Fifteen Cardinals Named 2020-21 MAC Distinguished Scholar Athletes

October 15, 2021 | Field Hockey, Football, General, Men's Tennis, Softball, Women's Golf, Women's Tennis, Women's Volleyball, Soccer, Track & Field

In total, nine Ball State programs had a representative honored, including four with multiple honorees

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference announced its list of Distinguished Scholar Athletes from the 2020-21 season. The Distinguished Scholar Athlete is a seventh-year award that honors the 'best of the best' student-athletes who have excelled in athletics and academics.

In total, nine Ball State programs had a representative honored, including four with multiple honorees. The Cardinals led the MAC with four football and two women's tennis honorees.

The selection for the Distinguished Scholar Athlete included all student-athletes who were recognized as both All-MAC and Academic All-MAC from their respective sport, along with maintaining at least a 3.50 GPA. Previously, a voting process among the MAC Faculty Athletic Representatives determined the selection of the Distinguished Scholar Athletes. MAC membership voted for the change in recognizing the Distinguished Scholar Athletes during the conference spring meetings in June of 2019.

Football
Curtis Blackwell, Ball State, Senior, 3.695, Business Administration
Anthony Ekpe, Ball State, Grad, 3.556, MBA (grad school)
Drew Plitt, Ball State, R-Senior, 3.567, MBA-Finance (grad school)

Field Hockey
Audrey Tabor, Ball State, Senior, Exercise Science, 3.615

Women's Soccer
Tatiana Mason, Ball State, Junior, Exercise Science, 4.0
Lexy Smith, Ball State, Junior, Sociology, 3.651

Women's Volleyball
Kia Holder, Ball State, Sr., Exercise Science, 3.740

Softball
Haley Dominique, Ball State, Grad., Public Administration Certificate, 4.000
Faith Hensley, Ball State, Junior, Premedical Preparation, 3.749
Stacy Payton, Ball State, Senior, Biology, 3.795

Women's Golf
Hadley Moritz, Ball State, Junior, Teaching, 3.977

Men's Tennis
Chris Adams, Ball State, Senior, Accounting, 4.0

Women's Tennis
Jessica Braun, Ball State, Sophomore, Logistics Supply Chain Management, 4.0
Emma Peeler, Ball State, Sophomore, Interior Design, 3.881

Women's Outdoor Track and Field
Karlie Zumbro, Ball State, Jr., Exercise Science, 3.850