Fitzwater, Stehlin Selected as MEC Scholar-Athlete Finalists

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – Seniors Riley Fitzwater of the Concord University women's basketball team and Anthony Stehlin of the Concord University baseball team have been announced as finalists for the Mountain East Conference's Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award, the league office released Wednesday afternoon.

Fitzwater, a native of Glenville, West Virginia, graduated with Magna Cum Laude Honors from CU in May. Fitzwater earned her degree in sports management, and will begin her work in Concord's master's program in the fall. On the court, she became the women's basketball program's second All-American this spring as she earned Second Team All-American from the Division II Conference Commissioner's Association (D2CCA) and was selected as an Honorable Mention All-American from the Women's Basketball Coaches' Association (WBCA) after averaging 20.6 points and 12.2 rebounds per contest. She also became the program's first CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2021. Fitzwater shot a Division II-best 68.0 percent from the floor while also leading Division II in blocks per game (4.5). Overall, Fitzwater has been an All-MEC selection in each of her four years in the Maroon and Gray, and has led Division II in field-goal percentage (2017-18, 2019-20) or blocks per game (2018-19) all four years at CU. Fitzwater has been named CoSIDA Academic All-District each of the last three years.

Another All-American for his play on the field, Stehlin was an Honors Graduate from Concord in the spring as he earned the distinction Magna Cum Laude. He received his diploma in Business Administration with an emphasis in accounting and like Fitzwater will begin graduate work in the fall. At the conclusion of the 2021 season, Stehlin was voted to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association (NCBWA) Honorable Mention All-American Team. He was the MEC Player of the Year this spring, and has twice been voted to the All-MEC First Team as a shortstop. This past year, Stehlin batted .408 with 44 runs scored, eight home runs, 30 RBI and 17 stolen bases. In the last two fully completed seasons, the Woodbridge, Virginia native has been a consensus all-region selection, including being a first team selection to three different organizations in 2021. In addition to his on-field success, Stehlin was named CoSIDA Academic All-District in 2020 and is up for the same honor this summer.

Fitzwater and Stehlin have combined to make Concord's Dean's List ten times, and have been on either the All-MEC Academic Team or MEC Commissioner's Honor Roll seven times.

The duo is two of the 24 finalists for the MEC Scholar-Athlete Award which will be announced June 23 (women's) and June 24 (men's).