara Reiter (Chardon), junior Lauren Rogers (Worthington/Thomas Worthington), junior Ashley Rosenquist (Willits, Calif.), junior Sharon Rymut (Broadview Heights/Brecksville-Broadview Heights), junior Michael Sarap (Cambridge), senior Andy Schillig (Pataskala/Licking Heights), junior Katie Schlaudt (Holland, Mich.), senior Leah Schmelzer (Marion/Pleasant), junior Sarah Shinn (Edinboro, Pa./General McLane), senior Valerie Sloboda (Columbia, Md./Atholton), sophomore Hannah Sterling (Allison Park, Pa./Hampton), junior Sam Striler (St. Louis, Mo./Country Day), junior Carolyn Tallman (Park Ridge, Ill./Maine South), sophomore Jenna Teeters (Johnstown/Johnstown-Monroe), sophomore Sarah Truchan (Westfield Center/Brunswick), sophomore Laura VanHoey (Rochester, Mich.), senior Greg Vasami (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Rye Neck), senior Meghan Warren (Marlton, N.J./Shawnee), junior Emily Washek (Erie, Pa./McDowell), junior Scott Williams (Naperville, Ill./Benet Academy), and sophomore Tony Wong (Cleveland/Cleveland Heights).

The Bob Strimer Director's Cup, awarded to the Ohio Wesleyan team with the highest cumulative grade point average, went to the men's swimming team.

The evening's festivities also included the presentation of the Town-Gown Award, given by the Ohio Wesleyan athletic department in recognition of longstanding relationships with and outstanding support of Ohio Wesleyan student-athletes and athletic

The Dale J. Bruce Scholar-Athlete Awards Dinner is named in honor of Dale Bruce '52, an All-America football end at Ohio Wesleyan who has been a longtime supporter of Battling Bishop athletics.