Erneste and Synon Named MAC Distinguished Scholar Athletes
4/20/2017 11:49:00 AM | Wrestling
Erneste earns the honor for the first time, Synon for the second-straight season
CLEVELAND – Two Mizzou Wrestling student-athletes, redshirt sophomore 133-pounder John Erneste (Kansas City, Mo.) and redshirt senior 141-pounder Zach Synon (Cary, Ill.), were named Mid-American Conference Distinguished Scholar Athletes, announced by the conference office on Thursday. In all, 208 student-athletes from eight MAC winter sports during the 2016-17 academic season were given the "best of the best" honor, selected by the MAC. Erneste and Synon were both named to the Academic All-MAC team in March.
The Distinguished Scholar Athlete is a third-year award given to students who have excelled in athletics and academics. Following each season from the winter sports schedule, any student with a 3.20 GPA and participation in at least 50 percent of the contests was automatically named to the previously announced Academic All-MAC Team from each sport. Also, first-year students, junior college and graduate school transfers in their first year of residence were not eligible for the award.
Erneste, a mathematics major with a 3.762 GPA, won the MAC Championship at 133 pounds and qualified for the NCAA Wrestling Championships for the first time in his career this past season. Synon, who received the honor for the second straight season, maintained a 3.519 GPA in Business Administration. On the mat, Synon closed his career by posting a record of 28-8 and became the 26th member of Mizzou's exclusive 100-win club with a win in the quarterfinals of the Edinboro Open in February.
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2016-17 MAC Wrestling Distinguished Scholar Athletes (11):
Kyle Akins, Buffalo, Sophomore, 3.34 GPA, Occupational Therapy (Sycamore, Ill.)
CJ Brucki, Central Michigan, Junior, 3.20 GPA, Accounting (Orland Park, Ill.)
Austin Severn, Central Michigan, Senior, 3.57 GPA, Information Systems (New Lothrop, Mich.)
Newton Smerchek, Central Michigan, Junior, 3.99 GPA, Physical Education (Casco, Wis.)
Mason Smith, Central Michigan, R-Freshman, 3.73 GPA, Undecided (Clio, Mich.)
Anthony Tutolo, Kent State, Junior, 3.60 GPA, Communication Studies (Concord, Ohio)
John Erneste, Missouri, Sophomore, 3.762 GPA, Mathematics (Kansas City, Mo.)
*Zach Synon, Missouri, Senior, 3.519 GPA, Business Administration (Cary, Ill.)
Dylan Peters, Northern Iowa, Senior, 3.21 GPA, Movement and Exercise Science (Denver, Iowa)
Max Thomsen, Northern Iowa, R-Freshman, 3.21 GPA, Management (LaPorte City, Iowa)
^Kevin Beazley, Old Dominion, Junior, 3.37 GPA, Sport Management (Howell, Mich.)
Players Mentioned
