The appellative “student-athlete” is used quite commonly in the sports realm.

Devon Van Cura is certainly a student-athlete. In truth, however, he’s more than, academically, a student. He is a scholar, demonstrably so. Gifted and one heck of an athlete, too.

The son of Leonard and Inken Van Cura, DVM, of Washington, Devon is a 2014 graduate of Washington High School, where he earned an almost 4.0 grade point average.

While at WHS, he was a member of the National Honor Society, a class marshal, an Academic All-American (National High School Coaches Association), and AP Scholar with Distinction. He was awarded scholarships upon graduation from WHS given by the local Optimist Club and DOMTAR.

His athletic endeavors while wearing the navy and white for the Pam Pack included cross country, wrestling and baseball.

On the diamond, Devon split time between center field and the mound. It was in wrestling, though, that this personable young man truly distinguished himself. He became one of the greatest grapplers in school history. Hyperbole this is not.

Over the course of four years, he compiled a 141-31 won-loss record, with half of those losses coming in his freshman year. He had also wrestled as an eighth grader at P.S. Jones Middle School. Over those five years he worked, he learned, he grew, he evolved.

In his first two seasons with the Pam Pack, Devon wrestled at 152 pounds. He moved up to 160 as a junior, then 170 his senior year.

In his final high school season, Devon posted a 37-1 record, closing out his prep career as state runner up. So close, yet so very exceptional.

He was named to the All-Conference team four times, was a three-time league champion and two times a regional champion. In his penultimate season with the matmen, he finished sixth in the state. A premier wrestler was he.

Devon is appreciative of the efforts of his coaches, both middle and high school. Craig Henshall was his first, in 8th grade, followed at WHS by head coach Daniel Riggs, and assistants Steve Vianco and Bryant Gardner.

And then it was on to Penn State University, drawn by its academic renown, and one of the very top wrestling programs in the country. A perfect fit.

Devon has flourished as a Nittany Lion. Initially planning to major in engineering, he has now settled in on chemistry — medicinal or organic — with plans to continue through to a PhD degree and probably post-doctoral studies. He sees himself one day working in research at a university, or in the pharmaceutical industry.

At Penn State, in his free time — free time? — he volunteers with the Learning Assistant Program, both in the classroom, and in study sessions. He started the PSULA Club, and sees it as a way to “give back.”

And just how has he done academically at Penn State? A rhetorical question, for sure. After two years, he maintains a perfect 4.0 GPA. Following his freshman year, he was awarded a John Holmes and Elizabeth Teas scholarship, which provides full tuition throughout his undergraduate education. He won, for academic achievement, the President’s Freshman Award, and the following year the President’s Sparks Award.

Wrestling has gone well also, and just being invited as a walk-on is impressive, in that the Nittany Lions this season won the NCAA National Championship — the apogee of athletic accomplishment.

He won his first dual match in January against an Indiana University opponent. Prior to that, in December, he took third place in the Lock Haven Open. With two more full seasons, his wrestling prospects look bright. He admires his coach, Cael Sanderson, greatly, learning far more from him than just about wrestling.

This summer he’ll be working full-time with a research lab, and part-time with another lab, as well as taking two classes.

Devon’s sister, Tianna, is 15 years old and finishing her first year at WHS. She participates in volleyball, swims, and plays several musical instruments. She holds a brown belt in Shorin Goju Ryu karate, while Devon holds a black belt. Don’t mess with the Van Cura siblings.

That Devon Van Cura is a consummately gifted young man is an understatement. Obviously he drew deeply from his familial gene pool.

This former Pam Packer, now a Nittany Lion, is the ultimate embodiment of a student-athlete. No, of a scholar-athlete.

He is in a class almost by himself.