Onwuka and Otwinowski Presented With MAC Medal of Excellence Award
6/3/2020 10:00:00 AM | Football, General, Women's Basketball
CLEVELAND, OHIO – The Mid-American Conference (MAC) announced 24 student-athletes as Medal of Excellence winners for the 2019-20 academic season on Wednesday, with Theresa Onwuka and Matt Otwinowski receiving the honor for Buffalo. The Medal of Excellence is an award presented annually to one male and one female student-athlete from the graduating class of each of the 12 Conference member institutions.
"The Medal of Excellence Award is a reinforcement of the core values that we as a conference and each of our member institutions all possess with excellence in academics, athletics, leadership and service," said MAC Commissioner, Jon A. Steinbrecher. "We congratulate all of our Medal of Excellence Award winners."
Onwuka graduated in May with a degree in health and human services. She was a three-time Academic All-MAC selection, MAC Female Scholar Athlete of the Week and served on the Board of Buffalo's Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) for two seasons. The Nigeria native was accepted into UB's highly selective accelerated nursing program, where she is currently continuing her studies.
On the court, Onwuka enjoyed the best season of her career as a senior, averaging career highs in points (14.7), rebounds (7.3), steals (2.5) and minutes (35.1), while making 49.3% of her field goal attempts and 71.5% of her free throw attempts. She scored in double figures in 24 of UB's 31 games this season and finished the season ranked 25th in the nation in steals (76) and 31st in steals per game (2.5). Onwuka became the program's 26th 1,000 point scorer in a win over Kent State on Senior Day.
Otwinowski graduated in May with a degree in accounting. He was a three-time Academic All-MAC selection and was a MAC Distinguish Scholar Athlete in 2018. In 2019, he was an Academic All-District selection. Most recently he was named to the National Football Foundation's Hampshire Honor Society, recognizing student-athletes who maintained a 3.2 or better grade point average throughout their college career.
Otwinowski enjoyed his best season on the field for the Bulls in 2019. The team captain ranked second on the squad in tackles with 76, including 3.5 tackles for loss, an interception and a forced fumble.
To be honored with the Medal of Excellence Award, student-athletes had to participate on the varsity level in a conference sponsored sport and shown evidence of academic success with a minimum 3.50 accumulative grade-point average, exhibited athletics excellence, leadership and service. Selection of the recipients was made by each MAC institution.
2020 Medal of Excellence Award Winners
Akron: Matt Ludwig (men's track & field); Mackenzie Andrews (women's track & field)
Ball State: Danny Pinter (football); Amber Seaman (women's volleyball)
Bowling Green: Gabe Skrobot (football); Talisa Lemke (women's swimming & diving)
Buffalo: Matt Otwinowski (football); Theresa Onwuka (women's basketball)
Central Michigan: Drew Hildebrandt (wrestling); Alexandria Robinson (women's track & field)
Eastern Michigan: Sean Beckom II (men's track & field); Aubrey Martin (women's soccer)
Kent State: Tim Rooney (wrestling); Maria Cegledy (softball)
Miami: Evan Crabtree (football); Margaret Payne (women's volleyball)
Northern Illinois: Jan Maertins (men's soccer); Jehvania Whyle (women's track & field)
Ohio: Ben Vander Plas (men's basketball); Alivia Milesky (women's soccer)
Toledo: Danilo Vukotic (men's tennis); Abby Demboski (women's soccer)
Western Michigan: Anthony Bowie (men's soccer); Amelia Mohler (women's gymnastics)
"The Medal of Excellence Award is a reinforcement of the core values that we as a conference and each of our member institutions all possess with excellence in academics, athletics, leadership and service," said MAC Commissioner, Jon A. Steinbrecher. "We congratulate all of our Medal of Excellence Award winners."
Onwuka graduated in May with a degree in health and human services. She was a three-time Academic All-MAC selection, MAC Female Scholar Athlete of the Week and served on the Board of Buffalo's Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) for two seasons. The Nigeria native was accepted into UB's highly selective accelerated nursing program, where she is currently continuing her studies.
On the court, Onwuka enjoyed the best season of her career as a senior, averaging career highs in points (14.7), rebounds (7.3), steals (2.5) and minutes (35.1), while making 49.3% of her field goal attempts and 71.5% of her free throw attempts. She scored in double figures in 24 of UB's 31 games this season and finished the season ranked 25th in the nation in steals (76) and 31st in steals per game (2.5). Onwuka became the program's 26th 1,000 point scorer in a win over Kent State on Senior Day.
Otwinowski graduated in May with a degree in accounting. He was a three-time Academic All-MAC selection and was a MAC Distinguish Scholar Athlete in 2018. In 2019, he was an Academic All-District selection. Most recently he was named to the National Football Foundation's Hampshire Honor Society, recognizing student-athletes who maintained a 3.2 or better grade point average throughout their college career.
Otwinowski enjoyed his best season on the field for the Bulls in 2019. The team captain ranked second on the squad in tackles with 76, including 3.5 tackles for loss, an interception and a forced fumble.
To be honored with the Medal of Excellence Award, student-athletes had to participate on the varsity level in a conference sponsored sport and shown evidence of academic success with a minimum 3.50 accumulative grade-point average, exhibited athletics excellence, leadership and service. Selection of the recipients was made by each MAC institution.
2020 Medal of Excellence Award Winners
Akron: Matt Ludwig (men's track & field); Mackenzie Andrews (women's track & field)
Ball State: Danny Pinter (football); Amber Seaman (women's volleyball)
Bowling Green: Gabe Skrobot (football); Talisa Lemke (women's swimming & diving)
Buffalo: Matt Otwinowski (football); Theresa Onwuka (women's basketball)
Central Michigan: Drew Hildebrandt (wrestling); Alexandria Robinson (women's track & field)
Eastern Michigan: Sean Beckom II (men's track & field); Aubrey Martin (women's soccer)
Kent State: Tim Rooney (wrestling); Maria Cegledy (softball)
Miami: Evan Crabtree (football); Margaret Payne (women's volleyball)
Northern Illinois: Jan Maertins (men's soccer); Jehvania Whyle (women's track & field)
Ohio: Ben Vander Plas (men's basketball); Alivia Milesky (women's soccer)
Toledo: Danilo Vukotic (men's tennis); Abby Demboski (women's soccer)
Western Michigan: Anthony Bowie (men's soccer); Amelia Mohler (women's gymnastics)
Players Mentioned
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