April 12, 2007

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford senior first baseman Louis Rojas has been awarded with the National Strength and Conditioning Association's (NSCA) All-American Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year Award, the NSCA announced recently.

The award, which recognizes the student-athlete's dedication to strength training and conditioning, was awarded to 239 student-athletes from 165 schools this year.

Rojas was selected for the team by Samford head strength and conditioning coach Tommy Rohling.

"Being an understaffed strength and conditioning program, the best compliment I can pay Louis is that I can turn my back on him and never have to worry about him not doing or completing his workout," Rohling said. "Louis provides the accountability-style leadership that all championship teams need.

"I sometimes feel he is in the weight room more than I am," Rohling said. "The bottom line is, whether it is myself or his baseball coaches, he makes our job easier."

The NSCA All-American Athlete of the Year Award program is in its 28th year, and is made possible by a grant from Power Systems, Inc., a Knoxville, Tenn., fitness product leader.