SOLTYSIAK, MCCONNELL NAMED HOWARD C. SMITH
CO-SCHOLAR-ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Westfield State senior Drew Soltysiak (Westfield, MA) and Fitchburg State senior Devan McConnell (Lake Stevens, WA) were selected as the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference's (MASCAC) 2007-08 Howard C. Smith Male co-Scholar-Athletes of the Year.

This year's voting by the MASCAC athletics directors for the Male Scholar-Athlete ended in a tie. Soltysiak shared the prestigious honor with McConnell, a standout goalie for the Fitchburg State ice hockey team.

The award is presented annually to male and female senior student-athletes who have excelled both academically and athletically while a student of a Massachusetts state college. The award is named in honor of Howard C. Smith, a former state college trustee who was largely responsible for the formation of the Massachusetts State College Athletics Conference (MASCAC) and the acceptance of intercollegiate athletics as an integral part of the state college system.

To be considered for the award, a student-athlete must have achieved a least a 3.2 cumulative grade point average and be in his or her last year of athletic eligibility.

Soltysiak, who majored in movement science at Westfield State, was a two-time All American while competing in the javelin for the Owls' track and field team; he finished third in the 2008 NCAA Division III national championships with a throw of 206-11. He earned All New England honors six times and All-ECAC status three times. In 2008 he placed first in both the New England Division III and ECAC championships, and he was the New England Alliance and MASCAC champion during his junior and senior seasons.

"Drew has played a major role in the success of the Westfield State College men's track and field program for the past four seasons," said Westfield State head coach Sean O'Brien. "Because of his work ethic and determination, Westfield State was able to win four New England Alliance and four MASCAC championships during his collegiate career. Westfield has had a lot of outstanding javelin throwers and Drew is one of the best; he was a very consistent thrower who performed well in the big meets. Westfield State and the track and field program are extremely proud that he received this honor."

Soltysiak is the 13th Westfield State College student-athlete to receive the Howard C. Smith award since its inception in 1980. Westfield's 13 scholar-athlete honorees are the most in the eight-team conference, followed by Fitchburg State with 11.