Student-Athletes From PSAC Schools Claim Four of NCAA's Elite 88 Awards in Inaugural Season of Award
NCAA Elite 88 Award Website
A total of four student-athletes from PSAC schools were honored as recipients of NCAA Elite 88 awards during the 2009-10 school year, the inaugural year of the NCAA Elite 88 awards. Two of those student-athletes competed in PSAC-sponsored sports while two others attend a PSAC school but participate in non-PSAC sports.
The NCAA Elite 88 award was founded by the NCAA to recognize the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. It is presented to one student-athlete, who must be at least a sophomore in both academic and athletic standing, with the highest grade point average at the finals site for each of the NCAA’s 88 championships across all three divisions - I, II and III.
Shippensburg field hockey student-athlete Kristen Brooks was presented with the inaugural Elite 88 award back in the fall at the NCAA Division II field hockey championships, which was the first NCAA Championship in any division to be contested this academic year.
Story
IUP men's basketball student-athlete Joe Rocco was presented with the Elite 88 award at the NCAA Division II men's basketball Elite Eight in March.
Story
Mercyhurst women's rowing student-athlete Bethany Brun was awarded with the Elite 88 award at the NCAA Division II women's rowing championships held in Sacremento, Calif. in May. Women's rowing is not a PSAC-sponsored sport.
Story
Brun was the second Mercyhurst student-athlete to receive an Elite 88 award this year as women's ice hockey student-athlete Vicki Bendus was honored with the award at the NCAA Division I women's Frozen Four in Minneapolis in March. The Lakers' women's ice hockey team compete at the NCAA Division I level, as Division II does not sponsor the sport. Earlier this month, Bendus was also named an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American®
Story