Hofstra University Athletics

WREST: Bonanno Named CAA Wrestling Scholar-Athlete of the Year

3/30/2012 11:57:00 PM

Richmond, VA - Hofstra junior Steve Bonanno has been named the Colonial Athletic Association Wrestling Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the 2011-12 season, the CAA announced Friday. Bonanno, a native of Wantagh, New York, is the second consecutive Pride member to win the CAA Wrestling Scholar-Athlete of the Year award after Lou Ruggirello won it in 2010-11.

The CAA honors one Scholar-Athlete in each of its 23 championship sports. Nominees for the award must be a starter or important reserve on their team and must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.25. The winners were selected by a vote of the media relations directors at each CAA institution.

A junior majoring in accounting, Bonnano has twice been named to the NWCA All-Academic team. He has been a CAA Commissioner's Academic Award recipient and a member of the Hofstra Athletics Academic Honor Roll on multiple occasions. Bonanno earned All-America honors after placing eighth in the 125-pound weight class at the 2012 NCAA Wrestling Championship. He posted a 31-9 record this season, including a 14-1 mark in dual matches. Bonanno was the CAA champion at 125 pounds and finished the year ranked #12 in the nation in his weight class. A three-time NCAA qualifier, he also posted a second-place finish at the Binghamton Open and was third at the Cliff Keen-Las Vegas Invitational in 2011-12.

Five student-athletes who excelled both athletically and academically have been honored by the Colonial Athletic Association as recipients of the CAA Scholar-Athlete Award for the winter sports season. In addition to Bonanno, also earning Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors were William & Mary senior Quinn McDowell in men's basketball, Delaware junior Elena Delle Donne in women's basketball, William & Mary sophomore Andrew Strait in men's swimming and diving and Drexel junior Lauren Faykes in women's swimming and diving.

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