RICHARDSON, Texas –– Ten student-athletes from seven different member institutions have been named American Southwest Conference Distinguished Scholar-Athletes for the 2014 winter/spring semesters in their respective sports, after a vote of the league’s sports information directors the ASC office announced Monday (June 9).
 
Mary Hardin-Baylor led all teams as three student-athletes received honors –– junior Macy Moore in women’s basketball, junior Taylor O’Rear in women’s golf and senior AshLee Bilbo in women’s tennis. Concordia Texas recorded two award winners as junior Jack Cersosimo received the men’s golf award and senior Megan Wagenaar took home honors in women’s track and field.
 
Other award recipients include LeTourneau graduate Garrett Methvin in baseball and Hardin-Simmons senior Jim Walter in men’s basketball. East Texas Baptist senior Lacy Liles in softball, Ozarks’ junior Todd Turner in men’s tennis and Mississippi College junior Griffin Metcalf in men’s track and field, also received honors.
 
Jack Cersosimo, Todd Turner and AshLee Bilbo receive their second consecutive career Distinguished Scholar-Athlete awards. Griffin Metcalf also receives his second award after being named the ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete for cross country in the fall of 2012.
 
The award, in its seventh academic year, recognizes student-athletes who achieve a high level of academic achievement (a 3.20 grade-point average or better) while competing as a starter or important reserve on their team. From that list – limited to one nominee per school in each ASC championship sport – the sports information directors from the 12 ASC member institutions select a Distinguished Scholar-Athlete in each sport.
 
Overall, 84 student-athletes from ASC men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, men’s and women’s golf, softball, men’s and women’s tennis, and men’s and women’s track and field were named to the Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Team.
 
Walter (Azle, Texas/Azle HS), a biology major with a 3.91 grade-point average, was known as the “glue guy” to the Hardin-Simmons basketball team that returned just two players from a year ago. Walter, who led the Cowboys to the ASC Championship game, started all 28 games in 2014 and led the team with 32 minutes per game. He averaged 7.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Walter also did this after sitting out a year to study for his MCATs. He was accepted to UT-San Antonio Medical School and will start there in the coming fall semester.
 
Moore (Houston, Texas/Cypress Falls) holds a 3.89 grade-point average with a major in mathematics. Moore started 26 games and played in all 28 for the Cru, averaging 13.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. She also had a team-high 75 assists for the Cru and helped lead the team to the ASC Championship game. She was voted second team all-conference and is also a two-time ASC All-Academic selection.
 
Methvin (Longview, Texas/Spring Hill HS), a graduate student with a 4.00 grade-point average with a master’s in education, has also been selected to the ASC All-Academic team three times (2012-14). Methvin was named first team all-conference at first base in 2014 and was selected to the ASC Baseball Championship All-Tournament Team after helping lead the YellowJackets’ to their first ASC Championship in any sport as a league member. He led team in batting average (.375), slugging percentage (.544), on-base percentage (.459), RBI (34) and total bases (74). He also shared the team lead in home runs (4) and was third on the team in doubles (11).
 
Cersosimo (Austin, Texas/Lanier HS), a kinesiology major with a 3.56 grade-point average, led the Tornados to their first NCAA Division III Men’s Golf Championship berth in program history. Concordia advanced past the cut and finished tied for 19th at the national tournament. Cersosimo finished the season ranked as the No. 10 player in the nation and earned PING All-West Region accolades. He led the ASC with a 73.43 stroke average and posted eight top-10 finishes, including six in the top five. Cersosimo was the individual medalist at the LeTourneau Spring Classic, winning the tournament by eight strokes. He set three school records during 2014 and fired a program-low 66 in the opening round of the Alamo City Classic. Cersosimo was named CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-District VIII At-Large for the second consecutive season and was voted the Concordia University Texas Male Student-Athlete of the Year.
 
O’Rear (Belton, Texas/Salado HS), a nursing major with a 3.45 grade-point average, is a Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) All-American and All-Region selection this year. She has played for a National Champion and National Runner-Up for the Cru the past two seasons. O’Rear is a two-time ASC Individual Champion and three-time All-ASC First Team selection. She finished in 10th place individually in the NCAA Division III National Championships and posted a 79.38 stroke average this season. O’Rear is a WGCA All-American Scholar and a two-time ASC Academic All-Conference selection. She recorded eight top-10 finishes in 10 tournaments this year and was the individual champion of the Lady Bulldog Fall Classic.
 
Liles (Elysian Fields, Texas/Elysian Fields HS), a business major with a 3.83 grade-point average, ends her collegiate career with several academic and athletic awards. Liles has received five academic merits including a 2014 CoSIDA Academic All-America second team selection and CoSIDA Academic All-District VIII first team in addition to two-time honors as an All-ASC academic member and a Dean’s List recipient. On the field, Liles has received several conference and national awards. A two-time All-ASC first team selection, Liles was named to the NCAA Tyler Regional and Marshall Super Regional All-Tournament teams (2014) after leading East Texas Baptist to its second NCAA Division III Finals appearance in school history where the Tigers took fifth place. Nationally, Liles has received four awards from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) including an All-America second team honor (2013).
 
Turner (Pearcy, Ark./Lake Hamilton), a biology major with a 4.00 grade-point average, was named All-ASC in doubles while leading the team to the program’s first playoff appearance and a No. 15 ranking from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA). He and doubles partner Bishop Bass also received the program’s first-ever doubles ranking from the ITA. For the second year in a row, Turner received Capital One Academic All-District honors. He also made the ASC All-Academic Team, ITA Scholar-Athlete Team and the President's List in 2014. A three-time All-ASC performer, Turner was selected as a finalist for the Arkansas Star of Tomorrow Award in February. Turner, who has played No. 1 singles since his freshman year, ranks third at Ozarks in career single wins (28) and second in doubles wins (37).
 
Bilbo (College Station, Texas/Bryan HS), an organism biology major with a 4.00 grade-point average, she is also a Capital One Academic All-American. Bilbo is a two-time Capital One Academic All-District selection and went 9-7 in doubles play this season and 7-6 in dual match singles this spring. She was named All-Conference in both singles and doubles this spring and has a total of eight All-Conference or All-Division honors in her career. Bilbo is also a three-time ASC Academic All-Conference selection and helped lead the Cru women to their fourth consecutive ASC Championship Tournament berth this spring.
 
Metcalf (Anguilla, Miss./Sharkey-Issaquena Academy) holds a 4.00 grade-point average in biology and pre-med. Metcalf has been a three-year letter-winner in cross country and track and field for the Choctaws. He was named the ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete for cross country in his sophomore season. Last year, he was named to the Capital One Academic All-District Team, as well. This season in track and field Metcalf set a personal-best time of 15:58.39 in the 5000m run, finishing third in the Choctaw Open on April 18.
 
Wagenaar (Missouri City, Texas/Logos Prep HS) is a business major with a 3.97 grade-point average. The 2014 ASC Track Athlete of the Year, Wagenaar won the 800m and 1500m at the ASC Championships in addition to running the anchor leg for the winning 4x400m squad. She finished as the runner-up in the 10,000 meters and set school records in the 800m and 1500m during the season. Wagenaar was also named the Concordia University Texas Female Student-Athlete of the Year.
 
All Distinguished Scholar Athletes were also named to the 2013-14 ASC Winter/Spring All-Academic Teams.
 
ASC 2013-14 Winter/Spring Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Teams
(*Sport’s Distinguished Scholar-Athlete)
(#Two-Time Recipient)
 
Men’s Basketball

Name	Institution	Class	Major	Hometown
Jim Walter*	Hardin-Simmons	Sr.	Biology	Azle, Texas
Brett DeMetrotion	Concordia Texas	Jr.	Computer Science	Allen, Texas
Erby Thompson	East Texas Baptist	Jr.	Kinesiology	Pitkin, La.
Jorden Young	Howard Payne	Jr.	Exercise & Sports Science	Ponder, Texas
Russell Green	Mary Hardin-Baylor	So.	Pre-Physical Therapy	Klein, Texas
Adam Geller	Ozarks	So.	Mathematics	Celina, Texas
Zakk Revelle	Sul Ross State	So.	Communication	Burnet, Texas
Kyle Schleigh	Texas-Dallas	Sr.	Accounting	Houston, Texas

 
Women’s Basketball

Macy Moore*	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Jr.	Mathematics	Houston, Texas
Domonique Liddell	Concordia Texas	Jr.	Communication	Houston, Texas
Morgan Garrett	East Texas Baptist	So.	Undeclared	Coushatta, La.
Shelby Hanna	Hardin-Simmons	So.	Exercise Science	Spearman, Texas
Shardena Hudson	Howard Payne	Sr.	CIS - Multimedia	Dallas, Texas
Julencia Curtis	LeTourneau	Sr.	Biology	Deltona, Fla.
Neka Jones	Louisiana College	Jr.	Athletic Training	Oakdale, La.
Jordana Andrews	Ozarks	So.	Health Science	Center Ridge, Ark.
Kaitlyn Moody	Sul Ross State	Jr.	Biology	Eula, Texas
Christina Brosnahan	Texas-Dallas	Jr.	Interdisciplinary Studies	Houston, Texas

 
Baseball

Garrett Methvin*	LeTourneau	Gr.	Master’s in Education	Longview, Texas
Kiel Harmon	Concordia Texas	Sr.	Business	Las Vegas, Nev.
Conner Combs	East Texas Baptist	Fr.	Business	Southlake, Texas
Colson Craddick	Hardin-Simmons	So.	Exercise Science	Lubbock, Texas
Kyle Kulczyk	Howard Payne	Sr.	Business Administration	Round Rock, Texas
Chaston LaCaze	Louisiana College	Sr.	Physical Education	Pineville, La.
Jordan Mattke	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Sr.	Cellular Biology	Troy, Texas
Kyle Blount	Mississippi College	Sr.	Exercise Science	Independence, Miss.
Sam Shook	Ozarks	Jr.	Mathematics	Katy, Texas
Josh Vasquez	Sul Ross State	Jr.	Business Administration	Lubbock, Texas
Brandon Clounch	Texas-Dallas	Jr.	Actuarial Science	Carrollton, Texas
Billy Lirely	Texas-Tyler	Sr.	Accounting	Waynesville, N.C.

 
Men’s Golf

Jack Cersosimo* #	Concordia Texas	Jr.	Kinesiology	Austin, Texas
Ryan Hughes	Hardin-Simmons	Jr.	Exercise Science	New Braunfels, Texas
Jacob Soerens	LeTourneau	Jr.	Mechanical Engineering	Naperville, Ill.
Dillon Dunbar	Louisiana College	Jr.	Biology	Marksville, La.
Justin Judkins	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Sr.	Exercise & Sport Science	San Antonio, Texas
Ethan Doan	Mississippi College	Sr.	Kinesiology	Forney, Texas
Dayton Cargill	Texas-Tyler	Jr.	Pre-Business	Longview, Texas

 
Women’s Golf

Taylor O’Rear*	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Jr.	Nursing	Salado, Texas
Blair Allen	Concordia Texas	Sr.	Business	Magnolia, Texas
Kara Doege	Hardin-Simmons	So.	Speech Pathology	Monahans, Texas
Alisa Wilson	LeTourneau	Fr.	Bio-Medical Engineering	Snohomish, Wash.
Jordan Sloane	Texas-Tyler	Jr.	Criminal Justice	Cypress, Texas

 
Softball

Lacy Liles*	East Texas Baptist	Sr.	Business	Elysian Fields, Texas
Jessica Borrego	Concordia Texas	So.	Kinesiology	Spring, Texas
Carley Willis	Hardin-Simmons	Jr.	Biology	Hurst, Texas
Erin McLeod	Howard Payne	Jr.	Biology	Eufaula, Okla.
Anna Winter	LeTourneau	Sr.	Kinesiology	Southlake, Texas
Meagan Pearson	Louisiana College	Sr.	Fitness & Wellness	Frierson, La.
Rebekah Ragsdale	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Sr.	Exercise Science	Orange, Texas
Macey Lee	Mississippi College	Jr.	Biology/Pre-Med	Pearl, Miss.
Molly Bowman	Ozarks	Sr.	Early Childhood Education	Springdale, Ark.
Maile Hoyt	Sul Ross State	Jr.	Kinesiology	Toyah, Texas
Jonelle Feikis	Texas-Dallas	Jr.	Accounting	Austin, Texas
Lauren Robenalt	Texas-Tyler	Sr.	Psychology	San Antonio, Texas

 
Men’s Tennis

Todd Turner* #	Ozarks	Jr.	Biology	Pearcy, Ark.
Tyler Tolopka	East Texas Baptist	So.	Biology	Sugarland, Texas
Andrew Harding	Howard Payne	Jr.	Biology	Brownwood, Texas
Morgan Weaver	LeTourneau	Jr.	Mechanical Engineering	Jacksonville, Texas
Jacob Stamps	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Jr.	Mass Communication	Shoreacres, Texas
Matthew Martin	Mississippi College	Jr.	Biology/Pre-Med	Laurel, Miss.
Sander Kaasjager	Texas-Dallas	Sr.	Mechanical Engineering	Naarden, Netherlands
Edward Timponi	Texas-Tyler	Sr.	Finance	Rio de Janiero, Brazil

 
Women’s Tennis

AshLee Bilbo* #	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Sr.	Organism Biology	College Station, Texas
Hannah Word	East Texas Baptist	Jr.	Accounting	Centerville, Texas
Genene Haddad	Hardin-Simmons	Sr.	Education	Vernon, Texas
Whitney Turnacliff	Howard Payne	Sr.	Elementary Education	Andrews, Texas
Shelby May	LeTourneau	Sr.	Interdisciplinary Studies	Callisburg, Texas
Pam Usry	Louisiana College	Jr.	Health & Physical Education	Pearl Miss.
Allison Boyd	Mississippi College	Sr.	Psychology	Brookhaven, Miss.
Whitney Lewis	Ozarks	Sr.	Mgmt./Admin.	Hartman, Ark.
Nicole Murdock	Sul Ross State	Sr.	Kinesiology	Wolfforth, Texas
Cindy Tiu	Texas-Dallas	Sr.	Neuroscience	Friendswood, Texas
Amy Friesenhahn	Texas-Tyler	Jr.	Political Science	Austin, Texas

 
Men’s Track & Field

Griffin Metcalf* #	Mississippi College	Jr.	Biology/Pre-Med	Anguilla, Miss.
Jared Jenkins	Concordia Texas	Sr.	Multidisciplinary Studies	Denver, Colo.
Landon Price	East Texas Baptist	Jr.	Religion & Missions	Mount Vernon, Texas
Zeth Barron	Hardin-Simmons	Sr.	Exercise Science	Eastland, Texas
Kyle Clawson	Texas-Tyler	Jr.	Civil Engineering	Richmond, Texas

 
Women’s Track & Field

Megan Wagenaar*	Concordia Texas	Sr.	Business	Missouri City, Texas
Jenny Utterbeck	East Texas Baptist	Jr.	Athletic Training	Rowlett, Texas
Shannon Shipp	Hardin-Simmons	Sr.	Criminal Justice	Kemp, Texas
Jessica Hodges	Mississippi College	Jr.	Biology	Huntington Beach, Calif.
Taylor Richey	Sul Ross State	Sr.	Biology	Gail, Texas
Caitlin Butler	Texas-Tyler	So.	Mechanical Engineering	Henderson, Texas