All-Time Distinguished Scholar-Athletes of the Year
RICHARDSON, Texas – Seven student-athletes from four different member universities and one affiliate headline the 2018 Fall American Southwest Conference Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Teams, the league office announced on Wednesday,
The Distinguished Scholar-Athlete of the Year recipients include
Michael Harris of Ozarks in men’s cross country,
Alexis Segura of LeTourneau in women’s cross country,
Steven Sellers of Mary Hardin-Baylor and
Manny Longoria of Texas Lutheran in football,
Thomas Ross of Ozarks in men’s soccer,
Kenne Kessler of Hardin-Simmons in women’s soccer and
Sarah Paolini of UMHB in volleyball.
Overall, 70 student-athletes were named to the American Southwest Conference 2018 Fall Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Teams.
The Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Teams recognize 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 13 ASC member institutions and two affiliate members select a Distinguished Scholar-Athlete in each sport.
Michael Harris (Elkins, Ark.) is the second men’s cross country runner from Ozarks to receive Distinguished Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors. He placed fourth overall with a time of 27:41.21 at the 2018 ASC Championships and at the NCAA III Regionals finished 23rd overall with a time of 26:31.20. He was named to the All-Conference First Team for the second year in a row and was awarded USTFCCCA All-Region for the 2018 season. Harris will also be on the 2018 USTFCCCA All-Academic Team. He won both of Ozarks’ home races this season - the Arkansas D-III Championships and the Ozarks Invitational. The 2017 ASC Cross Country Newcomer of the Year, he has won ASC Runner of the Week four times in his career. Also a standout track athlete, Harris was co-High Point Athlete of the Year at the 2018 ASC Championships and was named All-Conference. An Academic All-ASC selection, Harris has been of the school’s President’s List and Dean’s List. His volunteer work includes serving as the assistant track coach at Clarksville High School. He has assisted at the Toys for Tots Fun Run in Russellville and at races at Elkins High School. Harris has a 3.90 GPA in Health Science.
Alexis Segura (Austin, Texas) is the second recipient in women’s cross country for LeTourneau. She was the 2018 ASC Women’s Cross Country Championship Medalist and won four of the six meets that she competed in. Segura finished 11th at the NCAA Division III South/Southeast Regional meet, which was the highest finish of any ASC athlete and tied a YellowJacket record for best individual finish at the regional meet. She was named ASC Cross Country Runner of the Week twice in 2018. Segura also played soccer in the fall for LeTourneau and was named Honorable-Mention All-ASC. She has a 4.00 GPA in Kinesiology-Sport Management.
Manny Longoria (Geronimo, Texas) is the third recipient from TLU to earn Distinguished Scholar-Athlete of the Year in football. He was named to the CoSIDA/Google Cloud Academic All-America Division III Second Team and is a two-time Academic All-District selection. D3football.com named him to the Second Team All-South Region squad, and he was a First Team All-Conference selection at defensive end. Longoria finished among the NCAA Division III leader in sacks (19th) and tackles for loss (11th). He also ranked 32nd in forced fumbles. Longoria led the ASC in sacks per game and tackles for loss, and he tied for the conference lead in fumbles forced per game. He ended the 2018 season with 37 total tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss (108 yards in losses), and 10.0 sacks (77 yards in losses). He also had five quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery (which he returned 41 yards for a score). Longoria has a 3.69 GPA in Education.
Steven Sellers (Murphy, Texas) is the fourth student-athlete from UMHB to win the award in football. He was a CoSIDA/Google Cloud Academic Second Team All-America and Academic All-District selection this season. He started every game at center and was an All-Conference First Team pick. Sellers played for the National Champion and ASC Champion Cru and helped clear the way for the country’s highest scoring offense. UMHB averaged 238.7 rushing yards, 443.9 total yards and 53.4 points per game on the way to the national title this season. Sellers was also an ASC Academic All-Conference selection this year. He has a 4.00 GPA in Managmenet.
Thomas Ross (Heath, Texas) is the third Distinguished Scholar-Athlete of the Year from Ozarks in men’s soccer. He was named to the 2018 CoSIDA/Google Cloud Academic All-America First Team, the only ASC men’s soccer player honored. Ross, who was named to the Academic All-District Team in November, produced an All-Conference season in 2018, recording eight assists and scoring two goals while helping the Eagles to the postseason. His 12 points ranked third on the team. A 2018 December graduate, Ross owns a 3.99 grade point average as a mathematics major and was on the President’s List multiple times. He is a three-time member of the ASC Academic All-Conference Team and a two-time All-Conference performer. He received a spot on the USC Scholar All-South Region Team in 2017 and 2018. His 19 career assists rank sixth all-time at Ozarks.
Kenne Kessler (Highland Village, Texas), who repeats as the winner, is the seventh consecutive HSU student-athlete and ninth overall to win the award in women’s soccer. She was named the CoSIDA Academic All-America of the Year for the second straight season and was also a first-team All-American, Academic All-America and was the ASC Offensive Player of the Year for the second straight season. Kessler become the ASC’s all-time leading scorer with 204 points and 83 goals. Kessler has a GPA of 4.00 in Biology.
Sarah Paolini (Kalispell, Mont.) wins the honor for the second straight season and is the sixth volleyball Distinguished Scholar-Athlete of the Year from UMHB. She was a Google CoSIDA/Cloud Academic All-America and Academic All-District selection this year. She also earned ASC All-Conference and ASC West Division First Team honors for the conference champions and helped lead UMHB volleyball to the Regional Finals of the NCAA Division III Championship. Paolini averaged 2.41 kills and 1.13 blocks per set this season and hit .355 on the year with 38 digs. She has a 3.97 GPA in Nursing.
ASC Fall 2018 Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Teams
(Distinguished Scholar-Athlete of the Year*)
Men’s Cross Country
| Name |
University |
Cl. |
Major |
GPA |
Hometown |
| Michael Harris* |
Ozarks |
So. |
Health Science |
3.90 |
Elkins, Ark.. |
| Owen Taylor |
Belhaven |
Gr. |
Accounting |
4.00 |
Fayette, Ala. |
| Sam Stewart |
Concordia Texas |
So. |
Business Administration |
3.93 |
Galveston, Texas |
| Beau Billings |
East Texas Baptist |
Sr. |
Biology |
3.58 |
Mansfield, Texas |
| Nathan McEndree |
Hardin-Simmons |
Jr. |
Ministry |
4.00 |
Keller, Texas |
| Michael Field |
LeTourneau |
Sr. |
Mechanical Engineering |
3.50 |
Tega, S.C. |
| Sean Reid |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
So. |
Management |
4.00 |
Killeen, Texas |
| Juan Rosas |
McMurry |
So. |
Accounting |
3.90 |
Brackettville, Texas |
| William Serrano |
Sul Ross State |
So. |
Mathematics |
3.66 |
Pecos, Texas |
| Alireza Nourani |
UT Dallas |
Sr. |
Political Science |
3.62 |
Plano, Texas |
| Will McIlroy |
UT Tyler |
Jr. |
Speech Communication |
3.40 |
Weatherford, Texas |
Women’s Cross Country
| Name |
University |
Cl. |
Major |
GPA |
Hometown |
| Alexis Segura* |
LeTourneau |
Jr. |
Kinesiology-Sport Management |
4.00 |
Ausitn, Texas |
| Lydia Lippincott |
Belhaven |
Sr. |
Theater/Classical Education |
3.85 |
Cedar Hill, Texas |
| Emily Villines |
Concordia Texas |
Sr. |
Mathematics |
3.30 |
Huntsville, Texas |
| Chloe Hudson |
East Texas Baptist |
Sr. |
Chemistry |
3.89 |
Katy, Texas |
| Sydney Tencate |
Hardin-Simmons |
Jr. |
Criminal Justice |
3.55 |
Moran, Texas |
| Haleigh Lachney |
Louisiana College |
Jr. |
Media Productions |
3.97 |
Simpson, La. |
| Caroline Vining |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Jr. |
Nursing |
3.35 |
Killeen, Texas |
| Tiffany Cox |
McMurry |
So. |
Psychology |
3.83 |
Abilene, Texas |
| Hannah Smith |
Ozarks |
Sr. |
Accounting |
3.83 |
Blue Eye, Mo. |
| Kyela Cosby |
Sul Ross State |
Jr. |
Kinesiology |
3.96 |
North Zulch, Texas |
| Hollee Ratliff |
UT Dallas |
Sr. |
Neuroscience |
3.87 |
Amarillo, Texas |
| Tristin Salem |
UT Tyler |
Jr. |
Kinesiology |
3.46 |
Tomball, Texas |
Football
| Name |
University |
Cl. |
Major |
GPA |
Hometown |
| Manny Longoria* |
Texas Lutheran |
Jr. |
Education |
3.69 |
Geronimo, Texas |
| Steven Sellers* |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
So. |
Management |
4.00 |
Murphy, Texas |
| Watson Fondren |
Belhaven |
Sr. |
Sports Medicine |
3.71 |
Centreville, Ala. |
| Brian Baca |
East Texas Baptist |
Jr. |
History |
3.79 |
Pittsburg, Texas |
| Ty Crain |
Hardin-Simmons |
Sr. |
Criminal Justice |
3.86 |
Sweetwater, Texas |
| Brady Wade |
Howard Payne |
So. |
Kinesiology |
3.69 |
Little Elm, Texas |
| Jamarcus Fitzpatrick |
Louisiana College |
Sr. |
Sports Media |
3.81 |
Shreveport, La. |
| Josh Smith |
McMurry |
So. |
Biology |
3.43 |
Bossier City, La. |
| AJ Daniels |
Southwestern |
Sr. |
Psychology |
3.75 |
Benbrook, Texas |
| Fabian Baeza |
Sul Ross State |
Jr. |
Kinesiology |
3.67 |
Van Horn, Texas |
Men’s Soccer
| Name |
University |
Cl. |
Major |
GPA |
Hometown |
| Thomas Ross* |
Ozarks |
Sr. |
Mathematics |
3.99 |
Heath, Texas |
| Nathan Ratzlaff |
Belhaven |
Jr. |
Business Administration |
3.80 |
Youngsville, La. |
| Rob Oakley |
Concordia Texas |
Sr. |
Mathematics |
3.84 |
Dallas, Texas |
| Travis Atkinson |
East Texas Baptist |
Jr. |
Kinesiology |
3.25 |
Palestine, Texas |
| Preston Hillis |
Hardin-Simmons |
Sr. |
Marketing |
3.58 |
Irving, Texas |
| Collin Salyers |
Howard Payne |
Sr. |
History |
3.48 |
San Antonio, Texas |
| Alec Wier |
LeTourneau |
Sr. |
Business Administration |
3.36 |
Cypress, Texas |
| Leo Osawa |
Louisiana College |
So. |
Sports & Wellness |
3.57 |
Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil |
| Tyler Childs |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
So. |
Biology (Pre-Med) |
4.00 |
Boerne, Texas |
| Javi Mejia |
McMurry |
Jr. |
Art |
3.77 |
Azle, Texas |
| Mason Anderson |
UT Dallas |
Jr. |
Biology |
3.41 |
Frisco, Texas |
| Lucas Pereira |
UT Tyler |
Sr. |
Electrical Engineering |
3.44 |
Barcelona, Spain |
Women’s Soccer
| Name |
University |
Cl. |
Major |
GPA |
Hometown |
| Kenne Kessler* |
Hardin-Simmons |
Sr. |
Biology |
4.00 |
Highland Village, Texas |
| Yaharim Satterwhite |
Belhaven |
Sr. |
Biology |
4.00 |
Tolleson, Ariz. |
| Kayla Carlove |
Concordia Texas |
Jr. |
Kinesiology |
4.00 |
Carrollton, Texas |
| Raegan Kappler |
East Texas Baptist |
So. |
Business/Marketing |
4.00 |
McKinney, Texas |
| Kaitlyn Harrison |
Howard Payne |
Sr. |
Athletic Training |
4.00 |
Watauga, Texas |
| Sarah Harder |
LeTourneau |
Sr. |
Interdisciplinary Studies |
4.00 |
Pearland, Texas |
| Haley Clark |
Louisiana College |
Sr. |
Biology |
3.71 |
Lafayette, La. |
| Elissa Freberg |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Sr. |
Biology (Pre-Med) |
3.96 |
Friendswood, Texas |
| Angelica Navarro |
McMurry |
So. |
Mathematics |
3.48 |
Fort Worth, Texas |
| Joey Long |
Ozarks |
So. |
Biology |
3.36 |
Cabot, Ark. |
| Kelly Swenson |
Sul Ross State |
Sr. |
Kinesiology |
3.94 |
Austin, Texas |
| Monica Dallacasa |
UT Dallas |
Sr. |
Mechanical Engineering |
3.84 |
The Woodlands, Texas |
| Kaelyn Steitz |
UT Tyler |
Sr. |
Marketing |
3.49 |
McKinney, Texas |
Volleyball
| Name |
University |
Cl. |
Major |
GPA |
Hometown |
| Sarah Paolini* |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Jr. |
Nursing |
3.97 |
Kalispell, Mont. |
| Lauren Whiting |
Belhaven |
Sr. |
Education |
3.70 |
Southaven, Miss. |
| Tristyn Massey |
Concordia Texas |
Jr. |
Elementary Education |
3.24 |
Amarillo, Texas |
| Elyse Shaw |
East Texas Baptist |
Sr. |
Elementary Education |
3.80 |
Spring, Texas |
| Allison Kuster |
Hardin-Simmons |
Sr. |
Psychology |
3.97 |
Mansfield, Texas |
| Kailey Doering |
Howard Payne |
Jr. |
Elementary Education |
3.91 |
Little Elm, Texas |
| Cam Taylor |
LeTourneau |
So. |
Interdisciplinary Studies |
3.87 |
Huffman, Texas |
| Mary Nichols |
Louisiana College |
Jr. |
Health & Physical Education |
4.00 |
Boyce, La. |
| Jordyn Burnell |
McMurry |
Jr. |
Business Accounting |
3.59 |
Sinton, Texas |
| Alyssa Lanahan |
Sul Ross State |
So. |
Film Production |
3.55 |
El Paso, Texas |
| Lauren Schilling |
UT Dallas |
Jr. |
Criminology |
3.93 |
San Antonio, Texas |
| Samantha Lee |
UT Tyler |
Sr. |
Kinesiology |
3.86 |
Georgetown, Texas |