LA MIRADA, Calif. ---  For the second-straight year, Biola Athletics is taking to social media and its website to announce its annual EDDIES awards. Since we were unable to announce our finalists and celebrate student-athletes in person with an end-of-year banquet, we will take the next two weeks to do so online and via social media to look back at the most memorable performances of Spring 2021.

The process continues today as we announce five finalists for the 2021 Male Student-Athlete of the Year award. This award is meant to honor the standout male student-athlete performance for the 2021 season. The winner will be announced on July 13 via our @BiolaAthletics social media accounts. 

Male Student-Athlete of the Year Finalists:
RobertAnthony Cruz - Baseball - Junior
Cruz's athletic and academic performances mirrored each other as the junior posted a 3.94 grade-point average while majoring in Christian Ministries and led the Biola Boys on the field. 

The Riverside native led the Eagles in batting average, hitting .388 in 116 at-bats. In 31 games, the senior tallied 45 hits with 18 extra-base hits and 11 home runs while hitting a career-high three homeruns at Eagles Diamond against Concordia on April 2. The junior led the eagles in OPS (1.222), runs scored (29), hits (45), RBI (36) and walks (23). 

An impressive season on the field and in the classroom led to Cruz hauling in multiple postseason accolades that include being named to the ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division II West All-Region First Team, All-PacWest First Team, NCBWA First Team, CCA Honorable Mention All-America Team, CoSIDA Academic All-District VII First Team and D2CCA All-Region First Team.

Angel Escobar - Track & Field - Senior
Although Escobar missed out on his 2020 cross country season, the local product was sure to make a difference for Biola track & field. The Brea, California native set the school record in the 10,000m run with a 30:25.01, breaking the previous record by 19 seconds. 

At the PacWest Track & Field Championships, Escobar won a conference title in the 10,000m, breaking the meet record with a time of 31:10.17. He also nabbed a sixth-place finish in the 5,000m while setting a personal best with a time of 14:35.78 32 seconds better than his 15:17.71 mark from 2019. 

"Angel always brings a lot of energy to the team and he has a deep passion for the sport," said Head Coach Sean Henning. "He cares about his teammates and is always willing to be there for them throughout the season."

Alexei Prokopchuk - Tennis - Sophomore
After being named Biola Athletics Newcomer of the Year in 2020, Prokopchuk finds himself as a finalist for the 2021 Male Athlete of the Year. 

Prokopchuk earned his first two career All-PacWest recognitions in 2021 as the sophomore was named to the All-PacWest First Team for singles play and All-PacWest Second Team for doubles play alongside partner Antonio Rosales Varona. The duo posted five wins from the Bo. 1 spot and won four of five matches from March 6 through Match 25. 

The Ukraine native led the Eagles from the No. 1 spot in 2021, boasting a 9-5 overall record. He compiled eight straight-sets victories, pulling out his first three-set win against No. 10 Hawaii Pacific. Prokopchuk put together a great month of March, winning five consecutive matches in straight sets.

Patrick Waggoner - Swim & Dive - Sophomore
During the 2021 season, it seemed as if Waggoner had one goal in mind, to re-write the record book. The sophomore started the UNLV Invite by breaking his own school record in the 200-freestyle with a time of 1:40.59. He would later go on to set another school record in the 400-freestyle relay alongside teammates Matthew Trejo, Tanner Smith and Jonas Huckabay with a mark of 3:04.00. Waggoner continued to shine in the water as he would write his name in the record book once more in the 400-IM with a mark of 4:07.59. 

At the 2021 Pacific Collegiate Swimming & Diving Conference Championships, Waggoner won an individual title and broke the school record in the 200-IM with a 1:52.36. The 200-freestyle relay team of Waggoner, Jonas Huckabay, Tanner Smith and Jake Michelsen picked up a win while swimming a school-record time of 1:23.53.

Patrick Waggoner accounted for another individual PCSC title for the Eagles when he went 1:41.22 to win the 200-freestyle. In the 200-butterfly, Waggoner went 1:50.93 to set a new school record and win the conference title. 

Alex Wright - Basketball - Senior
Wright led the Eagles to their historic season which saw Head Coach Dave Holmquist earn his 1,000 career win as well as earning a trip to the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball West Region Championships. 

During the season, Wright led the team in points (227), rebounds (119), three-pointers (19), steals (17) and minutes played (531). During their post-season win against Fresno Pacific, Wright tallied 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Eagles. 

The guard earned All-PacWest Southern California Team, NABC 2020-21 Division II All-District West Second Team, and CoSIDA Academic All-District recognitions for his outstanding 2021 campaign. Academically, Wright majors in business administration and holds a 3.81 grade-point average. 

"Alex is our best player and great leader," said Dr. Dave Holmquist. "He represents everything that any coach would want in a player both on and off the court." 

EDDIES Release Schedule 
July 5 - Finalists Announced - Female Newcomer of the Year 
July 6 - Finalists Announced - Male Newcomer of the Year
July 7 - Finalists Announced - Breakout Performance of the Year
July 8 - Finalists Announced - Female Student-Athlete of the Year
July 9 - Finalists Announced - Male Student-Athlete of the Year
July 12 - Winner Announced - Female Newcomer of the Year
July 13 - Winner Announced - Male Newcomer of the Year
July 14 - Winner Announced - Breakout Performance of the Year
July 15 - Winner Announced - Female Student-Athlete of the Year
July 16 - Winner Announced - Male Student-Athlete of the Year
July 19 - Winner Announced - Dr. Dave Holmquist Career Achievement Award