Loyola's Bidzinski, Butler's McCracken Named Scholar-Athletes of the Month

May 5, 2008

INDIANAPOLIS -

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Loyola University Chicago junior Sean Bidzinski (men's golf) and Butler University senior Paige McCracken (women's golf) have been named the U.S. Army Horizon League Scholar-Athletes of the Month for April, League commissioner Jonathan B. LeCrone announced Monday (May 5).

Last month, Bidzinski placed 23rd at the Horizon League Championship with a 233 scoring total (78-77-78). He shot a two-under-par 70 in the first round of the competitive Boilermaker Invitational, eventually posting a 221 total (70-74-77) to lead all Rambler golfers. Bidzinski also recorded a 15th-place finish at the Caputo Invitational with a 236 (77-79-80).

In the classroom, Bidzinski carries a 3.92 grade-point average as a finance major. He has been a member of the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll, as well as a Scholar-Athlete of the Week on April 22 of this year.

McCracken was named Butler's Most Outstanding Female Athlete on April 24. She was also honored as a Horizon League First Team All-League golfer and as an All-Tournament Team member after tying for fourth-place at the League championship. McCracken's efforts helped the Bulldogs to their fourth-straight Horizon League title. She also was the medalist at the Cardinal Classic on April 13-14, and Butler's leading scorer during the month of April with a 78.3 average.

As an English Literature and Spanish double major, McCracken boasts a 3.866 grade-point average. She has been a National Golf Coaches Association All-Amercian Scholar, as well as a two-time honoree on the Horizon League Academic All-League team. She has also been named to the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll and a Josten's Scholar-Athlete in 2006 and 2007.

The Horizon League instituted the U.S. Army Scholar-Athlete of the Week awards in 2006 as a way to supplement recognition of outstanding academic and athletic achievement by its student-athletes. That commitment continued with the addition of the U.S. Scholar-Athlete of the Month awards in the fall of 2007. To be eligible for the honor, a student-athlete must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 3.20 or better (on a 4.00 scale), have completed at least one year at the member institution and passed 24 semester or 36 quarter hours, and perform well during the month's competition. Winners are selected by a group of League faculty athletic representatives, from nominations provided by sports information directors.

OTHER MALE NOMINEES:

Phil Orno, Cleveland State (tennis, sophomore, 3.40, English) capped his outstanding season by earning Horizon League Player of the Year honors and leading the Vikings to their first-ever League title. He won all eight of his singles matches in April at the No. 1 slot, bringing his winning streak to 19-straight matches.

Zach Rodeghero, Valparaiso (baseball, senior, 3.27, meteorology, mathematics, TV/Radio communications) had at least one hit in all 17 games during the month of April, hitting .529 (36-for-68) with 10 multi-hit games. He scored 17 runs and drove in 16 while recording nine doubles and two four-hit games. Rodeghero posted a .662 slugging percentage, a .588 on-base percentage and did not commit an error in the field last month.

OTHER FEMALE NOMINEES:

Genevieve Binnie, Loyola (track & field, junior, 3.70, biology) won the 5,000-meter run at the Duke Invitational with a time of 17:44.93, and also placed third out of 88 runners in the same event at the Gina Relays. She also finished 11th in the 3,000-meter run at the Gina Relays (10:12.31) and captured 18th in the 1,500-meter at the Tony Waldrop Invitational.

Mallory Gill, Valparaiso (softball, senior, 3.70, psychology, secondary education, special education) hit .296 for the month with nine runs scored and 10 RBIs as well as four home runs. She earned Athlete of the Week honors on April 14 after hitting .571 the previous week, including her first career multi-home run game on April 11 against UIC.

Previous U.S. Army Scholar-Athletes of the Month:

August/September: Mark Sommerfeld, Detroit (Golf); Betty Slinger, Green Bay (Volleyball)
October: Robby Leibold, Milwaukee (Swimming); Tara Geegan, Wright State (Volleyball)
November: Mike Schactner, Green Bay (Basketball); Tara Geegan, Wright State (Volleyball)
December: Samuel Haanpää, Valparaiso (Basketball); Elyse VanBogaert, Loyola (Basketball)
January: Ryan Tillema, Green Bay (Basketball); Kailey Klein, Cleveland State (Basketball)
February: Drew Streicher, Butler (Basketball); Jessica Weidert, Wright State (Swimming)
March: A.J. Graves, Butler (Basketball); Andrea Zappia, Valparaiso (Softball)