June 26, 2006

DETROIT - Wayne State University Director of Athletics Rob Fournier announced today the 2005-06 Male and Female EDS/Student-Athletes of the Year. Candidates were judged on academic distinction, athletic accomplishments, individual involvement and University and community service, as well as coaches recommendation.

Sophomore diver Erika Barczak (Williamston, Mich.) and senior swimmer Nick Ingrao (Ypsilanti, Mich./Lincoln) were selected as the 2005-06 female and male student-athletes of the year after being nominated by their respective coaches with voting by the athletic department's coaches and administrative staff.

"It's fitting that the two recipients of our student-athlete of the year award represents a sport that won two of last year's three conference championships," said Fournier. "Erika and Nick epitomize the expectations for our student leaders -- active in the community who willingly volunteer their time, exceptional students in the classroom and dedicated, hard-working athletes. In a quality group of young people, their achievements are even more remarkable."

Barczak earned her second straight First Team All-America honor on the three-meter board, placing sixth with a score of 379.70 at the 2006 NCAA Championship. She finished 13th on the one-meter board (291.35), earning her second straight honorable mention All-America accolade in that event. At the GLIAC Championship, she won the three-meter diving (400.35 points), while placing second in the one-meter diving (320.20).

An academic all-GLIAC selection, Barczak won the WSU athletic department's Deans' Award for having the highest cumulative gpa among student-athletes enrolled in the College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts. An art major, she has had over a 3.85 all four semesters at WSU including three consecutive 4.00 terms.

Ingrao (pictured left) helped lead the Warrior men's swimming program to a GLIAC title and a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Championship, the best finish in school history.

The GLIAC's male nominee for the NCAA Sportsmanship Award, he was a two-time First Team All-America after placing fifth in both the 1000 free (9:23.72) and the 1650 free (15:43.32). At the GLIAC Championship, Ingrao took first place in the 1000 free for the second consecutive year winning in a GLIAC meet and pool record time of 9:26.69. He finished second in the 1650 free (15:59.32) and third in the 500 free (4:39.09) earning

An anthropology major, Ingrao graduated from WSU in three-and-a-half years earning athletic director honor roll and coach's honor roll three terms each.

This is the fifth year EDS has sponsored the WSU Student-Athlete of the Year award. The first year recipients were softball player Kelly Kashmerick and hockey player David Guerrera, while cross country runner Shelly Vickery and hockey player Dustin Kingston were the 2002-03 honorees. The 2003-04 student-athletes of the year were women's hockey player Kim Spaulding and swimmer David Lutz. Lutz became the first two-time winner in 2004-05 along with Anna Vinnikov, a member of the WSU women's fencing squad.