Baldus-Strauss Receives NCAA's Elite 88 Award for Academics
4/15/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics
WEST POINT, N.Y. -- Junior Ben Baldus-Strauss (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton Warrenville South) of the No. 3-ranked University of Michigan men's gymnastics team was named the Elite 88 Award winner by the NCAA Wednesday night (April 14) during the Nissen-Emery Award banquet held at Eisenhower Hall on West Point's campus.
The Elite 88 award, in its first year of existence in 2009-10, is given to the student-athlete with the highest cummulative grade point average competing at the finals site at each of the NCAA's 88 championships. The recipient must be at least a sophomore in academic and athletics standing and be in at least his second year of competition at his institution. Baldus-Strauss received the award for his 3.948 GPA in biochemistry.
Senior co-captain David Chan (Singapore, Singapore/Hale School) was also honored at the banquet. Chan was one of eight finalists for the 2010 Nissen-Emery Award, given annually the most outstanding senior gymnast. Illinois' Luke Stannard received the honor.
The Wolverines begin action at the NCAA Championships Thursday night (April 15) at 7 p.m. in the National Qualifier at Christl Arena in West Point, N.Y. Competition continues Friday and Saturday beginning at 7 p.m. each day.
Players Mentioned
