NEW ORLEANS — Fifty Gulf South Conference track & field student-athletes and 10 teams were recognized as the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced its 2023 NCAA Division II All-Academic Athletes and Teams.
Three GSC schools saw both its men’s and women’s programs earn All-Academic Team honors—Christian Brothers, Mississippi College and Montevallo. In addition, the women’s team from West Alabama and West Georgia were also recognized.
Mississippi College’s women posted a team grade point average of 3.62, which was the highest-over mark by a GSC men’s or women’s program, and was among the top-15 best GPAs by any team recognized by the USTFCCCA. Leading the way on the men's side was Montevallo with a team GPA of 3.27.
Of the 50 GSC student-athletes honored, the conference was represented by 27 men and 23 women from seven member institutions.
The Lee women had a conference-high 12 honorees receive All-Academic Athlete recognition. The Lady Flames also had the eighth more representatives on the women’s side and were one of 18 women’s programs with at least 10 student-athletes named.
Mississippi College led the way on the men’s side with seven honorees. Alabama Huntsville and Christian Brothers followed with six student-athletes apiece.
In order to qualify for All-Academic Team honors, each program must satisfy the following criteria: The cumulative GPA (not 2022-23 academic year, not semester) for all student-athletes on the institution’s NCAA Squad List for Indoor and/or Outdoor Track and Field must be 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale, certifiable by the institution’s registrar; Transfer students and/or graduate students are to include only grades earned at the current nominating institution; The cumulative GPA of all student-athletes on the institution’s NCAA Squad List for Indoor and/or Outdoor Track and Field must be computed by the following method: (A) Total the cumulative number of semester hours or quarter hours earned for all student-athletes on the NCAA Squad List including the most recent grading period; (B) Total the cumulative number of quality points (GPA multiplied by the number of credit hours) earned by all student-athletes including the most recent grading period; (C) Divide the cumulative number of quality points earned by the cumulative number of semester or quarter hours earned.
In order to qualify for All-Academic Athlete accolades, student-athlete must satisfy the following criteria: Minimum cumulative grade point average of a 3.25 on a 4.0 scale through the end of the semester of competition. Data must be certifiable by the institution’s registrar; Must have completed at least 24 semester hours/36 quarter hours through the end of the semester of competition at the institution; Transfer students and/or graduate students are to include only grades earned at the current nominating institution; The student-athlete must have achieved an automatic or provisional qualifying mark (individual or relay event) for either the indoor season or outdoor season.
USTFCCCA ALL-ACADEMIC ATHLETES
Men
Alabama Huntsville (6): Allan Anderson, Jeremiah McCain, Wilson McClain, Trey McFarland, Tommy Rodriguez, Sam Wilhelm
Christian Brothers (6): Amare Biggers, Marc Crespi, Juan De La Rosa, Andreas Demetriades, Berket Mesele, Leopold Stefanski
Lee (7): Eli Brooks, Silas Eckenroad, Roberto Fajardo, Jacob Hatcher, Aaron Himes, Doniven Jackson, Will Stone
Mississippi College (7): Jan Lukas Becker, Cole Benoit, Brock Kelly, Niklas Klei, Hunter Kurz, Fabio Palmieri, Benjamin Woolhouse
Montevallo (1): Joseph Leventry
Women
Christian Brothers (2): Gioia Scopel, Johanna Wistokat
Lee (12): Megan Adams, Kristen Blevins, Brynn Depinet, Carissa Hall, Lily Hare, Aria Hawkins, Eve Hine, Liza Kellerman, Celine Ritter, Deborah Rubin, Liezl Theron, Sydney White
Mississippi College (4): Kelechi Christian, Jazmin Hernandez, Essence Tornabene, Lauren Wallace
West Alabama (2): Annaya Chelcy, Kaitlin Hill
West Georgia (3): Brandi Boddy, Campbell Brown, Paishence Collier