April 29, 2005

Ryan Bender (cross country/track & field) and Sarah Fetterman (track & field) were named the 2004-05 Duquesne University Student-Athletes of the Year as determined by a vote of a panel of University administrators. The honorees were recognized at a luncheon on April 27.

A two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American with a 3.93 grade point average in pharmacy, Bender was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Conference team for the fourth straight year after finishing fourth at the 2004 Atlantic 10 Championship. Bender finished first for Duquesne in six of seven races as a senior and finished 15th of 322 runners at the Penn State National Open. Bender is a two-time Atlantic 10 Cross Country Student-Athlete of the Year selection. In recent outdoor track and field action, he set the school record in the 10,000 meter run with an IC4A qualifying time of 30:29.37 at the Raleigh Relays and also qualified for the IC4A competition in the 5K event with a time of 14:37.35 at the Bucknell Classic.

Fetterman, a pharmacy major with a 3.97 grade point average, is a three-time A-10 Academic All-Conference honoree. She won silver in the pole vault at the 2005 A-10 indoor championship and set a new Duquesne record in the pole vault with a distance of 11' 6.00" at this year's Akron Invitational. Fetterman was also a 2004 CoSIDA District 2 Track/XC Academic All-America and a 2004 A-10 outdoor Academic All-Conference choice.

To be eligible for the award, the student-athlete must meet the following criteria: senior status in both academics and athletics; cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher and outstanding contributions and leadership in their sport as well as commitment to community/university service.