Eastern Michigan Athletics
Russo, Wheeler Named MAC Medal of Excellence Recipients
5/18/2023 10:00:00 AM | 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 Luke Russo (Howell, Mich.-Howell) of the baseball program and Chevonne Wheeler (Redford, Mich.-Divine Child) of the women's track & field program were announced as the school's recipients of the 2023 Mid-American Conference Medal of Excellence Award, the league office announced today, May 18.
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.
Russo leads the MAC in strikeouts per nine innings at 12.0, while his 96 punch outs rank second in the league. He is currently on pace to surpass 100 strikeouts in a season and join the ranks of Bob Owchinko (1975 - 107 and 1976 - 125), Bob Welch (1976 - 111), and Jeff Fischer (2006 - 103) who have previously reached the century mark.
Wheeler recently earned First Team All-MAC accolades at the 2023 MAC Outdoor Championships. She was part of the win the 4x400 meter relay team that claimed the event title in a time of 3:40.87. The Redford, Mich., native also turned in a personal-best time of 1:04.34 to place sixth in the 400 meter hurdles finals.
2023 Medal of Excellence Award Winners
Akron:
Nicolas Arrivo, Baseball, MSM Supply Chain Management, 3.53 GPA
Weronika Gorecka, W Swim & Dive, Strategic and Organizational Communication, 3.75 GPA
Ball State:
Noah Berryman, M Swim & Dive, Political Science / Economics, 3.61 GPA
Megan Teter, Gymnastics, Biochemistry / Pre-Medicine, 3.70 GPA
Bowling Green:
Gage Schenk, Baseball, Master of Accountancy, 4.00 GPA
Zaresha Neal, W Track & Field, Master of Business Administration, 4.00 GPA
Buffalo:
Olivia DeBortoli, Volleyball / W Basketball, Biological Sciences, 3.95 GPA
Giuseppe Hoose, Wrestling, Environmental Engineering, 3.77 GPA
Central Michigan:
Robert Stuart, Football, Masters of Science in Neuroscience, 4.00 GPA
Hannah DeMers, Gymnastics, Applied Arts in Health Administration, 3.88 GPA
Eastern Michigan:
Chevonne Wheeler, W Track & Field, Exercise Science and Physiology, 4.00 GPA
Luke Russo, Baseball, Marketing, 3.67 GPA
Kent State:
Kody Komara, Wrestling, Masters of Sport Administration, 3.80 GPA
Rachel DeCavitch, Gymnastics, Communication Studies, 3.60 GPA
Miami:
Riley Coyne, Softball, Master of Gerontological Studies, 3.88 GPA
Jalen Walker, Football, Master of Sport Leadership & Management, 3.65 GPA
Northern Illinois:
Liam Soraghan, Football, Master in Business Administration, 3.77 GPA
Natalie Hamp, Gymnastics, Kinesiology, 3.99 GPA
Ohio:
Bryce Houston, Football, Finance, 3.50 GPA
Alyssa Christian, W Cross Country/Track & Field, Psychology, 3.96 GPA
Toledo:
JT Shumate, M Basketball, Education in Middle Childhood Education, 3.84 GPA
Erin Hunt, Softball, Master of Public Health, 4.00 GPA
Western Michigan:
Peter Kuszynski, Men's Tennis, Finance, 3.76 GPA
Hannah Sargent, W Soccer, Aerospace Engineering, 3.88 GPA
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.
Russo leads the MAC in strikeouts per nine innings at 12.0, while his 96 punch outs rank second in the league. He is currently on pace to surpass 100 strikeouts in a season and join the ranks of Bob Owchinko (1975 - 107 and 1976 - 125), Bob Welch (1976 - 111), and Jeff Fischer (2006 - 103) who have previously reached the century mark.
Wheeler recently earned First Team All-MAC accolades at the 2023 MAC Outdoor Championships. She was part of the win the 4x400 meter relay team that claimed the event title in a time of 3:40.87. The Redford, Mich., native also turned in a personal-best time of 1:04.34 to place sixth in the 400 meter hurdles finals.
2023 Medal of Excellence Award Winners
Akron:
Nicolas Arrivo, Baseball, MSM Supply Chain Management, 3.53 GPA
Weronika Gorecka, W Swim & Dive, Strategic and Organizational Communication, 3.75 GPA
Ball State:
Noah Berryman, M Swim & Dive, Political Science / Economics, 3.61 GPA
Megan Teter, Gymnastics, Biochemistry / Pre-Medicine, 3.70 GPA
Bowling Green:
Gage Schenk, Baseball, Master of Accountancy, 4.00 GPA
Zaresha Neal, W Track & Field, Master of Business Administration, 4.00 GPA
Buffalo:
Olivia DeBortoli, Volleyball / W Basketball, Biological Sciences, 3.95 GPA
Giuseppe Hoose, Wrestling, Environmental Engineering, 3.77 GPA
Central Michigan:
Robert Stuart, Football, Masters of Science in Neuroscience, 4.00 GPA
Hannah DeMers, Gymnastics, Applied Arts in Health Administration, 3.88 GPA
Eastern Michigan:
Chevonne Wheeler, W Track & Field, Exercise Science and Physiology, 4.00 GPA
Luke Russo, Baseball, Marketing, 3.67 GPA
Kent State:
Kody Komara, Wrestling, Masters of Sport Administration, 3.80 GPA
Rachel DeCavitch, Gymnastics, Communication Studies, 3.60 GPA
Miami:
Riley Coyne, Softball, Master of Gerontological Studies, 3.88 GPA
Jalen Walker, Football, Master of Sport Leadership & Management, 3.65 GPA
Northern Illinois:
Liam Soraghan, Football, Master in Business Administration, 3.77 GPA
Natalie Hamp, Gymnastics, Kinesiology, 3.99 GPA
Ohio:
Bryce Houston, Football, Finance, 3.50 GPA
Alyssa Christian, W Cross Country/Track & Field, Psychology, 3.96 GPA
Toledo:
JT Shumate, M Basketball, Education in Middle Childhood Education, 3.84 GPA
Erin Hunt, Softball, Master of Public Health, 4.00 GPA
Western Michigan:
Peter Kuszynski, Men's Tennis, Finance, 3.76 GPA
Hannah Sargent, W Soccer, Aerospace Engineering, 3.88 GPA
Players Mentioned
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