PAC SAAC Scholar-Athletes of the Month (November 2014)

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Each month the Student-Athlete Advisory Committees (SAAC) at each Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) member institution 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. Honorees must be a varsity member in their respective sport(s) and in their junior or senior year. Scholar-Athlete of the Month nominees must also have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or higher and be actively involved within his or her campus community.

November 2014
PAC SAAC Female Scholar-Athlete of the Month
Abby Mathes
Junior
Grove City College
Soccer
Charlottesville, Va.
Albemarle

Mathes was recently named to the Continental Tire/National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) NCAA Division III All-Great Lakes Region Third Team after collecting All-PAC First Team honors on November 20. She started all 21 games in the midfield for the Wolverines this season, helping Grove City to its third-straight appearance the PAC Women’s Soccer Championship Tournament title match.  

Her five goals in 2014 were tied for most on the team and she was also tied for second on the squad with 12 points. She netted four of her five goals in league play, including game-winners against Waynesburg University and Geneva College. Through three seasons, Mathes owns nine goals and three assists and has started 42 of the 62 matches she has played.

Mathes has participated in the Grove City Youth Soccer Association Clinic, where she and her teammates ran drills, practiced shots and plays, and taught skills to community children with ages ranging from four to 10 years old.

A pre-medicine/biology major, Mathes maintains a 3.9 grade-point average (GPA).
November 2014 Honorable Mention nominations: Bethany College senior McKenna Junkin (soccer), Chatham University senior Liz Sawyer (soccer), Thiel College junior Morgan Berg (soccer), Thomas More College senior Emilee Buchanan (volleyball), Waynesburg University junior Karleigh Murphey (soccer) and Westminster College senior Lauren Fling (tennis).

November 2014
PAC SAAC Male Scholar-Athlete of the Month
John Sikora
Senior
Waynesburg University
Football
Campbell, Ohio
Campbell Memorial

Sikora, a two-time Capital One Academic All-American, was recognized by the league’s head coaches as an honorable mention All-PAC selection after finishing third among Waynesburg defenders with 56 total tackles. He also finished the season with one sack and 4.5 tackles for loss. A three-year starter for the Yellow Jackets, he earned three all-conference selections during his career and was selected as a team captain for the 2014 campaign.

In the classroom, Sikora boasts a 3.97 grade-point average (GPA) while studying history and social sciences. Earlier this year, he received his third consecutive selection to the Capital One Academic All-District 4 Division III football team, which is picked by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) membership. He is also a three-year member of the PAC’s Academic Honor Roll.
November 2014 Honorable Mention nominations: Bethany College senior Beau Bertus (football), Thiel College senior Troy Elsea (soccer) and Washington & Jefferson College senior Jared Pratt (football).

2014-15 PAC SAAC Scholar-Athletes of the Month
Female Male
Nov 2014 Grove City College junior soccer player Abby Mathes Waynesburg University senior football player John Sikora
Oct 2014 Westminster College senior cross country runner Jenny Jones Thiel College senior cross country runner Steve Morgan
Sep 2014 Bethany College senior volleyball player Lynsie Mandt Thomas More College soccer player Jake Plummer