Eastern Michigan Athletics
Simmons, Monahan Tabbed with MAC Medal of Excellence
6/7/2021 2:00:00 PM | Baseball, Women's Track & Field, General
The conference honored 24 student-athletes for their academic and athletic accomplishments
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan University student-athletes Graysen Simmons (Huber Heights, Ohio-Wayne) of the track & field program and Mike Monahan (Saline, Mich.-Saline) of the baseball program were announced as the school's recipients of the 2021 Mid-American Conference Medal of Excellence Award, the league office announced today, June 7.
The Medal of Excellence is presented annually to one male and one female student-athlete from the graduating class of each of the 12 Conference member institutions.
"The individuals selected for the Medal of Excellence have distinguished themselves academically, athletically, and through demonstrated service and leadership," said MAC Commissioner, Jon A. Steinbrecher. "These men and women have earned this award by putting in long hours of dedication, perseverance and hard work. I congratulate those selected and thank them for their contributions to their institution and the Conference."
To be honored with the Medal of Excellence Award, student-athletes had to participate on the varsity level in a Conference sponsored sport and shown evidence of academic success with a minimum 3.50 accumulative grade-point average, exhibited athletics excellence, leadership and service. Selection of the recipients was made by each MAC institution.
A veteran pole vaulter, Simmons posted a strong senior season while achieving a 3.83 GPA in public relations. The Ohio native earned top-five finishes at both the indoor and outdoor Mid-American Conference Championships during her senior campaign. Across both seasons, Simmons posted eight total top-five placements, including two first-place performances in back-to-back meets. At the 54th Annual Hillsdale College "GINA" Relays, April 24, the Buckeye State product recorded the highest clearance of the day with a personal-best height of 3.88m. She wrapped up her time donning the Green and White with the eighth-best indoor clearance (3.86m) and ninth-best outdoor clearance (3.88m) in the EMU record book.
Bursting on to the scene as the baseball team's designated hitter in 2021, Monahan set career-highs in virtually every category over his 26 games. He added an impressive 3.74 GPA in the classroom en route to earning his degree in business management. In 22 starts, he belted 28 hits, 26 of which were in May, the most single-month hits for an Eagle since 2019, 14 RBIs, a .451 slugging percentage, and a .386 on-base percentage. The Saline, Mich. native also put together a team-best 13-game hitting streak this season. The senior put together his best series of the season at St. Bonaventure, May 1, totaling seven hits and five RBIs, including going 4-for6 in game one. Monahan also launched his first career home run against Toledo, May 11.
2021 Medal of Excellence Winners
Akron: Loren Christian Jackson (Men's Basketball), Taylor Sharrits (Volleyball)
Ball State: Chris Adams (Tennis), Ivy McKee (Track and Field)
Bowling Green: Chris Sullivan (Men's Soccer), Madison McCoy (Softball)
Buffalo: Jack Klenk (Football), Hanna Hall (Women's Basketball)
Central Michigan: Bernhard Raimann (Football), Brianna Hart (Lacrosse)
Eastern Michigan: Mike Monahan (Baseball), Graysen Simmons (Track and Field)
Kent State: Ben Carew (Baseball), Kennadie Goth (Softball)
Miami: Sean Torpy (Cross Country/Track and Field), Abigail Huser (Volleyball)
Northern Illinois: Mason Kauffman (Wrestling), Zoie Schroeder (Gymnastics)
Ohio: Ben Vander Plas (Men's Basketball), Ashleigh Kitrell (Track and Field)
Toledo: Chris Meyers (Baseball), Emma Sampson (Swimming & Diving)
Western Michigan: Jannik Opitz (Tennis), Rachel Bontrager (Volleyball)
The Medal of Excellence is presented annually to one male and one female student-athlete from the graduating class of each of the 12 Conference member institutions.
"The individuals selected for the Medal of Excellence have distinguished themselves academically, athletically, and through demonstrated service and leadership," said MAC Commissioner, Jon A. Steinbrecher. "These men and women have earned this award by putting in long hours of dedication, perseverance and hard work. I congratulate those selected and thank them for their contributions to their institution and the Conference."
To be honored with the Medal of Excellence Award, student-athletes had to participate on the varsity level in a Conference sponsored sport and shown evidence of academic success with a minimum 3.50 accumulative grade-point average, exhibited athletics excellence, leadership and service. Selection of the recipients was made by each MAC institution.
A veteran pole vaulter, Simmons posted a strong senior season while achieving a 3.83 GPA in public relations. The Ohio native earned top-five finishes at both the indoor and outdoor Mid-American Conference Championships during her senior campaign. Across both seasons, Simmons posted eight total top-five placements, including two first-place performances in back-to-back meets. At the 54th Annual Hillsdale College "GINA" Relays, April 24, the Buckeye State product recorded the highest clearance of the day with a personal-best height of 3.88m. She wrapped up her time donning the Green and White with the eighth-best indoor clearance (3.86m) and ninth-best outdoor clearance (3.88m) in the EMU record book.
Bursting on to the scene as the baseball team's designated hitter in 2021, Monahan set career-highs in virtually every category over his 26 games. He added an impressive 3.74 GPA in the classroom en route to earning his degree in business management. In 22 starts, he belted 28 hits, 26 of which were in May, the most single-month hits for an Eagle since 2019, 14 RBIs, a .451 slugging percentage, and a .386 on-base percentage. The Saline, Mich. native also put together a team-best 13-game hitting streak this season. The senior put together his best series of the season at St. Bonaventure, May 1, totaling seven hits and five RBIs, including going 4-for6 in game one. Monahan also launched his first career home run against Toledo, May 11.
2021 Medal of Excellence Winners
Akron: Loren Christian Jackson (Men's Basketball), Taylor Sharrits (Volleyball)
Ball State: Chris Adams (Tennis), Ivy McKee (Track and Field)
Bowling Green: Chris Sullivan (Men's Soccer), Madison McCoy (Softball)
Buffalo: Jack Klenk (Football), Hanna Hall (Women's Basketball)
Central Michigan: Bernhard Raimann (Football), Brianna Hart (Lacrosse)
Eastern Michigan: Mike Monahan (Baseball), Graysen Simmons (Track and Field)
Kent State: Ben Carew (Baseball), Kennadie Goth (Softball)
Miami: Sean Torpy (Cross Country/Track and Field), Abigail Huser (Volleyball)
Northern Illinois: Mason Kauffman (Wrestling), Zoie Schroeder (Gymnastics)
Ohio: Ben Vander Plas (Men's Basketball), Ashleigh Kitrell (Track and Field)
Toledo: Chris Meyers (Baseball), Emma Sampson (Swimming & Diving)
Western Michigan: Jannik Opitz (Tennis), Rachel Bontrager (Volleyball)
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