Former Chartiers Valley runner earns honor
Gannon University cross country runner Joseph Westrick was named the 2019-20 Pete Nevins Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. The league’s sports information directors selected the honoree by a vote.
The distinction is presented to the top student-athletes who have achieved at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average while competing at an outstanding athletic level. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must have been recognized as a fall, winter or spring PSAC Top 10 award winner in the same academic year.
Westrick, a Chartiers Valley High School graduate was Gannon’s top runner. He won three invitationals, including the PSAC championships. He finished fourth at the Atlantic Region Championships. He also finished in the top 4 in seven of eight events this season.
Last fall, Westrick was a CoSIDA Academic All-District and NCAA Elite 90 Award Winner as well as the PSAC Athlete of the Year. In addition, he was a PSAC Champion Scholar.
Westrick is a two-time national qualifier, three-time All-Atlantic Region runner, three-time All-PSAC selection and two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District first-team pick as well as an academic All-American.
The PSAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards are now in their 30th year of existence.
In 2007, the awards were renamed to honor East Stroudsburg’s long-time sports information director, Pete Nevins, who passed away earlier that year.