Athlete for the Month of March
BEREA, OHIO -- Baldwin-Wallace College senior men’s basketball point guard Tom Harrington, a resident of North Royalton and a graduate of Parma Heights Holy Name High School, has been named as the STARR Program Student-Athlete of the Month of March. In addition, Harrington is currently hoping to lead the Yellow Jackets to a win against The College of Wooster tonight (March 3) in the first round of the 2005 NCAA Division III National Tournament at Wooster.
The STARR of the Month program stands for Student-athletes Taking Active Responsible Roles. The program was developed in conjunction with two NCAA-related programs: CHAMPS/Life Skills and the STARR pilot of which B-W is one of eight D-III grant recipients. The STARR of the Month Program recognizes student-athletes who are showing a great balance between athletic, academic, personal, service, leadership and other involvement. We, in CHAMPS/Life Skills, strive to focus on positive role-modeling among our student-athletes. Recipients must carry a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA, be in at least their second year of competition at B-W and make positive contributions to the Campus and surrounding communities. We know our student-athletes excel in many areas and it is time to show the Campus and surrounding community how proud we are.
In the classroom, Harrington carries a 3.512 grade point average in health and physical education and intends to teach and coach following graduation in May. He earned Academic All-OAC honors a year ago and this year’s team will be announced later this week.
On the basketball court, Harrington has led the Yellow Jackets to a 20-8 overall record and to the 2005 Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament title. He is a three-year starter at point guard and the vocal leader of the basketball court. Entering tonight’s game at Wooster, Harrington is averaging 8.9 points and 2.8 rebounds per game and leads the OAC in assists with a B-W single-season school-record 161. He also leads the team with 30 steals, is second on the team with 38 three-pointers and is among the OAC leaders in three point shooting at 43.7 percent. Earlier this week (March 1), he was named as an honorable mention All-OAC player.
Harrington also is just one of three Division III point guards who are finalists for this year’s Bob Cousy/ ESPN Collegiate Point Guard of the Year Award. In addition, at the season-opening Gettysburg College Days Inn Tip-Off Tournament, Harrington scored 23 points, tallied three rebounds and had 13 assists as B-W won the tourney title and he was named as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. For his career, Harrington ranks fourth all-time at B-W in assists with 415.
"Tom is very deserving of this award," said veteran Yellow Jacket Head Coach Steve Bankson. "Tom is an outstanding student, leader and basketball player who oneday will be a very successful teacher and coach."
FOR MORE SPORTS INFORMATION, please contact B-W Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327, by FAX machine at 440-826-2329 or via e-mail at kruple@bw.edu.
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