(Ann Arbor, MI) - Over the past couple of weeks the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) and the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) have announced the Champions of Character awardees for each Winter 2022-23 sport as well as the Scholar-Athletes.
Throughout the 19 winter and spring sports, the Cardinals would see 85 athletes being named to the WHAC Scholar-Athlete teams, with 56 being named to the NCCAA Scholar-Athlete team.
The WHAC Scholar-Athlete team's qualifications were a junior in academic standing and a cumulative GPA of 3.25.
The NCCAA qualifications for Scholar athletes were for a junior or above in academic standing while maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.40.
The Champions of Character were chosen for their commitment to the five core values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership.
BASEBALL
Eleven Cardinals made the WHAC All-Adademic Team as Blake Weaver, Bryon Mane, Curtis Townsend, Jordan Sherman, Ryan Kotecki, Ryan Patterson, Jarrett Batanian, Billy Blair, Tyson Kleinfelter, John Markiewicz, and Aaron West.
13 Cardinals were named as NCCAA Scholar-Athletes with Jarrett Batanian, Billy Blair, Jacob Henry, Tyson Kleinfelter, Ryan Kotecki, Bryon Mane, John Markiewicz, Drew Murphy, Ryan Patterson, Harrison Ryan, Blake Weaver, Aaron West, and Kyle Winslow being honored.
The team Champion of Character was John Markiewicz.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Ten different Cardinals were a part of the WHAC All-Academic team with Devyn Jones, Erik Mroczek, Henry Knapp, Jack Macleod, Kip French, Matthew Kohler, Matthew Lockhart, Nate Brighton, Zac Clark, Zackary Johnson.
Eight of those Cardinals also hit the NCCAA qualifications for Scholar-Athlete with Brighton, Clark, French, Johnson, Knapp, Kohler, Lockhart, and Mroczek hitting the marks.
The team WHAC Champion of Character was French.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Three members of the women's team qualified for the WHAC All-Academic team as McKenzie Maciejewski, Samantha Dorn, and Taylor Leatherman were honored.
All three of the Cardinals also hit the NCCAA qualifying marks as well.
The WHAC Champion of Character for the team was Julia Hirt.
MEN'S BOWLING
Four members from the men's team were named to the All-Academic team as Brenden Gossman, David Smalls, Korey Reichard, and Patrick Good Jr. were all honored.
The team's Champions of Character selection was Korey Reichard. Men's Head Coach Rob Lancioni was named the Champions of Character Coach.
WOMEN'S BOWLING
Named to the WHAC All-Academic team were Alyvia Hock, Amanda Fisher, Gabriella VanHorn, Karissa Chibbaro, and Shannon Lewan.
Kara Ward was the team's Champion of Character.
COMPETITIVE CHEER
Four Cardinals were a part of the conference's All-Academic team with Danyell Beckesh, Tara Cicilian, Bianca Hrynciw, and Ellisa Peterson being honored.
The team's Champions of Character was Breanna Ray.
COMPETITIVE DANCE
Taylor Kolosar, Lindsey Koshowsky, Alyssa Kraemer, Katie MacInnis, Lydia Thurm, and Faith Watkins were the six Cardinals that were named to the WHAC All-Academic team.
The team's Champions of Character was Kayla Smigielski.
ESPORTS
10 Cardinals were named to the All-Academic team with Zachary Belinsky, Elizabeth Boulware, Andrew Burk, Shayne Erni, Thomas Fill, Justin Goodrich, Elliot Holliday, Isaac Riddle, Andrew Todd, and Joshua Zegrean honored.
The team's Champion of Character was Thomas Fill.
MEN'S GOLF
Two Cardinals were named to the WHAC All-Academic team as Andrew Burk and Travis Lysiak were honored.
The NCCAA announced their Scholar-Athletes for golf in the fall
Joshua Line was named the team Champions of Character.
WOMEN'S GOLF
Lily Alaspa was the team Champions of Character.
MEN'S ICE HOCKEY
Brandon Kucera and Joseph Loria hit the qualifications for the WHAC All-Academic team.
The team's nominee for Champions of Character was Seth Francois.
MEN'S LACROSSE
Four Cardinals were named to the team including Hunter McCarty, Joseph Loria, Luke Hovarter, and Sam Bowling.
Luke Hovarter was recognized as the team's Champion of Character.
WOMEN'S LACROSSE
The Cardinals saw four members named to the Scholar-Athlete team including Isabella Komarowski, Megan Soop, Tara Drinane, and Taylor Nesbitt.
Haley Beam was named the team Champion's of Character.
SOFTBALL
Five Cardinals were named to the team which included Cassidy Kane, Jada Stephenson, Koryn Playford, Sarah Tyrell, and Shannon McAlinden.
Nine different Cardinals were honored by the NCCAA on their Scholar-Athlete list with Dee Campbell, Hannah Duchene, Catherine Elias, Kane, McAlinden, Playford, Stephenson, Katie Tobias, and Tyrell all honored.
Maddy Grueter was the team's Champions of Character. Head Coach Hailey Cavanagh was named the WHAC Champions of Character Coach.
MEN'S TENNIS
Andrew Todd was the sole Cardinal Scholar-Athlete for the WHAC.
He was the only NCCAA Scholar-Athlete as well.
Ethan Hiltz was honored as the team's Champions of Character.
WOMEN'S TENNIS
Three Cardinals hit the WHAC qualifications for Scholar-Athlete including Anna Leeper, Elle Fritcha, and Kassidy Scheben.
The Cardinals NCCAA Scholar-Athletes were Leeper, Fritcha, and Katherine Vivacqua.
Fritcha was also named to the WHAC Champions of Character team.
MEN'S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
The men's team would see Zachary Belinsky, Thoedore Eising, Noah Starkey, Andrew Weimer, and Josh Wood all be named to the WHAC All-Academic team.
The four NCCAA Scholar-Athletes were Belinsky, Eising, Starkey, and Weimer.
The WHAC Champion of the character for the team was Zachary Belinsky.
WOMEN'S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
Five women were named to the conference's All-Academic team with Emily Belinsky, Megan Espinoza, Alyvia Hock, and Sierra Stechebar being honored.
The NCCAA Scholar-Athletes were Belinsky, Espinoza, Stechebar, and Lydia Schroeder
The team's Champions of Character was Emily Belinsky.
MEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
The WHAC Scholar-Athletes included Avery Sanchez, Joshua Wood, Noah Starkey, Theodore Eising, and Zachary Belinsky.
The Cardinals NCCAA Scholar Athletes were Belinsky, Eising, Sanchez, Starkey, and Jared Stiver.
Starkey was named to the WHAC Champions of Character team as well.
WOMEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
Six Cardinals were named to the WHAC Scholar-Athlete team as Alyvia Hock, Emily Belinsky, Lydia Schroeder, Megan Espinoza, Sierra Stechebar, and Hope Renfer were all honored.
For the NCCAA six Cardinals were honored as Scholar-Athletes as Belinsky, Espinoza, Refer, Mary Salem, Schroeder, and Stechebar were honored.
Renfer was also named to the WHAC Champions of Character team.
