PSAC Student-Athletes Win Three NCAA Elite 89 Awards in 2011-12
NCAA Elite 89 Award Website
All-Time Elite 89 Award Recipients from the PSAC
A total of three student-athletes from PSAC schools were honored as recipients of an NCAA Elite 89 Award during the 2011-12 academic year. The three honorees this year gives the PSAC a total of 11 Elite 89 Award winners during the first three years of the award, including 10 at Division II championships, which is the most among Division II conferences.
The NCAA Elite 89 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 89 championships across all three divisions - I, II and III. Named the Elite 88 Award in its first two years of existence, it was renamed the Elite 89 for the 2011-12 academic year after the addition of one more NCAA championship.
Nancy Stehman of West Chester was honored with the Elite 89 Award at the Division II field hockey championship back in November. After winning the award, Stehman went on to lead the Golden Rams to a national championship. She is the third straight student-athlete from the PSAC to win the Elite 89 Award at the field hockey championship, joining former Shippensburg student-athlete Kristen Brooks, who won the honor in each of the first two years of the award. Story
In the spring, Liz Wilson of West Chester became the second Golden Ram student-athlete to garner an Elite 89 Award when she was given the honor at the Division II women's lacrosse championship. West Chester would go on to finish as the national runner-up at the championship. Wilson was the first PSAC student-athlete to be awarded the honor at the women's lacrosse championship. Story
Also in spring and at the Division II spring championship festival in Louisville, Ky., IUP's Tabtip Louhabanjong was the recipient of the Elite 89 Award at the women's tennis championship. She became the second straight Crimson Hawk to earn the award at the women's tennis championship, as former teammate Kelly McBryan was the recipient of the accolade at the 2011 championship. Loubahanjong's honor gives IUP three different Elite 89 Award winners over the three years of the award - one each year - as former men's basketball player Joe Rocco was the men's basketball recipient of the award in 2010. With three different individuals having garnered Elite 89 awards over the last three years, IUP is also now tied with Mercyhurst for the most Elite 89 winners among PSAC schools. The Lakers have had three individuals combine for four Elite 89 awards over the first three years. Story
Eligible student-athletes for the Elite 89 Awards are sophomores or above who have participated in their sport for at least two years with their school. They must be an active member of the team, traveling and a designated member of the squad size at the championship. All ties are broken by the number of credits completed.
The PSAC established its own academic recognition award the is based off the NCAA Elite 89 award beginning with the recently concluded academic year. More information on the PSAC Champion Scholar Awards is available here. Louhabanjong was also honored as the recipient of the PSAC Champion Scholar Award at this year's PSAC Women's Tennis Championship, making her the first student-athlete in PSAC history to garner both a PSAC Champion Scholar and NCAA Elite 89 Award both overall and in the same season.