Valparaiso goalkeeper Ryan Schwarz (Rockford, Ill./Boylan Catholic) added to his collection of awards from his redshirt junior season, representing the Crusaders on the NSCAA Scholar All-North/Central Region First Team.

Schwarz, the only Horizon League player to earn First Team Scholar All-Region honors, stood out on the pitch this year.  The redshirt junior earned the second league Goalkeeper of the Year honor of his career after playing every second in goal for the Crusaders in 2009.  Schwarz, who also was a First Team All-League honoree, set new Valpo single-season records for wins (10), shutouts (7) and goals against average (1.07).

In the classroom, Schwarz holds a 3.666 GPA as a finance major.  He previously received CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine First Team Academic All-District V accolades this year, and was named an Academic All-League honoree for the second time in his career.  The redshirt junior has been listed on the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll all four semesters Valpo has been a league member, while also earning Dean’s List recognition and Presidential academic honors during his time at Valpo.

To be nominated for consideration for the NSCAA Scholar All-Region squads, student-athletes must have at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average throughout their career; start more than 50 percent of all games and be a significant contributor to the team; be nominated by an institution that is a current NSCAA College Services member and be a junior or above in academic standing at the current institution.