BRIDGEPORT — Announced on Tuesday afternoon by the Mountain East Conference, Ty McGeary (wrestling) and Nyia Setla (volleyball) will represent West Liberty University and Natalie Stoner (softball) and Sverri Finsson (football) will represent Wheeling University as finalists for the annual MEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Awards.
Each conference institution nominated one male and one female student-athlete for the awards and the awards were voted on by the school’s administrators and the league office. The accolade is designed to honor both the top academic and athletic performances throughout the year as each candidate meets the requirements of a minimum 3.30 cumulative GPA, participation in at least 50 percent of the team’s contests in a MEC sponsored sport, and a minimum of one year in residence at the institution. The winners will be announced on Friday afternoon.
McGeary has posted a 3.69 cumulative GPA as a cyber security major and had yet another stellar year on the mat with his second consecutive national title at 184 pounds. His already lengthy list of 2023-24 achievements includes MEC Wrestler of the Year, NCAA Super Region 3 Wrestler of the Year, and NCAA Division II National Wrestler of the Year as he went undefeated on the season. The McDonald, Pa., native earned the 13th national title by a West Liberty wrestler on March 16 in Park City, Kansas, as he completed a 33-0 mark with a 4-0 record in Newman Arena, defeating Anthony Yacovetti of Lander by a 14-5 major decision, No. 8 Billy Higgins of Nebraska-Kearney by a 14-5 major decision, No. 5 Reece Woracheck of Wisconsin-Parkside by a 5-3 decision, and No. 3 Matt Weinberg of Kutztown by a 9-1 major decision to reach the top of the podium. Among this year’s 10 national champions he was one of just three to post an unblemished record on the year. With the conclusion of the season, he finished second in the NWCA’s D-II Most Dominant standings with 24 bonus-point victories and was eighth in the NWCA’s D-II falls leaders with 10 victories ending by way of a pin.
Setla has posted a 3.90 cumulative GPA as a environmental stewardship major and recorded yet another All-American season while leading the Hilltoppers back to the NCAA Tournament. She ended the season ranked second in the MEC in both total digs (579) and digs per set (4.95) while ranking 23rd and 37th nationally. She recorded double-digit digs in 29-of-31 matches this season and had 13 games with 20 or more digs. Early in the season Setla became only the third player in program history to reach the 2,000 career dig mark, doing so in a win at Salem on October 3. She has also added 111 assists (0.95 assists per set) and 37 service aces (0.32 aces per set) this year. Setla currently ranks third nationally in career digs per set (5.49) and fifth in total career digs (2,229) among active D-II players. She ended the season as the program’s active leader in career digs per set. Following the season Setla has garnered honors such as AVCA All-American Honorable Mention, AVCA All-Atlantic Region First Team, D2CCA All-Atlantic Region Second Team, MEC Libero of the Year, and All-MEC First Team.
Stoner, a Bellaire High product, just finished her senior season for the Cardinals. She was the team’s starting centerfielder for the past three seasons and is coming off a year where she had an on-base plus slugging (OPS) of .446, while hitting a home run and driving in 10 runs. She finished her collegiate career with a cumulative 3.977 GPA and was named the Class of 2024 Valedictorian. Along with her five seasons on the softball field, Stoner is a five-time Academic All-Conference award winner and has made the President’s List every semester since she came on campus. The education major also does her part to give back to the community as a member of the Help Enrich Someone Special (H.E.S.S.) program, working with local middle schoolers in their after-school program.
Finsson is coming off a breakout season on the gridiron. The senior business and psychology major finished with a cumulative GPA of 3.988 and finished with the highest male GPA among the graduating class of 2024. On the field, Finsson set career-highs across the board, finishing with 42 total tackles, 25 solo and 17 assisted, four tackles for loss, and two quarterback sacks, while also picking up a safety on the year. Finsson also plays an active role on campus, being the team’s Student-Athlete Advisory Council Representative, a member of the psychology club, and a member of the International Club.
OTHER MALE FINALISTS
JD Armstrong (Charleston, Baseball), Andrew Neff (Concord, Baseball), Enrique Garcia (Davis & Elkins, Swimming), Seth Younkin (Fairmont State, Basketball), Justus LePrevost (Frostburg State, Cross Country/Track & Field), Ian Pomeroy (Glenville State, Football), Donovan Riddick (West Virginia State, Football) and Stephen Groves (West Virginia Wesleyan, Swimming).
OTHER FEMALE FINALISTS
Alyssa Lake (Charleston, Softball), Emily Wallace (Concord, Cross Country/Track & Field), Marissa Cuevas (Davis & Elkins, Lacrosse), Katy Darnell (Fairmont State, Basketball), Emilee Weakley (Frostburg State, Basketball), Holly Brehm (Glenville State, Softball), Kiersten Eggleton (West Virginia State, Volleyball) and Sydney Vilain (West Virginia Wesleyan, Soccer).
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