GSC Releases 2011 Fall All-Academic Teams, Jan. 17
Complete Academic Release -- Honor Roll
Birmingham, AL--The Gulf South Conference is proud to announce its 2011 Fall Sports All-Academic Team.
Sixty-one student-athletes, including seven three-time members and 12 two-time standouts were selected: men’s cross country (6), women’s cross country (7), football (13), men’s soccer (13), women’s soccer (11) and volleyball (11).
Academic All-GSC Teams are selected by the Gulf South Conference Sports Information Directors (SIDs) and Faculty Athletic Representatives (FARs) in a joint vote. Nominees must have an overall grade point average (G.P.A.) of 3.20 or better on a 4.00 scale for their entire academic career and may not be freshmen or first-semester or quarter transfers. The student-athlete must be a significant contributor to the squad. Other factors include leadership, community service and extra-curricular activities. SIDs and FARs are not allowed to vote for their own student-athletes. The number of student-athletes selected in each sport is determined by the number of positions normally involved in the playing of that sport. Ties are not broken.
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY:
The Men’s Cross Country All-Academic Team is led by two returning members. Alabama-Huntsville’s Josh Moshier is a three-time All-Academic member, while Christian Brothers junior Alex Shipp returns from a year ago. Moshier made the squad in 2008 and 2009 and capped his stellar senior campaign by finishing first at the GSC Championship. West Alabama sophomore Brandon Nelson posted a First Team All-GSC time at the GSC event, while Valdosta State sophomore Jesse Prince collected Second Team honors. Juniors, North Alabama Zeke Nichols and West Georgia’s Robert Fenesterer, round out the Academic Team.
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY:
The Women’s Cross Country All-Academic Team is highlighted by two West Alabama returnees. Senior Carolyn Mancuso is back for the third consecutive season, while senior Polina Babkina returns from 2010. Babkina was the 2010 GSC Individual Medalist and ran to First Team All-GSC finishes along with Alabama-Huntsville’s Leah Sparks, Delta State’s Stacey Hagenson and Valdosta State’s Jordanne Helton. Helton was also the lone unanimous selection on the seven-member Academic squad. West Florida completed the Academic Team with sophomore’s Ruth Ashley and All-GSC Second Teamer Renea Porsch.
FOOTBALL:
Three returning 2010 selections spearhead the Football All-Academic Team. Delta State quarterback Micah Davis leads the returning trio after also recording a perfect 4.00 grade-point average. The senior was named the GSC Offensive Player of the Year and earned an invite to the Harlon Hill Trophy banquet. North Alabama running back Wes Holland secured academic laurels for the second year in a row and garnered a spot on the All-GSC First Team. Valdosta State center Jake Thomas rounds out the returning members.
West Alabama linebacker Gabe Poe earned All-GSC First Team honors, while UNA quarterback Lee Chapple and West Georgia tight end Randy Sides advanced to the Second Team.
Rounding out the Academic Football Team are DSU’s Reed Faulkner, North Alabama trio Seth Alexander, Daniel Almon and Jason Smith, VSU’s Griffin Roelle, UWA graduate Steven Figueroa and Skeeter Sellers.
MEN’S SOCCER:
The 13-member Men’s Soccer All-Academic Team is led by two three-time members and three two-timers.
Alabama-Huntsville defender Tim Mead is back for the third consecutive year, while Harding forward Connor Galloway returns after making the 2008 and 2009 squads. Returning from 2010 is Delta State goalkeeper Flavio Romero, Harding defender Rhon Royer and Ouachita Baptist forward Payam Pourjavad. Unanimous honorees include Mead, Romero and Christian Brothers’ brother duo of David Skull and Yannick Skull.
Both Skull brothers advanced to the All-GSC First Team in 2011 along with Pourjavad, HU midfielder Jackson Savage and West Florida forward Matthew Allred. Galloway and Royer posted Second Team accolades as well.
Completing the Academic squad are Delta State midfielder Joel Salazar, Ouachita Baptist midfielder J.T. Goodrum and UWF duo Will Henderson and Trey Kramer.
WOMEN’S SOCCER:
The Women’s Soccer All-Academic Team is headlined by 2010 returning members, North Alabama’s Nikki Brown and Beth Spurr and West Florida’s Monica Malavassi. Brown and Malavassi were also unanimous selections along with UWF’s Jordan Stone, while Spurr was the lone standout with a perfect 4.00 grade-point average. Brown, Malavassi and Stone were unanimous selections and featured on the 2011 All-GSC First Team along with North Alabama’s Jo Chubb and Jennifer Osmond and West Florida’s Daniele Cruz Mejia. Christian Brothers’ Jennifer Hale and UWF’s Lauren Byrd collected Second Team All-GSC honors. Rounding out the All-Academic team are UNA’s Hollie Loud and Valdosta State’s Casey Ponder.
VOLLEYBALL:
Five returning stars lead the way on the All-Academic Volleyball Team. West Alabama’s Alexis McHale is a three-time winner and returning from 2010 are Alabama-Huntsville’s Kaeli McCaghren and Kelsey Williams, Christian Brothers’ Corinne Doder and UWA’s Casey Byrnes.
West Florida’s Molly Pearce is the lone unanimous selection and she garnered First Team All-GSC laurels along with CBU’s Kelsey Miles and UWF’s Anna Stoecklein. Doder advanced to the Second Team as did North Alabama’s Caroline Neisler and Valdosta State’s Chelsea Logan. UWA’s Olivia Drew completed the Volleyball Academic Team.
HONOR ROLL:
West Florida led the Fall All-Academic Honor Roll, posting 46 of the 320 members who qualified with a G.P.A. of at least 3.00. Valdosta State and West Georgia were right behind UWF, posting 44 members each while North Alabama (40)and West Alabama (40) also hit the 40-mark. Christian Brothers followed with 39 Honor Roll designees, followed by Delta State (37), Alabama-Huntsville (30), Harding (16) and Ouachita Baptist (10). Please note that HU and OBU participated in men’s soccer only for the fall of 2011. Qualification for the Honor Roll is automatic based on G.P.A. and nomination (there is no vote).
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