Cirone, Musgrave Named Prairie Farms/Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athletes of the Week

Wednesday, March 19, 2008 | Athletics

ST. LOUIS -- Kristi Cirone of Illinois State University and Rob Musgrave of Wichita State University have been selected the Prairie Farms/Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athletes of the Week, Commissioner Doug Elgin announced today. Cirone and Musgrave were honored for their performances during the period of March 10-16. Now in its ninth year of existence, The Valley’s Scholar-Athlete program is sponsored by Prairie Farms, Roberts and Hiland Dairies. On a weekly basis, the Conference honors its student-athletes for their athletic performance for a one-week period and academic success in the classroom.

“Our continued corporate partnership with Prairie Farms provides an important vehicle by which to recognize our top student-athletes,” said Commissioner Elgin, who is in his 20th year with The Valley. “Our student-athletes are our most visible representatives, and we’re happy to honor Kristi (Cirone) and Rob (Musgrave) for their athletic and academic achievements.”

A guard for the Illinois State women’s basketball team, Cirone, a junior from Chicago, Ill., averaged 18.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.7 steals per contest, as Illinois State defeated Southern Illinois (77-65 on March 14), Creighton (68-60 on March 15) and Drake (70-62 on March 16) to win the 2008 State Farm MVC Women’s Basketball Tournament.

The 2008 Jackie Stiles MVC Player of the Year, Crione, who has a 3.45 cumulative grade-point average in exercise science, scored a game-high 27 points versus Southern Illinois. Versus Drake in the finals, she collected 20 points, four rebounds, two assists and three steals while grabbing tournament Most Outstanding Player honors.

A pitcher for the Wichita State baseball team, Musgrave, a senior from Carbondale, Kan., earned the victory by going 6.1 innings and allowing one run on seven hits in a 5-1 triumph against TCU on Friday, March 14.

Musgrave, who has a 3.76 cumulative grade-point average in accounting, struck out three and walked one while improving his 2008 record to 2-0 and lowering his earned-run average to 2.62.

To qualify for Prairie Farms/Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Week laurels, student-athletes must carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.00, completed at least one academic year at a Valley institution and must be at least a sophomore in academic standing. In addition to the academic qualifications, student-athletes will be evaluated on their athletic performance for a one-week period.