Vicars Named USTFCCCA Scholar Field Athlete of the Year

Senior Derrick Vicars of The University of Findlay men's track and field team was named the Outdoor Scholar Field Athlete of the Year in NCAA Division II for the 2012 season by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Tuesday, July 24. 

Scholar Athlete of the Year Awards are determined from among those who earned All-Academic status and placed highest in individual events at the most recent NCAA Championships. Those who earn multiple individual championship titles rank higher in the tie-breaking process, and cumulative GPA is weighed as the final tiebreaker to establish a winner. Separate awards are given to track athletes and field athletes for the indoor and outdoor seasons, resulting in four categories.

A native of Genoa, Ohio, Vicars carries a 3.35 cumulative GPA and was the NCAA outdoor champion in the shot put this spring. He was also the USTFCCCA's Midwest Region Field Athlete of the Year.

In addition, senior John Guagenti, who was named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Scholar Athlete of the Year, senior Cory Vales, senior Curtis Smithey, sophomore Justin Eilerman, sophomore Taylor Miller and freshman Michael Travis earned Academic All-American honors.