Men's Lacrosse: Funari tabbed PAC SAAC Scholar-Athlete of the Month

The PAC contributed to this release 

TRAFFORD, Pa. – Bethany College graduate student Christian Funari (Wheeling, W.Va./Wheeling Park) was named Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Scholar-Athlete of the Month for March.

Funari helped the Bethany men's lacrosse team to a 4-2 record in March. The defensive standout totaled 16 ground balls and 15 caused turnovers, including a stellar performance in the March 30 win over Anderson (Indiana) in which Funari earned a game-high six caused turnovers. He currently holds the program record for caused turnovers in a career with 97 and single-season caused turnover record with 39.

In addition to being a standout on the field, Funari proves to be a standout in the classroom, graduating a year earlier than anticipated. Currently a graduate student working toward earning a masters degree in Business Administration, he maintains a 4.0 GPA. Funari has been named to the Dean's List four times as well as the Presidents' List twice (as an undergrad). He has also been honored with the Excellence Award in Finance.

An active member of Greek Life on Bethany's campus, Funari is a member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity, receiving the Paul A. Elfer's award for excellence as treasurer for the chapter and currently serving as president, receiving the President of the Year award. He was also a Greek Man of the Year nominee (Froscars 2024).

Each month, the SAAC groups at PAC member institutions are asked to nominate one male and one female student-athlete for PAC SAAC Scholar-Athlete of the Month consideration based on academic and athletic accomplishments. Nominees must be varsity team members in their respective sport and in their junior or senior year. Scholar-Athlete of the Month nominees must also have a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher and be actively involved within their campus communities.