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BAY CITY, Mich.
— Wayne State University senior running back Josh
Renel has been named recipient of the 2011 Great Lakes
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Jack H. McAvoy Award as
announced by Commissioner Dell Robinson. The award is presented
annually to the GLIAC football player who best combines outstanding
character and leadership on the field, in the classroom, and in the
community.
A native of Rochester Hills, Michigan, Renel
has earned a 3.63 grade point average (4.0 scale) while majoring in
marketing. He has been named to the GLIAC All-Academic football
team three times, is a First Team Academic All-American, is a
two-time member of the GLIAC Football All-Conference First Team,
and a 2011 All-Region performer. A fall 2010 and 2011 GLIAC
Commissioner’s Award recipient for athletic and academic
excellence, Renel is an active member of the community and
volunteers in his spare time to Make a Wish Foundation and the
United Way Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign, among other
charities.
This season, Renel helped the Warriors to the
NCAA Division II championship game where he began the contest with
a 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown (only the second time in
the Division II NCAA championship contest the opening kickoff was
returned for a score). He finished the season ranked 28th
nationally in all-purpose yards per game (146.00), 33rd in kickoff
return average (25.61), and 55th in rushing yards per game (84.56).
Renel led the GLIAC in all-purpose yards (2,336), was second in
punt return average (12.8), third in rushing yards (1,353), and
fourth in both rushing touchdowns (14) and kickoff return average
(25.8).
“Josh personifies the true meaning of the
term student-athlete,” stated Commissioner Robinson.
“He provides an outstanding platform for the McAvoy Award
highlighting the type of student-athlete we have our conference. He
will be a future leader in his field of study as well as his
community.”
Renel becomes the second Wayne State
student-athlete to win the award joining Matt Fishburn who earned
the award in 1997. Ferris State University has had the most
recipients of the award (4), with Michigan Technological
University, Saginaw Valley State University, Hillsdale College and
Wayne State all have two apiece. The Award is named for former
Hillsdale College director of athletics and head football coach,
Jack McAvoy, who was instrumental in the founding of the Midwest
Intercollegiate Football Conference (MIFC), now known as the
GLIAC.
Jack H. McAvoy Award Winners |
|
2011 | Josh Renel, Wayne State |
2010 |
Phil Doerfler, Hillsdale |
2009 |
Nick Bellanco, Ashland |
2008 |
Jake Visser, Ferris State |
2007 |
Mark Nicolet, Hillsdale |
2006 |
Mike Klobucher, Ferris State |
2005 |
Matthew Shem, Northern Michigan |
2004 |
Neil Baumgartner, Saginaw Valley State |
2003 |
Josh Sherko, Northern Michigan |
|
Scott Stuible, Northwood |
2002 |
Jason Battershell, Saginaw Valley State |
2001 |
Chris Volz, Indianapolis |
2000 |
Alex Kowalski, Michigan Tech |
1999 |
Mo Harris, Ferris State |
1998 |
Jeff Fox, Grand Valley State |
1997 |
Matt Fishburn, Wayne State |
|
Eric Tree, Michigan Tech |
1996 |
Chris Pulliams, Ferris State |
A native of Rochester Hills, Michigan, Renel has earned a 3.63 grade point average (4.0 scale) while majoring in marketing. He has been named to the GLIAC All-Academic football team three times, is a First Team Academic All-American, is a two-time member of the GLIAC Football All-Conference First Team, and a 2011 All-Region performer. A fall 2010 and 2011 GLIAC Commissioner’s Award recipient for athletic and academic excellence, Renel is an active member of the community and volunteers in his spare time to Make a Wish Foundation and the United Way Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign, among other charities.
This season, Renel helped the Warriors to the NCAA Division II championship game where he began the contest with a 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown (only the second time in the Division II NCAA championship contest the opening kickoff was returned for a score). He finished the season ranked 28th nationally in all-purpose yards per game (146.00), 33rd in kickoff return average (25.61), and 55th in rushing yards per game (84.56). Renel led the GLIAC in all-purpose yards (2,336), was second in punt return average (12.8), third in rushing yards (1,353), and fourth in both rushing touchdowns (14) and kickoff return average (25.8).
“Josh personifies the true meaning of the term student-athlete,” stated Commissioner Robinson. “He provides an outstanding platform for the McAvoy Award highlighting the type of student-athlete we have our conference. He will be a future leader in his field of study as well as his community.”
Renel becomes the second Wayne State student-athlete to win the award joining Matt Fishburn who earned the award in 1997. Ferris State University has had the most recipients of the award (4), with Michigan Technological University, Saginaw Valley State University, Hillsdale College and Wayne State all have two apiece. The Award is named for former Hillsdale College director of athletics and head football coach, Jack McAvoy, who was instrumental in the founding of the Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference (MIFC), now known as the GLIAC.