Waller named OAC Scholar-Athlete of the Month

NEW CONCORD, OHIO, November 11, 2004 - Muskingum senior football player Mark Waller has been named the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Scholar-Athlete of the Month for November.

Waller, a defensive back, is the epitome of the student-athlete. Waller, a First Team Academic All-Ohio Athletic Conference and Academic All-District IV honoree in 2003, carries a 3.88 grade-point-average in computer science and economics.

Waller's devotion on and off the field is a quality admired and respected by his teammates and coaches. In 2003, he was the Muskies' third leading tackler with 65 stops and was second on the team in interceptions with four. Additionally, Waller started all 10 games, logging four pass break-ups and re-covering two fumbles, while forcing one.

"Mark has been a tremendous student-athlete for our football program for the past four years. I think the thing that comes to my mind about Mark is his total dedication in the classroom and on the field," said Jeff Heacock, head football coach. "He's a hard worker, who is competitive, dedicated, and highly motivated to be the best he can possibly be."

This season Waller demonstrated his relentless commitment as he battled back from an early-season injury, which caused him to miss four games.

"Mark fought through a stress fracture in his foot this year and never missed a practice, never missed a meeting, and was always in tune to what the team was doing. Because of that, he was able to come back as a starter and play in mid-season form," said Heacock.

Waller's outstanding achievements in the classroom and on the gridiron enabled him to attain a nationally prestigious post-graduate job with IBM in Boulder, Colorado.

"Mark is a winner is everything he does. He's a credit not only to the football program but to Muskingum College and the Ohio Athletic Conference," added Heacock.

In its seventh year of existence, the OAC Scholar-Athlete of the Month honors an exceptional student-athlete on a monthly basis. Criteria for the award consist of the student-athlete being a junior or senior status, competition in a sport that is in-season, sportsmanlike conduct and carrying at least a cumulative grade-point average (gpa) of 3.0.