Wilkes University Athletics

THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE WILKES UNIVERSITY COLONELS

THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE WILKES UNIVERSITY COLONELS WILKES UNIVERSITY COLONELS

Anna Mitchell and Matt Ruch were named MAC Spring Scholar-Athletes

MATT RUCH, ANNA MITCHELL NAMED MAC SPRING SCHOLAR-ATHLETES

4/24/2012 3:32:00 PM

MATT RUCH, ANNA MITCHELL NAMED MAC SPRING SCHOLAR-ATHLETES

ANNVILLE, PA – Wilkes University senior standouts Matt Ruch (Dallas, PA/Holy Redeemer) (Baseball) and Anna Mitchell (Montclair, NJ/Montclair) (Women's Tennis) have been named 2012 Middle Atlantic Conference Spring Scholar-Athletes of the Year for their respective sports as announced by the conference office Tuesday afternoon.

The Scholar-Athlete award is given to a senior in each men's and women's sport of each sport season. Nominees much have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least a 3.20 (4.0 scale). Historically, recipients hold GPA's north of 3.80 and are regarded as academic leaders in their respective sport.

The MAC Awards Committee bases selection of recipients on an even balance (50-50) of both academic and athletic prowess.

Ruch, a first team All-Freedom performer for the Colonels at first base, became the school's all-time hits leader earlier this season and recently eclipsed the 200-hit plateau for his career. This season Ruch is batting .361 with 11 doubles, three triples, and seven home runs while driving in a team-best 38 runs. Along with holding the school's hit mark, Ruch ranks in the top three in four other offensive categories including third in runs scored (140), doubles (40), and home runs (26) while standing second in RBI's (148).

His success in the classroom has been equally as impressive as on the field holding a 3.87 GPA as an Accounting major at Wilkes. He has also been named to the MAC All-Academic team three straight years.

Mitchell has shined on the Wilkes tennis courts for three years including three straight Freedom Conference championships and three NCAA Tournament berths in the Navy and Gold. This season Mitchell boasts a 16-2 overall mark standing 14-1 in dual matches from the No. 4 and 5 singles positions for an undefeated Wilkes squad (16-0). The Lady Colonels have clinched their sixth straight top seed in next week's conference tournament looking for a sixth straight league title.

A Montclair, NJ native, Mitchell boasts a 3.71 GPA as a Spanish and International Studies double major at Wilkes. She has also been named to the MAC All-Academic team for two consecutive years.

Ruch and Mitchell become Wilkes' third and fourth Scholar-Athlete award winners of 2011-12 joining Michelle Wakeley (Women's Cross Country) and Paul Huch (Men's Basketball).

Print Friendly Version