Drew Soltysiak receives the MASCAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year award from MASCAC Commissioner Angela Bauman.
Westfield State College senior Drew Soltysiak of Westfield, Mass., (Westfield High School) was selected as the Massachusetts State College Athletics Conference’s Howard C. Smith Male co-Scholar-Athlete of the year.
This year's voting by the MASCAC athletics directors for the Male Scholar-Athlete ended in a tie. Soltysiak shares the prestigious honor with Devan 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.