MSSU athletes Ray, Bisotro named Academic All-American

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Missouri Southern women's track and field student-athletes Rachel Ray and Elena Bisotto have been named Google Cloud/Academic All-Americans today by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Ray was a first-team selection, while Bisotto was a second-team pick. Both earn their first Academic All-American honors of their careers.

To be selected for the award, student-athletes must be at least a sophomore in academic standing, as well as not being a first-year transfer to the institution. Student-athletes must also maintain a minimum of a 3.30 GPA, as well as participate in at least 50 percent of their team's competitions. The award is voted on by sports information professionals throughout Division II.

The pair, along with Morgan Ash, were all Academic All-District picks last month.

Bisotto was a national qualifier this year, placing just outside of All-American contention, and was also a national qualifier at the Indoor Championships this year. Ray was the MSSU EO and Virginia Humphrey winner this year as the top student-athlete at MSSU.

Bisotto, a sophomore from Mestre Venezia, Italy caries a 4.00 in biology and Ray, a senior from Alma, Ark. graduated this May with a perfect 4.00 GPA in kinesiology.

Yadier Molina on Pujols return: It was the best weekend of my life

The return of Albert Pujols to Busch Stadium in St. Louis after en eight-year absence provided many magical moments.

In the accompanying video from KSDK in St. Louis, Yadier Molina talks about the weekend and what it meant to him.

Sixty-one MSSU newcomer student-athletss named to MIAA Academic Honor Roll

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

A total of 61 Missouri Southern newcomer student-athletes were named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll as the league announced its academic honors list for newcomers today.

In addition to those individuals, three were named an MIAA Scholar-Athlete and another eight earned the Academic Excellence Award. These awards are for all first-time enrollees to Missouri Southern (freshman or first-year transfers) in all sports.

To be recognized on the Academic Honor Roll, one must have a grade point average (GPA) used by the institution for purposes of NCAA academic certification of 3.00 at the certifying member institution.

To be named to the Scholar-Athlete list, a student-athlete must meet the above requirements, as well as maintain a 3.5 GPA and be named All-MIAA during their respective seasons. To earn the Academic Excellence Award, a student-athlete must maintain a perfect 4.0 GPA.

Eight student-athletes earned the Academic Excellence Award including: Bryan Candryl (Men's Track and Field), Tori Frazier (Softball), Maggie Moore (Women's Golf), Kelie Henderson and Megan Tramel (Women's Track and Field), Marlee Lett and Layne Skiles (Women's Basketball) and Bailey Belcher (Soccer).

Belcher, as well as Makaila Leonhart of the softball team and Elizabeth Adeoye of women's track and field earned the Scholar-Athlete award.