BEREA, OHIO -- Three Baldwin-Wallace College men's soccer student-athletes have been named to the 2009 Academic All-Ohio Athletic Conference squad announced today (Thursday, November 19, 2009). Combined with the four selections on the women's team, B-W tied Ohio Northern University for the most Academic All-OAC picks with seven.
Senior goalkeeper Russ Mika (Medina/Senior) and junior midfielder Jeff Grater (Stow/Stow-Munroe Falls) were named Academic All-OAC and senior midfielder Andy Synk (Strongsville) was an honorable mention Academic All-OAC choice.
Mika, a business administration and finance major with a 3.68 grade point average, also was named first-team ESPN THE MAGAZINE Academic All-District IV selection and advanced to national ESPN THE MAGAZINE Academic All-America ballot. He had his best season as a collegian in goal en route to earning OAC Goalkeeper of the Year honors and a first-team All-OAC accolades. Mika posted a 13-6-1 record with 84 saves, eight individual and 10 total shutouts. He started all 21 games for BW and allowed 0.95 goals-per-game and recorded an .816 save percentage. On October 12, he was named as the OAC Men's Soccer Player of the Week for posting back-to-back shutouts against Heidelberg University and against Otterbein College.
Grater, who carries a 3.88 grade point average in business and finance, is making his first appearance on the Academic All-OAC squad. The two-year starter transferred to BW after spending his freshman season at Calvin (Mich.) College. In 2009, Grater totaled nine points on three goals and three assists en route to earning first-team All-OAC honors. He also served as a team captain and was named second-team ESPN THE MAGAZINE Academic All-District IV.
Synk maintains a 3.35 grade average in finance and accounting was also tabbed second-team All-OAC in 2009. He started all 21 games and helped Mika and the defense to record 10 shutouts. Synk also was a 2008 second-team All-OAC and NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region selection and an ESPN THE MAGAZINE Academic All-District IV pick.
"We are pleased that Russ, Jeff and Andy are being recognized for their outstanding efforts both in the classroom and on the soccer field," said eighth-year Head Coach Reid Ayers. "All three young men were team leaders and had a solid season."
The Yellow Jackets finished the season at 13-7-1 overall, including a 13-2-1 mark in their final 16 matches. BW also advanced to the semifinal round of the OAC Tournament and tied for second place during the conference's regular season with a 7-1-1 slate.
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