EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Junior first baseman Ryan Niedzwiedz is SIUE's finalist for Male Athlete of the Year in the Ohio Valley Conference.
Niedzwiedz became the first SIUE player to be voted as the OVC Player of the Year, after leading SIUE baseball to its first-ever regular season title. He then earned a second team All-Region selection from the American Baseball Coaches Association.
The native of North Aurora, Illinois, led the OVC with 27 home runs which is an SIUE program record and the second-most in a season in league history. The 27 home runs also ranks seventh in the NCAA. He led the league with 69 RBIs, also a program record, which ranks 24th in the NCAA.
The award will be voted on by school administrators and Conference office staff and announced June 25.
The finalists for Female Athlete of the Year will be announced Wed., June 17.
