CAA HONORS FIVE AS SCHOLAR ATHLETES OF THE YEAR FOR WINTER SPORTS

4/9/2008 4:00:00 AM

RICHMOND, Va. (April 9, 2008) ? Five student-athletes who excelled both athletically and academically have been honored by the Colonial Athletic Association as recipients of the CAA Scholar-Athlete Award for the winter sports season.

The conference honors one Scholar-Athlete in each of its 22 championship sports. Nominees for the award must be a starter or important reserve on their team and must meet the Academic All-America minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.20. The winners were selected by a vote of the sports information directors at each CAA institution.

Earning Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors were William and Mary sophomore David Schneider in men’s basketball, Old Dominion senior Megan Pym in women’s basketball, Delaware senior Adam Blomberg in men’s swimming and diving, Drexel junior Kate Hynes in women’s swimming and diving and Drexel senior Ryan Hluschak in wrestling.

Here is a brief biographical sketch on the award winners:

David Schneider, So., Phoenix, Ariz./Brophy Prep ? William and Mary (men’s basketball)

A marketing major, Schneider was selected to the CAA men’s basketball All-Academic first team in 2007-08 and is a two-time recipient of the CAA Commissioner’s Academic Award. On the court, he was chosen to the CAA All-Tournament team after helping lead William & Mary to the CAA championship game for the first time in school history. Schneider was the Tribe’s second-leading scorer (10.9 ppg) and rebounder (4.5 rpg) while starting 32 games at point guard. He also led the team and ranked among the top 10 in the CAA in assists (124) and steals (56). Schneider shot 85.5% from the free throw line, which was second in the CAA and 37^th in the nation.

Megan Pym, Sr., Newfield, N.Y./Newfield ? Old Dominion (women’s basketball)

A civil engineering technology major, Pym was chosen to the CAA women’s basketball All-Academic first team for the second year in a row. She is also a Dean’s List student and a four-time recipient of the CAA Commissioner’s Academic award. Pym started all 36 games at forward this season for an Old Dominion squad that captured its 17^th straight CAA championship and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. The senior scored double figures 13 times and averaged 9.0 ppg. Pym was second on the team and ranked 11^th in the CAA in rebounding with 7.2 rpg. She was also third in the conference in blocked shots with 52.

Adam Blomberg, Sr., Kennewick, Wash./Kamiakin ? Delaware (men’s swimming & diving)

Blomberg is a repeat winner of the CAA Scholar-Athlete Award in men’s swimming and diving. Majoring in physics and minoring in business management, he was selected to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District squad in 2007 and is a four-time CAA Commissioner’s Academic Award recipient. In the pool, Blomberg helped lead Delaware to a best-ever third-place finish at the CAA Championship and a school-record 11 wins. He was part of UD’s CAA champion 400 freestyle relay team and was a member of fourth-place teams in the 400 medley relay and 800 freestyle relay. Blomberg was also eighth in the 200 butterfly and 13^th in the 100 butterfly at the CAA championship.

Kate Hynes, Jr., Brookville, Pa./Brookville ? Drexel (women’s swimming & diving)

A business administration major, Hynes was selected as the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic Performer of the Year for women’s swimming and diving in 2007-08. She is also a three-time CAA Commissioner’s Academic Award recipient. In the pool, Hynes earned CAA Diver of the Year honors for third straight season and was selected as the Outstanding Diver of the Meet at the CAA Championship for third year in a row after sweeping the 1-meter and 3-meter competitions. She went on to capture the 1-meter and 3-meter events at the NCAA Zone Championships. Hynes received honorable mention All-America honors after placing 13^th on the 3-meter board at the NCAA Championships and was 20^th on the 1-meter board at the NCAA’s. She was undefeated in dual meet competitions this year.

Ryan Hluschak, Sr., Slatington, Pa./Northern Lehigh ? Drexel (wrestling)

Hluschak is a repeat winner of the CAA Scholar-Athlete Award in wrestling. The business administration major is a three-time NWCA All-Academic team selection and was chosen as the Philadelphia Inquirer men’s at-large Academic Performer of the Year. Hluschak was the runner-up at 157 pounds at the 2008 CAA Championship and qualified for the NCAA Championship for the third year in a row. He posted a 32-7 record this season and broke Drexel’s all-time career victories mark with 121. Hluschak earned All-America honors in 2007 after an eighth-place finish at the NCAA Championship.