April 24, 2008

The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) announced the recipients of the Winter 2008 GLIAC Commissioner's Awards. The awards, sponsored by Meijer, Incorporated, will be presented after the Fall, Winter, and Spring athletic seasons to six male and six female student-athletes that excel both in the classroom and on the fields of play.

The six female student-athletes to receive the Winter 2008 GLIAC Commissioner's Awards are: Erika Barczak of Wayne State University; Kirby Blackley of the University of Findlay; Rachel Folcik of Ferris State University; Ellie Miller of the University of Indianapolis; Catherine Rottier of Michigan Technological University; and Megan Starnes of Northwood University.

The six male student-athletes to receive the Winter 2008 GLIAC Commissioner's Awards are: Brett Bartlett of Ashland University; Tyler Evans of Findlay; Tyler Kazmierkoski of Northern Michigan University; Kevin Maloney of Michigan Tech; Paul Musille of Gannon University; and Phil Watkins of Grand Valley State University.

"These 12 student-athletes exemplify what collegiate athletics is all about," stated GLIAC Commissioner Tom Brown. "Our conference, along with Meijer Incorporated, feel that it is important to recognize these hard working student-athletes for their outstanding performances in the classroom and on the field of play. The GLIAC would like to thank Meijer for their generous sponsorship of the 2008 Commissioner's Awards and for helping us acknowledge the exceptional accomplishments of this group."

Erika Barczak, a senior diver for the Warriors, is an art major who has maintained a 3.97 grade point average (4.0 scale). She earned two First Team All-America nods by placing fourth in one-meter diving (408.75) and sixth on the three-meter board (366.85). Barczak was named to the ESPN the Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team in 2006-07. In 2008, she led the Warriors to a GLIAC championship and a top-ten national ranking.