Great Lakes Valley Conference - 2006 Great Lakes Valley Conference Fall Scholar-Athletes

2006 Great Lakes Valley Conference Fall Scholar-Athletes

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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Five student-athletes have been selected Scholar-Athlete of the Year in their respective sports by the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) for the 2006 fall season. Lewis University’s Andy Tremble, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Mallory Clements and Padra Bencini, University of Southern Indiana’s Allison Shafer and University of Wisconsin-Parkside’s Greg Walasek have been honored for their athletic and academic performances this past fall.

The league selects one student-athlete in each conference sport to be designated the GLVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year. This award is based upon athletic accomplishments, both team and individual, and academic performance in the season upon which the award is based. Each conference member has the opportunity to nominate one individual from its team for the award. Nominees must have a cumulative grade point average which meets Academic All-American standards (3.2), and freshmen and first-year transfers are not eligible for the award. The voting is done by each institution's Faculty Athletic Representative.

	Men's Cross Country: Andy Tremble, Lewis University Andy Tremble, a native of Oregon, Ill., is a Nursing major at Lewis University. As a senior, Tremble captured the individual championship at the 2006 GLVC Men’s Cross Country Championships and led his team to a second-place finish. He completed the 8K run in a time of 25:21.69 and claimed his second consecutive league title. He was named GLVC Male Runner of the Year, All-GLVC, All-Region and All-American after finishing 17th at the NCAA Division II National Championships. Tremble finished second at the Great Lakes Regional and has been honored as All-Region and All-American in consecutive seasons. A two-time GLVC Runner of the Week in 2006, Tremble was on the Dean’s List and posted a 3.33 semester grade point average (GPA). He maintains a 3.614 cumulative GPA and was the top runner for the Flyers in every race this past season.
	Women’s Cross Country: Allison Shafer, University of Southern Indiana Allison Shafer, of Plainville, Ind., is a Nursing and Health Services double major at the University of Southern Indiana. In 2006, the sophomore runner won the GLVC Women’s Cross Country Championship in a time of 21:46.07 and was named the GLVC Female Runner of the Year. Shafer helped the Eagles to a second-place finish at the GLVC Championships and to a fourth-place finish at the Great Lakes Regional. She was the top runner in every race this past season for Southern Indiana and was a two-time GLVC Runner of the Week. Shafer had a 4.00 GPA during the fall and has a cumulative GPA of 3.882. The All-GLVC runner finished second at the Great Lakes Regional Championships and was named All-American after finishing 15th at the NCAA Division II Championships.
	Men's Soccer: Greg Walasek, University of Wisconsin-Parkside Greg Walasek, of Racine, Wis., guided the Rangers to the NCAA Great Lakes Regional in 2006. The senior defender was a first-team All-GLVC selection and was also named NSCAA first-team All-Region and Daktronics first-team All-Region. Walasek led a defense that surrendered just 0.86 goals per game and helped the Rangers to the finals of the GLVC Tournament. He posted four goals, including one game-winning goal, and an assist for a total of nine points and led the team to a 13-4-4 overall record in 2006. The Art Education major posted a 3.428 GPA in the fall and has a cumulative GPA of 3.647. He was selected a NSCAA/adidas first-team Scholar All-American and was a member of the UW-Parkside Dean’s List.
	Women's Soccer: Padra Bencini, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Padra Bencini, a native of Carbondale, Ill., is a School Health Education major at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The senior defender helped the Cougars to a 12-5-3 mark in 2006 and led her team to the semifinals of the GLVC Tournament. She was honored as a first-team All-GLVC selection and earned NSCAA first-team All-Region and Daktronics first-team All-Region recognition. Bencini started all 20 matches for the Cougars and led the defense which ranked first in the GLVC in goals allowed per game (0.70) and goals against average (0.67). She posted one goal and one assist as a marking back. The Cougars ranked 23rd nationally in goals against average and 41st in shutout percentage (0.45). Bencini was named an ESPN the Magazine All-District selection for the third consecutive year and posted a 3.80 GPA in the fall. She has a cumulative GPA of 3.822, is a member of the Dean’s List, a Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society Inductee and All-American Scholar.
	Volleyball: Mallory Clements, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Mallory Clements, of Mt. Pulaski, Ill., helped the Cougars break the school-record for wins (29) as a sophomore setter. The Business Administration major finished the season with a school-record eight triple-doubles by posting double digits in assists, kills and digs. She was an AVCA honorable mention All-American and first-team All-GLVC selection. Clements posted 11.46 assists, 2.18 kills and 0.46 service aces per game. She led the Cougars to the GLVC regular season title and a 29-6 overall record. Clements was ranked first in the GLVC for kills by a setter and fifth in the league in assists. She was named to the NCAA Great Lakes Regional All-Tournament team and guided her team to the GLVC Tournament and Great Lakes Regional finals. Clements had a semester GPA of 4.00 and has a cumulative GPA of 4.00. She was honored as first-team ESPN the Magazine All-District, an All-American Scholar Award and as a member of the SIU Edwardsville Dean’s List.