TOLEDO, Ohio — Sixteen University of Toledo student-athletes were named Distinguished Scholar-Athletes from the spring season today by the Mid-American Conference. The awards were voted on by faculty athletic representatives at MAC institutions representing the 'best of the best' from each sport's Academic All-MAC team.
 
     The Rocket women's track and field program led the way with a total of five student-athletes recognized, with UT's baseball program right behind with a conference-best tying four honorees. Women's golf and men's tennis each landed two student-athletes on the list, while men's golf, softball and women's tennis each had one representative.
 
     Seniors Colin Joseph (men's golf) and Sam Shutes (baseball) received the honor for a third straight year, while juniors Vince Anzalone (men's tennis) and Michael Jacob (baseball) were honored for a second consecutive season.
  
    The Distinguished Scholar Athlete is given to student-athletes who have excelled in athletics and academics. Following each season from the fall sports schedule, any student-athlete 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 student and junior college transfers in their first year of residence were not eligible for the award.
 
     From the Academic All-MAC Teams, the faculty athletic representatives selected the 'best of the best' from the Academic All-MAC Teams to be honored with Distinguished Scholar Athlete Award for the 2016-17 season. The number of Distinguished Scholar Athletes from each sport were equivalent to the number of first-team selections or 33% of the nominees, whichever was greater.
  
     A complete listing of all 16 Toledo student-athletes to earn the 2018 Spring Distinguished Scholar Athlete award is listed below:

Women's Track & Field
Stephanie Barlow, Senior, 3.78 GPA, Early Childhood Education (San Antonio, Texas)
Yana Khabina, Junior, 3.96 GPA, Personal Finance (Kiev, Ukraine)
Janelle Noe, Senior, 3.82 GPA, Exercise Science (Sylvania, Ohio)
Petronela Simiuc, Senior, 3,565 GPA, Individualized Program (Bacau, Romania)
Athena Welsh, Sophomore, 3.611 GPA, Pre-Business (Louisville, Ohio)

Baseball
Ross Adolph, Junior, 3.489 GPA, Finance (Findlay, Ohio)
Michael Jacob, Two-Time Honoree, Junior, 3.889 GPA, Professional Sales/Finance (St. Clairsville, Ohio)
Joey Prechtel, Sophomore, 3.934 GPA, Pre-Professional Sales (Oakland, Mich.)
Sam Shutes, Three-Time Honoree, Senior, 3.901 GPA, Civil Engineering (Three Rivers, Mich.)
 
Women's Golf
Pinyada Kuvanun, Junior, 3.610 GPA, International Business (Khonkean, Thailand)
Saranlak Tumfong, Sophomore, 3.904 GPA, Media Communications (Chiang Mai, Thailand)

Men's Tennis
Vince Anzalone, Two-Time Honoree, Junior, Supply Chain Management & Marketing, 3.94 GPA (Willoughby Hills, Ohio)
Luka Vitosevic, Junior, Finance, 3.81 GPA (Belgrade, Serbia)

Men's Golf
Colin Joseph, Three-Time Honoree, Senior, 3.823, Finance (Loveland, Ohio)

Softball
Ashley Rausch, Senior, 3.604 GPA, Nursing (Milford Center, Ohio)

Women's Tennis
Sidnay Huck, Senior, 3.60 GPA, Education (Fort Wayne, Ind.)