FORT MYERS, FL – The FGCU Department of Athletics has announced its monthly academic honorees for February. Softball senior Riley Randolph along with men's tennis senior Mateo Ruiz were named Scholar-Athletes of the Month.

A female and male Eagle are chosen as the FGCU Athletics Scholar-Athlete of the Month throughout the academic year. Factors in the selection for this honor is based on a combination of significant athletic and overall academic success.

Randolph (St. Petersburg, FL./Northeast HS) currently carries a 3.40 GPA while majoring in Communications with a minor in Interdisciplinary Studies. She is a five-time member of both the Dean's and Athletic Director's Honor Roll list while also holding the Vice Chairman post for the Eagles' Council.

The lefty pitcher has been off to a sensational start to the 2019 season. Most recently, she tossed a completed game in a win against No. 15 Indiana where she fanned eight batters while allowing one run on six hits. The St. Petersburg native owns an 8-5 record and a 0.75 ERA which ranks 11th nationally. Her 110 strikeouts currently sit eighth in the country, just 13 away from the top spot.

"Riley has done a phenomenal job on and off the field this year," head coach David Deiros said. "It has been a joy to watch her grow over the last four years and she's very much deserving of this honor."

Ruiz (Bucaramanga, Colombia/Oklahoma State) holds a 3.30 GPA and is pursuing a Bachelor's in Business Management. He is a three-time Dean's and Athletic Director's Honor Roll list member. 

One of Ruiz's highlights leading up to the spring was making program history as he and his doubles teammate Felipe Escobar (Pereira, Colombia/TCU) became the first tandem to attend the Oracle ITA National Championships. So far, this season, Ruiz is 1-1 in singles play while posting a 4-4 record in doubles action on the top flight.

"Mateo is a very well-deserving student-athlete for this award," said head coach CJ Weber. "He's had an incredible transformation academically throughout his career. He arrived at FGCU still learning English and within a semester or two, he's consistently produced at least a 3.50 GPA. For him to accomplish that at an American university displays his commitment to his academics and his future success. He's playing some of the best tennis on the team in doubles and he's going to leave here with quite the career. I'm very proud of him and I'm blessed to have been able to coach him for three years."    
  
2018-19 Scholar-Athletes of the Month
August – Holly Fritz (Soccer) Kareem Riley (Soccer)
September – Carley Lutzow (Cross Country) Felipe Escobar (Tennis)
October – Maggie Rick (Volleyball) Kohl Gilmore (Baseball)
November – Cortney VanLiew (Volleyball) and Marc Coffers (Baseball)
December – Chandler Ryan (Women's Basketball) and Caleb Catto (Men's Basketball)
January – Christina Kaas Elmgreen (Swimming & Diving) and O'Vonte Mullings (Men's Soccer)
February – Riley Randolph (Softball) and Mateo Ruiz (Men's Tennis)

ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 74 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 11+ seasons at the Division-I level. Additionally, in just seven+ seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 34 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. Seven FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport – including both men's and women's soccer again in 2018. In 2016-17, the Green and Blue posted a department-best 6th-place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors' Cup and top-100 showing nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.35 GPA in the classroom in the Spring of 2018 and had an ASUN Conference and State of Florida best five teams earn the NCAA's Public Recognition Award for their Academic Progress Rate in their sport.  The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours – being recognized as one of two runner-ups for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.

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SUPPORT THE CAUSE
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to contribute, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.