DETROIT -- Cedric Drenth (Sulzbach, Germany / Altkönigschule Kronberg) of the Wayne State University men's tennis program has been named the Chi Alpha Sigma 2024-25 Male Scholar Athlete of the Year. Drenth is joined by the female honoree, North Park University's Thea Ring (track & field).
"I am truly honored to be named the Male Scholar Athlete of the Year by Chi Alpha Sigma," said Drenth. "This award, coming after graduation, is a reminder of the dedication I put into both academics and athletics during my time at Wayne State University. It reflects the long hours of training and studying, along with the discipline, persistence and balance that guided me as a student-athlete. These values will continue to shape and support me in the next chapter of my journey."
The National Scholar Athlete of the Year award recognizes student-athletes from one men's sport and one women's sport who have each demonstrated academic and athletic achievement, as well as service and leadership both on-campus and in the community. Nominees must be junior or senior Chi Alpha Sigma inductees who have maintained a minimum of a 3.40 cumulative grade-point average (GPA) throughout their collegiate careers and demonstrated how their experiences as scholar-athletes have influenced and empowered them to be successful after graduation.
"We are very pleased to celebrate Cedric and Thea with these awards," Kellen Wells-Mangold, executive director of the National College Athlete Honor Society, said. "They have embodied the values of Chi Alpha Sigma throughout their collegiate careers, and we are proud to recognize their outstanding achievements."
Drenth concluded his collegiate career as WSU's all-time leader in both singles victories (106) and doubles wins (122). A three-time ITA Doubles All-American, two-time ITA Singles All-American, and a two-time recipient of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Player of the Year Award for men's tennis, Drenth helped the Warriors reach three consecutive NCAA quarterfinal appearances in his four seasons as a Warrior. Elite in the classroom as well, the finance major maintained a 3.966 cumulative grade point average, which resulted in Drenth being named both the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Division II Men's Tennis Team Member of the Year and the GLIAC Commissioner's Award recipient two times each.
All-Time Honorees List
2024-25: Cedric Drenth (Wayne State), Tennis
2024-25: Thea Ring (North Park), Track & Field
2023-24: Will Kelly (St. Olaf), Cross Country and Track & Field
2023-24: Malak Mowafi (Penn State Schuylkill), Cross Country, Track & Field and Basketball
2022-23: Trent Hidlay (NC State), Wrestling
2022-23: Fiona Smith (College of Saint Benedict), Cross Country and Track & Field
2021-22: Eric Knowles (NC State), Swimming & Diving
2021-22: Zaresha Neal (Bowling Green), Track & Field
2020-21: Kieran Mullins (Rutgers), Lacrosse
2020-21: Emma Schulz (SUNY Cortland), Gymnastics
2019-20: Andreas Vazaios (NC State), Swimming & Diving
2019-20: Audrey Miller (Loras), Cross Country and Track & Field
2018-19: Cole Rosenberger (Johns Hopkins), Soccer
2018-19: Aliyah Gustafson (Bowling Green), Track & Field
About Chi Alpha Sigma
The National College Athlete Honor Society, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was founded in 1996. Chi Alpha Sigma works with state chapters of four-year institutions to recognize college student-athletes who excel in their sport, the classroom, and the community.
