Bonatto, Minton Collect Academic All-District Awards
Oskaloosa–Eduardo Bonatto (Sr., Rio Grande, Brazil, Business Management) and Joe Minton (Sr., Stoke-on-Trent, England, Physical Education) were both honored for exemplary work on the pitch as well as in the classroom as they were named to the NAIA All-District 3 Men’s Soccer team as part of CoSIDA’s Academic All-America program.
The seniors, who will now be on the Academic All-America ballot, were two of the five Heart of America Athletic Conference representatives on the 12-person District 3 squad.
The award recognizes student-athletes not only for their athletic prowess but also their successes academically. The NAIA is in its third year of having its own exclusive division; prior to that, it was grouped in with other associations as part of the College division. The Academic All-America program began in 1952.
Bonatto currently has a school-record 17 goals with seven assists for a school-record 41 points. He has tallied 83 shots (52 on goal) and has four game-winning goals this fall. The senior, who is 5-for-7 in penalty kicks, was a first-team all-Heart performer. He won two Heart Offensive Player of the Week awards, while claiming one NAIA laurel.
Minton started all 19 games in which he played, tallying one goal for two points. A mainstay in a defensive unit that recorded six shutouts, he helped WPU limit opponents to a 1.50 Goals Against Average.
Both Bonatto and Minton are first-time honorees.
To be eligible for the award, athletes must be of at least sophomore academic standing, be a starter or key reserve player (other playing requirements where applicable), maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 or above on a 4.0 scale, and have attended the nominating institution for at least one full calendar year.
