Minnetonka’s Pettersen: Earns Another Honor

Following stellar years in and out of the classroom, Minnetonka’s AJ Pettersen has earned a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award.

He was among 534 student-athletes selected as recipients. The list features student-athletes from every 2010-11 institution and 33 different sports who have earned a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.7 or higher for the previous academic year.

The 2007 graduate was drafted by the Minnesota Twins on Day 2 of the Major League Baseball Entry Draft in June. He was selected 778th overall by the Twins.

Pettersen finished up his junior season with the University of Minnesota baseball team this spring. He majored in economics.

The 5-foot-9, 170-pound Pettersen was a junior shortstop for the University of Minnesota baseball team this past season. He earned First Team All-Big Ten Conference honors after leading the team with a .344 batting average, scoring 33 runs, 10 doubles and eight stolen bases.

As a sophomore, Pettersen batted .297 and scored 51 runs, drove in 37 RBIs and had two homers as the Gophers won the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles. He batted .353 with 65 runs scored as a freshman.

In February of 2008, Big Ten Faculty Representatives established a conference academic recognition to supplement the Academic All-Big Ten program. Similar to the Academic All-Big Ten honor, Distinguished Scholar Award recipients must be letter winners in at least their second academic year at their institution. However, the Distinguished Scholar Award encompasses only student-athletes with a minimum GPA of 3.7 or higher for the previous academic year.