Spartanburg, S.C. -- The Southern Conference today named VMI wrestler Tommy Cunningham as the TIAA-CREF Southern Conference Student-Athlete of the Week for the week of Jan. 17.

Cunningham, a junior from Columbus, Ohio, went 4-0 last week for VMI, an associate member in wrestling.  He shutout George Mason’s Robert Henry 8-0 in the Keydets’ 23-22 loss last Wednesday.  Wrestling at 157 pounds, he was the only VMI wrestler to win all three of his matches at the Virginia Duals over the weekend.  He recorded decisions over Rider’s Rob Morrison, Virginia’s Beau Fisher and Duquesne’s Jared Ricotta.

In the classroom Cunningham boasts a 3.918 GPA and is a Mechanical Engineering major.

Other top performers include: Appalachian State’s Davis Bowne (men’s basketball), Chattanooga’s Javier Maldonado (wrestling), Davidson’s Tia Washington (women’s basketball), Elon’s Katelyn Ealer (women’s indoor track and field), Western Carolina’s Lauren Powell (women’s basketball) and Wofford’s Kelsi Koenig (women’s basketball).

For more than 85 years, TIAA-CREF has been helping millions of people working in the academic, medical and cultural fields plan for their retirement. The organization’s clear and long-held commitment to serve those who dedicate themselves to the benefit and enlightenment of others remains unchanged.

With a non-profit heritage, TIAA-CREF has long subscribed to a different set of guiding principles. Principles directly influenced by the people they serve. With over $380 billion in combined assets as of June 30, 2004, their approach to investing goes beyond sound portfolio management. Visit TIAA-CREF.org or call 800-842-2776.