Three Baldwin-Wallace College Men’s Soccer Players Named Academic All-OAC
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.
 Russ Mika |
 Jeff Grater |
 Andy Synk |
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 B-W 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 B-W 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. B-W 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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