RICHARDSON, Texas –– Mississippi College’s
Griffin Metcalf, LeTourneau’s
Nicole Leman, Hardin-Simmons’
Travis Sugar,
Matt Pitcock and
Devon Howard, and Mary Hardin-Baylor’s
Morgan Baker have all earned the title of Distinguished Scholar-Athlete in their respective American Southwest Conference 2012 fall sport, the league office announced on Thursday (Feb. 7).
Overall, 64 student-athletes from ASC men’s cross country, women’s cross country, football, men’s soccer, women’s soccer and volleyball were named to Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Teams.
The honor, in its sixth academic year, recognizes student-athletes that achieve a higher 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 conference’s 14 member institutions vote on a Distinguished Scholar-Athlete from each sport.
Metcalf (
Anguilla, Miss. / Sharkey-Issaquena Academy), a sophomore cross country runner who is majoring in biology and pre-med with a perfect 4.0 GPA, was one of the top runners for the Choctaws this season. He finished fifth overall in the ASC Cross Country Championships with a time of 27:04 in the 8K.
Leman (
Achorage, Alaska / Grace Christian), a senior cross country runner who is majoring in kinesiology with a 3.83 GPA, set a personal record at the ASC Championships, where she placed first overall with a time of 22:39.95 in the 6K and became the first cross country YellowJacket to ever win the individual conference title. She was named the ASC Runner of the Year as well as the ASC Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year. Leman held the best time in every running distance in the ASC this season. She then went on to compete in South/Southeast Regionals in Atlanta, Ga., where she punched her ticket to the national championship with a time of 23:10.63. Leman was the second from athlete from LeTourneau to ever qualify for a national championship.
Sugar (
Leander, Texas / LHS), a senior football plyaer who is majoring in biology and pre-med with a 3.91 GPA,
was a first-team All-ASC performer at center and was named a third-team All-American. He was also a semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy given by the National Football Foundation as one of the top student-athletes in college football. He is a three-time academic All-ASC selection and was named a CoSIDA academic all-district selection. He started 36 games in his four year career for the Cowboys.
Pitcock (
Plano, Texas / Plano East HS), a junior soccer player who is majoring in business with a 3.91 GPA, was named a first-team all-ASC performer for the Cowboys after leading the team in scoring with six goals and 11 assists. His 11 assists led the ASC – by four. Pitcock was a team captain and named academic all-ASC and CoSIDA academic all-district first team.
Howard (
Abilene, Texas / Cooper HS), a junior soccer player who is majoring in accounting and economics with a perfect 4.0 GPA, was named a scholar all-American by the NSCAA and was a first-team all-district selection and an Academic All-American by CoSIDA. She was also an all-region selection on the field and was first team all-ASC after scoring 10 goals and dishing out 16 assists. She is a leader in the Abilene, Texas, community and on campus.
Baker (
Richmond, Texas / Needville HS), a senior volleyball player who is majoring in pre-physical therapy with a perfect 4.0 GPA, was a Capital One Academic All-American and is a two-time Capital One All-District VII selection. She earned ASC All-Academic honors twice and was also awarded the Heavin Servant Leader Award for her service to the UMHB campus and local community. Baker played for a pair of conference tournament qualifiers and helped the Cru set school single-season records for victories in back-to-back years. She also ranked among the team leaders in digs and service aces in each of her three seasons with the team.
All honorees were also named to the Fall 2012 ASC Academic All-Conference Team.
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ASC FALL 2012 DISTINGUISHED SCHOLAR-ATHLETE TEAMS |
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(+Sport’s Distinguished Scholar-Athlete) |
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MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY |
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Name |
Institution |
Cl. |
Major |
Hometown |
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+Griffin Metcalf |
Mississippi College |
So. |
Biology/Pre-Med |
Anguilla, Miss. |
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Landon Price |
East Texas Baptist |
So. |
Religion & Missions |
Mt. Vernon, Texas |
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Brady Timmons |
Howard Payne |
Jr. |
Bus. Management |
Granbury, Texas |
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Brenden Palmer |
LeTourneau |
Sr. |
Mechanical Engineering |
Westerville, Ohio |
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William Graham |
Louisiana College |
So. |
Christian Studies |
Denham Springs, La. |
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Matt Friant |
Ozarks |
Sr. |
Envi. Studies |
Conway, Ark. |
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Alex Guzman |
Schreiner |
So. |
Biology |
San Antonio, Texas |
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Jordan Newcomer |
Texas Dallas |
Jr. |
Mathematics |
Rowlett, Texas |
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Kyle Clawson |
Texas-Tyler |
Jr. |
Civil Engineering |
Richmond, Texas |
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WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY |
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Name |
Institution |
Cl. |
Major |
Hometown |
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+Nicole Leman |
LeTourneau |
Sr. |
Kinesiology |
Anchorage, Alaska |
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Megan Wagenaar |
Concordia Texas |
Jr. |
Business |
Missouri City, Texas |
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Madison Kauffman |
East Texas Baptist |
So. |
Psychology |
n/a |
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Julia Holub |
Hardin-Simmons |
Sr. |
Biology |
Seymour, Texas |
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Shandi Winstead |
Howard Payne |
Jr. |
Communications |
Brownwood, Texas |
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Melody Criswell |
Louisiana College |
Jr. |
Nursing |
Flower Mound, Texas |
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Jennifer Cooper |
Mississippi College |
Gr. |
Biology |
Raymond, Miss. |
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Kara Willbanks |
Ozarks |
Jr. |
Physical Education |
Fort Smith, Ark. |
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Courtney Van Ness |
Schreiner |
So. |
Undecided |
Pasadena, Texas |
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Lacey Moore |
Sul Ross State |
So. |
Biology |
Ft. Davis, Texas |
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Mel Cavage |
Texas Dallas |
So. |
Biology |
Austin, Texas |
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Ashley Meadows |
Texas Lutheran |
Jr. |
Biology |
Universal City, Texas |
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FOOTBALL |
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Name |
Institution |
Cl. |
Major |
Hometown |
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+Travis Sugar |
Hardin-Simmons |
Sr. |
Biology/Pre-Med |
Leander, Texas |
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Jacob Alford |
East Texas Baptist |
Jr. |
History |
Lindale, Texas |
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Thomas Head |
Howard Payne |
Sr. |
Psych./Bus. Admin |
Alvarado, Texas |
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Hunter Feibel |
Louisiana College |
Jr. |
Biology |
Shreveport, La. |
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Elijah Hudson |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Jr. |
Pre-Physical Therapy |
Albany, Texas |
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Austin Gray |
Mississippi College |
Jr. |
Business Admin. |
Hoover, Ala. |
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John Campbell |
Sul Ross State |
So. |
Natural Res. Mgmt. |
Castroville, Texas |
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Allen Cain |
Texas Lutheran |
Sr. |
Math/Comp. Science |
San Antonio, Texas |
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MEN’S SOCCER |
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Name |
Institution |
Cl. |
Major |
Hometown |
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+Matt Pitcock |
Hardin-Simmons |
Jr. |
Business |
Plano, Texas |
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Sebastian Parra |
Concordia Texas |
Sr. |
Business |
Austin, Texas |
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Austin Walker |
East Texas Baptist |
Sr. |
Religion |
Forney, Texas |
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Ryan Young |
Howard Payne |
Sr. |
Political Science |
Mesquite, Texas |
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Anthony Martinez |
LeTourneau |
Jr. |
International Business |
Jasper, Texas |
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Brandon Dutton |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Jr. |
Accounting |
Temple, Texas |
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Ryan Dunbar |
Mississippi College |
Jr. |
Accounting |
Madison, Miss. |
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Josh Duncan |
Ozarks |
Jr. |
Physical Education |
Little Rock, Ark. |
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Garner Buford |
Schreiner |
So. |
History |
Corpus Christi, Texas |
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Steven Nicknish |
Texas Dallas |
Jr. |
Mechanical Eng. |
Spring, Texas |
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Chris Powell |
Texas-Tyler |
Sr. |
Finance |
Houston, Texas |
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WOMEN’S SOCCER |
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Name |
Institution |
Cl. |
Major |
Hometown |
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+Devon Howard |
Hardin-Simmons |
Jr. |
Accounting/Economics |
Abilene, Texas |
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Olivia Jablinski |
Concordia Texas |
Sr. |
Christian Education |
Plano, Texas |
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Rachel Pool |
East Texas Baptist |
Sr. |
Education |
Tyler, Texas |
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Shannon Costello |
Howard Payne |
Sr. |
Ex. and Sport Science |
Farmington Hills, Mich. |
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Jamie Malinaric |
LeTourneau |
Jr. |
Biomedical Engineering |
Keller, Texas |
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Emily Breaux |
Louisiana College |
Sr. |
Athletic Training |
Lafayette, La. |
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Camryn Powell |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Sr. |
Nursing |
Frisco, Texas |
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Bethany Roberson |
Mississippi College |
Sr. |
Graphic Design |
Collierville, Tenn. |
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Morgan O’Neil |
Ozarks |
Sr. |
Ply Sci./Env. Studies/Eng. |
Carbondale, Ill. |
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Veronica Kloss |
Schreiner |
Sr. |
Exercise Science |
Spring, Texas |
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Sarah Borg |
Texas Dallas |
So. |
Physics |
Tomball, Texas |
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Amanda Weaver |
Texas-Tyler |
Sr. |
English |
Arlington, Texas |
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Jennifer Kopetic |
Texas Lutheran |
Jr. |
Psychology/Spanish |
Round Rock, Texas |
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VOLLEYBALL |
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Name |
Institution |
Cl. |
Major |
Hometown |
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+Morgan Baker |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Sr. |
Pre-Physical Therapy |
Richmond, Texas |
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Stacy Manship |
Concordia Texas |
Jr. |
Secondary Education |
El Paso, Texas |
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Kayla Taylor |
East Texas Baptist |
So. |
Nursing |
Arlington, Texas |
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Madison Reyes |
Hardin-Simmons |
Sr. |
Exercise Science |
Abilene, Texas |
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Sarah Davies |
Howard Payne |
Sr. |
Biology |
Austin, Texas |
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Samantha Syme |
LeTourneau |
So. |
Civil Engineering |
Beaverlodge, Alberta |
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Rachel Farmer |
Mississippi College |
So. |
International Studies |
Tupelo, Miss. |
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Jamie Burns |
Schreiner |
Sr. |
Biology |
La Vernia, Texas |
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Josette Delgado |
Sul Ross State |
Sr. |
Natural Resource Mgmt. |
El Paso, Texas |
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Dana Hilzendager |
Texas Dallas |
Sr. |
Criminology |
Red Oak, Texas |
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Megan Lee |
Texas Lutheran |
So. |
Education |
Universal City, Texas |