Both Michael Cuscino and his coach described the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III National Championship tournament in which he competed earlier this month as "a grind."

That might be true, but the result was anything but.

Cuscino, a Shenango High School graduate who attended and competed for Butler County Community College this past year, earned All-American status by placing among the top 15 golfers in the country June 2-6 at Chautauqua Golf Club in Chautauqua, New York.

"It's the mental aspect of his game that allows him to be so successful," BCCC golf coach Bill Miller said. "He finds a way to grind it out really well. I think that's what gets him over the top.

Some players may hit it farther or maybe have a little better ability, but he finds a way to keep it together. He's only a college student, and that's something that a lot of times doesn't come until later in life. But I think that's his strength."

Cuscino shot an aggregate score of 303 over the four-round event, tied for the 13th-lowest out of the 97 golfers competing in the tournament.

To qualify for the event, Cuscino had to place high in the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference, then advance through the state junior college tournament, where he finished in the top 10. From there, Cuscino placed fourth at the NJCAA Region XX tournament, qualifying him for nationals.

He became the first BCCC golfer in more than a decade to achieve All-American status.

"I played my hardest and gave it my all, and came out where I came out," said Cuscino, who starting playing competitive golf when he was about 9 and typically plays at Sylvan Heights Golf Club near New Castle.

"I never gave up, just always hung in there. I'd hit a bad shot but never quit, never gave up. I'd just keep playing, because you never know what's going to happen."

Miller said Cuscino is a solid putter and good all-around player -- "deceivingly long off the tee." His scoring average for the college season was 78.

"But to me, the best part of his game isn't so much the physical part but the mental part," Miller said. "He just has a great demeanor. If he hits a bad shot, he doesn't get upset and goes on to the next one.

"There isn't a round where he doesn't have his head together or isn't mentally prepared."

That was exemplified at the national tournament, when Cuscino consistently was shooting 4 to 5 strokes better on the back nine than on the front throughout the week.

He was grinding through.

"That's the perfect word for that tournament: Grinding," Cuscino said.

"The front nines were always higher scores, but you just had to keep scratching, keep grinding and see what happens. Just keep grinding.

"The game is all mental. In tournament golf, you have to stay so mentally focused and be in that focused state of mind.

"If you hit bad shots, it happens here or there. We're not all Tiger Woods. But if you bounce back mentally, the majority of times you can get it back with a good shot."

Miller also said Cuscino has an exemplary work ethic, noting that he was honored by being selected to the academic all-conference team.

"If only everybody was like him," Miller said. "I think he's a coach's dream. He's got his stuff together. He's very, very easy to be around and very easy coach."

Cuscino will transfer to Youngstown State University beginning this fall and hopes to play on that Division I golf team. He is planning on majoring in business with the hopes of ultimately working in golf management.

"It was nice to see a nice young man do something special," Miller said of the All-American recognition.

"I can't say enough about him. I really couldn't."