LeDuc receives national Div. 3 Scholar Athlete of the Year honors

Canton’s Michael LeDuc of Connecticut College

Canton’s Michael LeDuc is one of four athletes who have been recognized as a national Scholar Athlete of the Year in NCAA Division III men’s outdoor track by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. 

LeDuc and three other athletes stood the tallest among 232 men who earned All-Academic honors in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track during the 2012-13 school year. 

LeDuc, who finished his junior year at Connecticut College in New London, is a botany major with a 3.793 cumulative grade point average. He was named Scholar Athlete of the Year in outdoor track. LeDuc won the national championship in the men’s steeplechase at the NCAA Division III championship meet in May. 

LeDuc is the first Connecticut College athlete to receive this national recognition. “I am thrilled for Mike receiving this honor,” said Jim Butler, head cross country coach at Conn. College. “He is truly the epitome of what being a student-athlete at Connecticut College is all about.” 

Chris Stadler of Haverford was the national Scholar Athlete of the Year in indoor track, Zach Ferrara of Brockport was the national winner in indoor field and Tom Posma of Defiance was the national winner in outdoor field events. Stadler won a indoor title in the 5,000 meters and Ferrara won an indoor title in the pole vault. Posma was second in the hammer at the NCAA championship meet. 

Scholar Athlete of the Year awards are determined from among those who earned All-Academic status and placed highest in individual events at the most recent NCAA championships. Those who earn multiple individual championship titles rank higher in the tie-breaking process, and cumulative GPA is weighed as the final tiebreaker to establish a winner.