Madonia Wins MAC Scholar-Athlete Award

Jake Madonia

BUFFALO, NY – University at Buffalo junior track and field athlete Jake Madonia has been named the Mid-American Conference's co-Male Scholar Athlete of the Week award winner, the league announced from its Cleveland headquarters.

Madonia, a psychology major with a 3.391 grade point average, won the men’s shot put with a toss of 52-10.75 (16.12 meters) at the Northeast Ohio Invitational on April 11 as the Bulls finished third among five squads. It was his first shot put victory this season after the junior posted second-place finishes at the Seahawk Invitational on March 14 and Colonial Relays on April 4. His best throw of the season, a toss of 54-8.75 (16.68m) at the Seahawk Invitational stands second in the MAC. He also stands third on the Bulls and ninth in the conference in the discus throw at 154-7 (47.12m).

The junior returned to action in January after missing nearly two years following a diagnosis of synovial sarcoma, a rare cancer of the soft tissue. Earlier this week, he earned the 2009 Giant Steps Award, which is presented annually by the National Consortium for Academics and Sports.

Madonia shared this week's award with Bowling Green baseball player T.J. Blanton. Madonia is the third UB athlete to win the MAC Scholar Athlete honor in the 2008-09 academic year. Men's diver Michael McDowell was honored twice earlier this year and wrestler Kevin Smith also earned the award.

The MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week honor is presented to a MAC male and female student-athlete who has a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better and performs well during that week's competition. The winners are selected by a group of the conference's faculty athletic representatives.