Annual CCAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year honorees >>>
Cal State East Bay senior baseball student-athlete Mark Woinarowicz has earned distinguished recognition as the 2021-22 CCAA Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
The award is voted on and selected by the Faculty Athletic Representatives (FARs) from the Conference's 12-member institutions, focusing on a student-athlete's work in the classroom, in the community, and in their respective sport.
Woinarowicz graduated from Cal State East Bay this spring with a degree in Kinesiology. He is the first male Pioneer student-athlete to collect a CCAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year honor.
"Congratulations to Mark on an honor well deserved for all of the work he has dedicated to being an exemplary student-athlete," said Cal State East Bay's Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics, Allison Kern. "We are proud to have him represent East Bay Athletics."
On the diamond, the right-handed pitcher was a second team All-CCAA selection, ranking eighth in the Conference with a 3.75 earned run average and tying for third with seven wins. Woinarowicz threw the third-most innings in the league (84.0) and struck out the second-most batters (81). He went at least six innings in his 10 starts against conference foes, and the Pioneers won each of his first five starts.
"Mark Woinarowicz is the epitome of the term 'student-athlete,'" noted Cal State East Bay Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR) Dr. David Larson. "In the 14 years East Bay has been a CCAA member, the Pioneers have never had a male student-athlete with combined academic and athletic achievements remotely close to what Mark has accomplished.
"He has been exceptional in the classroom: A summa cum laude graduate in Kinesiology with a minor in Philosophy," added Larson. "While on the diamond, he has been a decorated pitcher and team leader. Had Mark not lost the better part of two seasons of his sport due to the pandemic; his name would be all over the school's baseball record book."
Woinarowicz will leave CSUEB with a 3.25 career earned run average and 129 strikeouts over 141.1 innings pitched. He is ranked fourth all-time in saves (9) after picking up eight in 2019.
Academically, Woinarowicz has also been acknowledged for his efforts in the classroom. He was the Pioneers' winner of the 2021 Hal Charnofsky Memorial Award and a three-time member of the CCAA Honor Roll.
This was the fourth CCAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year overall for Cal State East Bay in the last five years. Brandi Brucato (volleyball) earned the honor in 2017-18, and Kathy McKiernen (volleyball) followed in 2018-19. Madison Schiller (women's basketball) collected the award last season.
To be nominated for the CCAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, individuals must have a 3.5 grade-point average or higher at a conference institution, complete their final season of eligibility, and participate in a CCAA-sponsored sport.
Annual CCAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year honorees >>>