The CAA honors one Scholar-Athlete, who excel both athletically and academically, in each of its 22 championship sports. Nominees for the award must be a starter or important reserve on their team and must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.25. The winners were selected by a vote of the sports information directors at each CAA institution.
Ruggirello, who won his second CAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year award after receiving the honor in 2009, is a four-time CAA champion and NCAA qualifier at 133 pounds and earned his first All-America award this year by placing seventh at the NCAA Championships in Philadelphia last month. A senior majoring in finance, the Walden, New York native is a four-time CAA Commissioner's Academic Award recipient and a five-year member of the Hofstra Athletics Academic Honor Roll. He is also a two-time (2008-09) member of the National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Academic Team.
Ruggirello posted a 32-5 overall record in 2010-11 including a 17-1 mark in dual matches with 13 wins by fall. In his Pride career, Ruggirello finished second on the Hofstra all-time career victory list with a 131-26 record including a 72-7 mark in duals.
The CAA also announced the four other Scholar-Athletes of the Year in the winter sports. Earning Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors were Old Dominion junior Trian Iliadis in men's basketball, Georgia State sophomore Cody Paulk in women's basketball, Old Dominion senior Kristofer Hagg in men's swimming and diving, and Towson senior Brooke Golden in women's swimming and diving. Including Ruggirello, all five honorees had a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better.
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