GRANVILLE, Ohio – A trio of Denison University student-athletes have been named to the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) All-American team. Seniors Angel Ehrenschwender, Peter Pittroff, and Matt Gerics were honored by the NSCA for their accomplishments on the field and their dedication to strength and conditioning. Ehrenschwender was one of 46 softball players selected while Gerics was one of 38 men's basketball players chosen and Pittroff was one of 14 men's lacrosse players to achieve this honor across all levels of collegiate athletics.
Nominated by Denison Director of Sports Performance, Beau Scott, Ehrenschwender, Pittroff, and Gerics' determination to improve in athletics while maintaining academic prominence is an outstanding model for all Denison student-athletes.
Playing in 23 career games with the Big Red softball team, Ehrenschwender enjoyed her best season yet as a senior where she recorded a .316 batting average with two doubles, and two RBIs during the shortened 2020 campaign. Ehrenschwender is a three-time team captain and a four-time NFCA All-American Scholar-Athlete after posting a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher in all four years, in addition to being on the NCAC Academic Honor Roll in 2018 and 2019. A three-time honoree at Denison's annual Top 50 Student-Athlete celebration, Ehrenschwender has worked as a student intern in the Denison weight room while also being a resident assistant for three years and the founder and president of the Community of Christian Athletes group on campus. A biology major with a concentration in neuroscience, Ehrenschwender has seen tremendous improvement in the weight room during her four years at Denison. She has increased her squat max from 195 to 355 lbs, her bench press max from 105 to 165 lbs, and her hang clean max from 100 to 155 lbs.
Pittroff, a senior on the Denison men's lacrosse team, totaled five goals and six assists during his final season in Granville, running his career total to 86 goals and 175 assists. He leaves Denison as the program's career leader in assists and is second in career points with 261. He was named to the Maverick Lacrosse Division III Media All-America second-team in 2020, the USILA All-America team in 2018 and 2019 and is a three-time honoree at the Denison Top-50 student-athlete honors celebration. Pittroff was named the NCAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2018 and was the IMLCA West Region Offensive Player of the Year that season, as well. A team captain and communication major, Pittroff's effort and leadership in the weight room during his career helped set an example for his teammates. Entering his senior year, Peter squatted 475 lbs and bench pressed 255 lbs, with a 33-inch vertical jump.
As a senior, Gerics appeared in 22 games for the Big Red men's basketball team where he tallied a career-best 7.5 points per game while shooting 42.3% from the field and dishing out 1.9 assists per game. A three-year rotation player for DU, Gerics ended his four years with 5.6 points per game in 76 career contests while recording a career-high 21 points against Hiram on December 4, 2019. A global commerce major and Spanish minor, Gerics made tremendous improvements in the weight room throughout his time at Denison. He increased his squat max from 170 to 310 lbs, his bench press max from 145 to 185 lbs, his pull up max from 6 to 20, and his vertical jump from 22.7 to 30.0 inches.
The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is an international nonprofit professional association founded in 1978 and is dedicated to advancing the strength and conditioning profession around the world. The NSCA advances the profession by supporting strength and conditioning professionals devoted to helping others discover and maximize their strengths. The organization disseminates research-based knowledge and its practical application by offering industry-leading certifications, research journals, career development services, and continuing education opportunities. The NSCA community is composed of more than 45,000 members and certified professionals who further industry standards as researchers, educators, strength coaches, personal trainers, and other roles in related fields.
