Athlete for the Month of November
BEREA, OHIO -- Baldwin-Wallace College senior baseball student-athlete and student athletic trainer Mike Turchan as the November STARR of the Month.
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.
Turchan is a triple-major in athletic training, fitness management and health and physical education who carries a 3.50 grade point average. He is a member of the Dean’s List and is the only member in the history of the varsity baseball team to be named captain as both a junior and senior.
After three seasons of varsity baseball, Turchan has established himself as one of the finest individual players in the Ohio Athletic Conference and Mideast Region of Division III. The 2004 first-team All-OAC and third-team All-Mideast Region pick has a .382 career batting average with 25 doubles, six triples and 14 homeruns and has driven in 85 runs while leading the Yellow Jackets to three straight 20-win seasons. On the mound, Mike is 10-5 with a 3.91 earned run average and 89 strikeouts in 122 innings pitched. Last spring, Turchan was tabbed as B-W's "Big Stick" Award winner, symbolic of the team's top offensive player.
On last year's baseball spring trip to Ft. Myers, Florida, Turchan had an outstanding week and was subsequently named as both the National Collegiate Baseball Writer's Association Division III Player of the Week and as the OAC Hitter of the Week. In addition, Turchan was named both Academic All-OAC and asc a first-team CoSIDA Academic All-District IV player for his efforts in the classroom and on the field.
Turchan's nominator noted that he is an excellent student and leader who displays good sportsmanship and a positive attitude on and off the baseball field for teammates and fellow students. He was described as "a positive role model during practice, games, and across campus".
In addition, Turchan created, implemented and supervised an off-season conditioning program for his team so they could improve skills and team-build.
Turchan has been involved in many leadership roles on and off campus. Currently, he is the Vice Treasurer for COAST (Collegiate Organization for Athletic Student Trainers), involved in the SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee), provides coverage as a student trainer for a variety of athletic teams and manages the upkeep of the B-W baseball field. For the past three years, he has assisted young baseball players in developing their skills at the B-W Holiday Baseball Skills Camp. Turchan has also volunteered his assistance at the National Wrestling Coaches’ Association national dual meet at Cleveland State Uiversity, and he recently completed an internship with the Cleveland Indians.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, please contact Baldwin-Wallace College Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at (440) 826-2327, by FAX at (440) 826-2329 or via e-mail at kruple@bw.edu.
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