Five Salukis earn MVC Elite 18 Awards
06/01/2017 | 1:18:00 | Swimming & Diving, Track and Field, Softball, Women's Golf, Women's Tennis
SIU ties the MVC single-year record for most Elite 18 honorees
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Five Saluki student-athletes earned their respective sport's Missouri Valley Conference Elite 18 Award, given to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average competing at the finals site at each of the MVC's 18 team championships.
Bryn Handley (women's swimming and diving), Brooke Cusumano (women's golf), Polina Dozortseva (women's tennis), Shaye Harre (softball), and Josh Maier (men's outdoor track and field) were Elite 18 honorees, with Handley, Dozortseva and Maier each winning the award for the second-straight season. Cusumano, meanwhile, claimed the award for the second time in her career, as she last won following the 2014-15 season.
SIU's five honorees are the most of any Valley school this year and are the most in a calendar year in program history. It also ties the Salukis for the most honorees in one year in MVC history, as it marks the sixth time that a Valley school has amassed five Elite 18 awardees. Drake has done so on three occasions (2015-16, 2014-15, 2013-14), while Illinois State has done so twice (2011-12, 2012-13).
SIU's 22 total Elite 18 recipients in the seven year history of the award are second to only Drake (24) for most all-time. Illinois State has the third-most at 19 honorees, while UNI (15) and Wichita State (12) round out the top-five.
The Elite 18 Award Program, established by the MVC in the fall of 2010 to honor the highest achievement in academics and athletics by a student-athlete in each MVC sponsored sport, is modeled after the NCAA Elite 90 Academic Recognition Award Program. The selection process varies from sport to sport, as the winner of the award in team sports such as volleyball, baseball, softball and basketball comes from one of the two teams participating in the MVC championship game or match. For sports such as track and field, golf and cross country, the winners are chosen from nominated student-athletes who have met an athletic performance threshold. For instance, in track and field, the award is given to the highest all-conference finisher with the highest GPA.
Bryn Handley (women's swimming and diving), Brooke Cusumano (women's golf), Polina Dozortseva (women's tennis), Shaye Harre (softball), and Josh Maier (men's outdoor track and field) were Elite 18 honorees, with Handley, Dozortseva and Maier each winning the award for the second-straight season. Cusumano, meanwhile, claimed the award for the second time in her career, as she last won following the 2014-15 season.
SIU's five honorees are the most of any Valley school this year and are the most in a calendar year in program history. It also ties the Salukis for the most honorees in one year in MVC history, as it marks the sixth time that a Valley school has amassed five Elite 18 awardees. Drake has done so on three occasions (2015-16, 2014-15, 2013-14), while Illinois State has done so twice (2011-12, 2012-13).
SIU's 22 total Elite 18 recipients in the seven year history of the award are second to only Drake (24) for most all-time. Illinois State has the third-most at 19 honorees, while UNI (15) and Wichita State (12) round out the top-five.
The Elite 18 Award Program, established by the MVC in the fall of 2010 to honor the highest achievement in academics and athletics by a student-athlete in each MVC sponsored sport, is modeled after the NCAA Elite 90 Academic Recognition Award Program. The selection process varies from sport to sport, as the winner of the award in team sports such as volleyball, baseball, softball and basketball comes from one of the two teams participating in the MVC championship game or match. For sports such as track and field, golf and cross country, the winners are chosen from nominated student-athletes who have met an athletic performance threshold. For instance, in track and field, the award is given to the highest all-conference finisher with the highest GPA.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Tennis
Freestyle
/ Swimming & Diving
P/INF
/ Softball
Distance
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