Saint Vincent's Wozniak, W&J's Manning named PAC SAAC Scholar Athletes for October

Saint Vincent's Wozniak, W&J's Manning named PAC SAAC Scholar Athletes for October

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GREENVILLE, Pa. (pacathletics.org)—Saint Vincent College senior Sarah Wozniak (Uniontown, Pa. | Uniontown) and Washington & Jefferson College senior Conor Manning (McMurray, Pa. | Peters Township) were named the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Scholar-Athletes of the Month for October.

Each month, the SAAC’s at PAC member institutions are asked to nominate one male and one female student-athlete for PAC SAAC Scholar-Athlete of the Month consideration based on academic and athletic accomplishments. Nominees must be a varsity team member in their respective sport and in their junior or senior year. Scholar-Athlete of the Month nominees must also have a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher and be actively involved within their campus communities.

Wozniak, a four-year starter with Saint Vincent's women's volleyball program and team captain in 2019, led the Bearcats to a 9-4 record in October, including a 6-1 mark at the Robert S. Carey Student Center. The October push helped secure the program’s first appearance in the PAC Championship Tournament since 2013 as this year’s No. 4 seed.  

In 13 October matches (45 sets) Wozniak totaled 149 kills (3.31/set), 55 digs (1.22/set), 34 blocks (0.76/set) and 14 service aces (0.31/set). She compiled a .276 (149-36-410) hitting percentage while finishing the month with 186 points (4.14/set). Wozniak leads the PAC in blocks (89.0), ranks second in both points (430.0) and hitting percentage (.281) and third in kills (344). She was twice named the PAC Player of the Week (Oct. 21, Nov. 4) and earned a spot on the league’s All-Tournament Team.

Named an Honorable Mention All-PAC selection in 2016, 2017 and 2018, Wozniak was recognized as a member of the All-PAC First Team on Nov. 12. She was one of six players from the PAC named to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District 4 First Team on Nov. 14. She has been named to the PAC Academic Honor Roll four times.

Wozniak was named a Clare Boothe Luce Scholar last May in conjunction with a new program funded by the Clare Boothe Luce (CBL) program of the Henry Luce Foundation, which is designed to increase the number of women who enroll and graduate as leaders in computing, engineering science and physics. Saint Vincent was one of only 11 colleges and universities in the United States awarded CBL grants during the 2018-19 academic year.

Wozniak recently completed a 10-week internship program in astrophysics research at the University of Oklahoma through the National Science Foundation's REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) Program. She has also worked with Dr. Daniel Vanden Berk, associate professor of physics at Saint Vincent, on a research project involving the ultraviolet properties of quasars.

Wozniak carries a 3.644 cumulative GPA while majoring in physics. On campus, she is a member of both the Math Club and Physics Club and serves as a tutor in both programs of study. Wozniak is preparing for a graduate or professional program in a field of physics and is particularly interested in astrophysics.

October 2019 honorable mentions: Bethany junior Riley Meyers (soccer), Chatham senior Victoria Vernail (soccer), Geneva junior Erin Houser (soccer), Grove City junior Columbia Harkrader (soccer), W&J senior Caitlin Shellhamer (tennis), Waynesburg senior Teagan Jenner (soccer) and Westminster senior Katie Schrantz (cross country).

Manning, a four-year member of W&J’s football program, is a two-year starter and was named a team captain in 2019. In four October games, he posted 12 tackles (7 solo), 4.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and three forced fumbles. Manning started all 10 regular season games for the Presidents, totaling 25 tackles (15 solo), 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and three forced fumbles.

On Nov. 14 Manning was one of 22 PAC players to be voted to this year’s Academic All-District 4 First Team, selected by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). He was named to the PAC Sportsmanship Team on Nov. 19.

Manning is a recipient of W&J’s Michael P. Rettger Memorial Academic Award, presented annually to a promising sophomore or junior majoring in accounting who desires to begin a career with a public accounting firm. He has been designated an Alpha Scholar at the College for attaining a cumulative GPA of 3.85 or higher and is a six-time Dean’s List honoree. Manning has been recognized on the PAC Academic Honor Roll three times and was named to the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Presidents’ Honor Roll in 2017.

On campus Manning is a member of the Washington Fellows program, a selective program for exceptional students who want to challenge themselves in distinctive ways during their years at the College. He is also an active member of the Accounting Club and the Alpha Lambda Delta honorary society, a national honorary celebrating academic excellence among first-year students.

Manning, a financial economics major also pursuing a minor in accounting, maintains a 3.987 cumulative GPA.  

October 2019 honorable mentions: Case Western Reserve junior Travis Johnston (football), Geneva senior James Mincone (soccer), Grove City junior Cody Gustafson (football), Saint Vincent senior Will Greene (cross country) and Waynesburg senior Sean McCann (soccer).