Army West Point Athletics
Petrella Headlines League Academic Awards
November 02, 2018 | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
WEST POINT, N.Y. - Junior Ben Petrella of the Army West Point men's cross country team has been named Patriot League Men's Cross Country Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
This marks the second time Petrella will take home the award, as he received the honor for indoor track and field in February of 2018. He has also been named to the league's Academic All-League team.
"Ben Petrella has been one of our most consistent athletic and academic performers since he arrived here in the fall of 2016," Director of Cross Country and Track and Field Mike Smith said. "He is one of the top-ranked cadets in the class of 2020, has won individual Patriot League titles, been part of two Patriot League championship teams in cross country and a significant contributor to our Star Meet wins in both track and cross country."
To be eligible for the Scholar-Athlete of the Year award and the Academic All-Patriot League team, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average and be a starter or key player in his/her sport. Freshmen or students in their first academic year at their school are not eligible for the honor.
Voting was conducted by the league's ten cross country sports information contacts, who could not vote for their own student-athletes.
The Liverpool, N.Y., native holds a 3.97 grade-point average and is a Superintendent's Award for Excellence recipient. He has been named to the Academic All-Patriot League team in each of his eligible seasons for cross country and track and field.
"Ben is committed to excellence in all of his endeavors at the Academy," Smith said. "At an institution that produces some of the greatest leaders in the world, Ben Petrella ranks among the most accomplished. He is a star among stars. This honor is well deserved."
The award comes after Petrella placed fifth at the Patriot League Championship, where he helped his team to a second straight league title and earned First Team All-Patriot League honors. He placed fourth in the Star Meet against Navy and second at the Maine Dual.
In addition to Petrella, two other Black Knights were named to the Patriot League Academic All-League team, as juniors Mika Andrews and Kajol Maheshwari of women's cross country received the honor.
Maheshwari, a life science major, holds a 3.98 GPA. She was recently named the Corps Scholar Athlete of the Month for October.
"Kajol has always been one of one of our most accomplished students," Smith said. "She continues to push herself to new levels and is a great example of hard work and determination."
Andrews holds a 3.55 GPA and majors in Law and Legal Studies. She finished 18th at the Patriot League Championships and ninth in the Star Meet versus Navy.
"Mika does a nice job of balancing the demands of athletics and academics," Smith said. "She was always a star in the classroom, but has now elevated her athletic performance to a new level. I am happy to seed her recognized for her accomplishments."
For more information on Army West Point cross country visit GoArmyWestPoint.com or follow @ArmyWP_TrackXC on Twitter.
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This marks the second time Petrella will take home the award, as he received the honor for indoor track and field in February of 2018. He has also been named to the league's Academic All-League team.
"Ben Petrella has been one of our most consistent athletic and academic performers since he arrived here in the fall of 2016," Director of Cross Country and Track and Field Mike Smith said. "He is one of the top-ranked cadets in the class of 2020, has won individual Patriot League titles, been part of two Patriot League championship teams in cross country and a significant contributor to our Star Meet wins in both track and cross country."
To be eligible for the Scholar-Athlete of the Year award and the Academic All-Patriot League team, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average and be a starter or key player in his/her sport. Freshmen or students in their first academic year at their school are not eligible for the honor.
Voting was conducted by the league's ten cross country sports information contacts, who could not vote for their own student-athletes.
The Liverpool, N.Y., native holds a 3.97 grade-point average and is a Superintendent's Award for Excellence recipient. He has been named to the Academic All-Patriot League team in each of his eligible seasons for cross country and track and field.
"Ben is committed to excellence in all of his endeavors at the Academy," Smith said. "At an institution that produces some of the greatest leaders in the world, Ben Petrella ranks among the most accomplished. He is a star among stars. This honor is well deserved."
The award comes after Petrella placed fifth at the Patriot League Championship, where he helped his team to a second straight league title and earned First Team All-Patriot League honors. He placed fourth in the Star Meet against Navy and second at the Maine Dual.
In addition to Petrella, two other Black Knights were named to the Patriot League Academic All-League team, as juniors Mika Andrews and Kajol Maheshwari of women's cross country received the honor.
Maheshwari, a life science major, holds a 3.98 GPA. She was recently named the Corps Scholar Athlete of the Month for October.
"Kajol has always been one of one of our most accomplished students," Smith said. "She continues to push herself to new levels and is a great example of hard work and determination."
Andrews holds a 3.55 GPA and majors in Law and Legal Studies. She finished 18th at the Patriot League Championships and ninth in the Star Meet versus Navy.
"Mika does a nice job of balancing the demands of athletics and academics," Smith said. "She was always a star in the classroom, but has now elevated her athletic performance to a new level. I am happy to seed her recognized for her accomplishments."
For more information on Army West Point cross country visit GoArmyWestPoint.com or follow @ArmyWP_TrackXC on Twitter.
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Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
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