PSAC Announces Scholar-Athletes of the Year
PSAC Announces Scholar-Athletes of the Year
(June 24, 2004)
Slippery Rock University track and field athlete Karyn McCready and California (Pa.) University baseball player Mike Larson were named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Scholar-Athletes of the Year for 2003-04. The Scholar-Athlete Award is given annually to the top female and male student-athletes as voted on by the league’s sports information directors.
McCready, a senior from Johnstown (Westmont Hilltop HS), recently graduated with a 3.92 grade-point average as a health and physical education major. In recognition of her academic achievements, she has been selected as a first-team College Sports Information Directors Academic All-American. It was the second straight year that McCready earned national academic honors, following a second-team choice in 2003.
McCready’s athletic accomplishments are equally as impressive. She is a three-time All-American in the javelin, which includes a national title this past season. In winning the 2004 NCAA crown, McCready also set the conference’s all-time mark with a toss of 164-0. McCready is only the third Slippery Rock female track and field student-athlete to capture a national title and her performance at the NCAA meet has earned her a berth in the U.S. Olympic Team trials. This year’s effort surpassed her third- and fourth-place finishes in 2003 and 2002, respectively.
McCready was named this season’s PSAC Outdoor Track and Field Female Athlete of the Year. In addition to her national title, she placed first at the conference meet for the third straight year, helping Slippery Rock win the team title for the second straight season.
Larson, an outfielder and pitcher on California’s baseball team, carries a 3.86 grade-point average as a criminal justice major. Only a junior, he has already garnered numerous honors for his achievements in the classroom and on the field.
The Weyburn, Saskatchewan native this year earned distinction as a CoSIDA Academic All-American with a spot on the third team. Furthermore, he was named the PSAC West Athlete of the Year after leading California to a 32-21-1 record and its first PSAC Championship since 1979. As California swept its way through the championship, Larson batted .600 with four RBI and four runs during the three-game stretch.
The multitalented Larson garnered first-team PSAC-West accolades as an outfielder and was a second-team choice as a pitcher. Larson finished eighth in the league in batting with a .401 average, 10th in RBI (.81/gm - 44 total), seventh in doubles (.31/gm - 17 total), and he accumulated the fourth most total bases (117) among league players. On the mound, he was eighth in the PSAC with a 2.55 ERA, allowing just 14 earned runs in 49.1 innings. Among his eight starts, he registered a 4-3 record and threw five complete games. Of his 51 hits allowed, only six went for extra bases.
The PSAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Awards are presented to the top student-athletes who have achieved at least a 3.25 cumulative grade point average while competing at an outstanding athletic level. Student-athletes must have been recognized as a conference Fall, Winter or Spring Top Ten Award winner to be eligible for the honor.