General | 6/15/2026 11:00:00 AM
WAYNESBURG, Pa. (pacathletics.org) - The Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) continued its tradition of recognizing outstanding student athletes through its Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Scholar-Athlete honors.
Each month the conference selects one male and one female upperclassmen varsity student-athlete who exemplify excellence in academics, athletics, and are involved on their campus. The honored athletes must hold a GPA of 3.0 or higher. For the month of May, the PAC recognizes Emily Wenger and Ethan McHugh of Bethany College.
The female SAAC student-athlete of the month is Emily Wenger.
The dual-sport athlete, from New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, carries a GPA of 3.759 while majoring in Environmental Science. She is a member of the Gamma Sigma Epsilon Chemistry Honors Society, earned PAC Academic Honor Roll during her fall soccer season, made the 2025 Academic All-District Team during her junior lacrosse season, and was inducted into the Theta Chapter of Chi Alpha Sigma National College Athlete Honor Society this year.
In her senior lacrosse campaign, Wenger was recognized as All-PAC First Team selection and 2026 PAC Defensive Player of the Year. She was named PAC Midfielder of the Week once and PAC Defensive Player of the Week twice. This season, she held Bethany’s single-game record for ground balls, caused turnovers, draw controls, assists, and points. She holds the season records at Bethany with 102 ground balls, 67 caused turnovers, and 87 draw controls. Wenger is first all time at Bethany for single-season ground balls and caused turnovers and earned herself a spot in the NCAA DIII Women’s Lacrosse Top 5 for caused turnovers and ground balls.
Off the field, Wenger is a member of the Tri Beta Biology Club and the Member of Greener Bethany, a student-led organization at Bethany College dedicated to making the campus eco-friendly.
The male SAAC student-athlete of the month is Ethan McHugh.
The senior Exercise Science major holds a 3.72 at Bethany College. He earned a spot on the Dean’s List five times, one time on the President’s List, and has been a three year member of Beta Theta Pi. This year, he was inducted into the Theta Chapter of Chi Alpha Sigma National College Athlete Honor Society, completed his second year as a Student Athletic Trainer, and was named to the Academic All-PAC team.
The Bison first baseman was named to the 2026 PAC Baseball Sportsmanship Team for his senior year. He appeared in 27 games making 18 starts, tallied 21 hits, drove in 11 RBIs, scored 17 runs, hit five doubles, notched one triple, added one home run, finished with a .276 batting average, recorded a .345 on-base percentage, had a .408 slugging percentage and stole four cases. Defensively, he recorded 157 putouts, eight assists, and was a part of 15 double plays.
In the month of May, one of McHugh’s highlights included silencing W&J’s comeback in the regular season finale with a two-run shot to finish with two hits and two RBIs, clinching a spot in the PAC tournament.
Looking ahead, as spring athletes come to a close, Fall sports are just around the corner. The PAC is excited and anticipates another semester of elite performances and achievements from student-athletes.