Staff report

Sidney High School graduate Aaron Dinzeo, who went on to an outstanding running career at California University of Pennsylvania, was recently named the Division II Conference Commissioners Association Atlantic Region Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year, it was announced by the college.

A male and female Division II National Scholar-Athlete of the Year will be selected from the 17 regional winners (nine men, eight women) later this month. The commissioners from each NCAA Division II basketball region selected the regional winners. To be eligible for consideration, a student-athlete must have attained a 3.00 cumulative grade-point average (GPA) and possess outstanding athletic credentials.

In late June, Dinzeo became the first student-athlete in school history to be selected the Capital One Academic All-American of the Year for a sport. Two weeks later, he was named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Pete Nevins Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year, marking the school’s first recipient of the award in nearly a decade.

Dinzeo finished in second place during the fall at the NCAA National Championships to earn All-America laurels for the third time in his cross country career. He won five individual titles and registered a pair of runner-up finishes while competing in seven races.

Dinzeo captured the individual crown at both the PSAC and NCAA Atlantic Regional Championships and helped the Vulcans register their highest-ever finish at the regional event. The 5-foot-10 senior was tabbed the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Association (USTFCCCA) Atlantic Region and PSAC Athlete of the Year.

Originally from Monroeville, Pennsylvania, Dinzeo missed the indoor and outdoor track & field seasons last year due to injury. However, he finished his career as a seven-time NCAA All-American after also earning All-America laurels in both the 5,000-meter run and 10,000-meter run in track & field. Last summer, Dinzeo competed at the USA Track & Field (USATF) Outdoor Championships in the 10,000 meters after breaking the all-time PSAC record during the spring.

Dinzeo completed a bachelor’s degree in anthropology with concentrations in archaeology and forensics while holding a 3.89 cumulative GPA. He was named a Capital One First-Team Academic All-American in each of his three seasons eligible for the award and was selected to the PSAC Top 10 five times during his career, which is the most in school history.