School Name Goes Here

RICHARDSON, Texas –– McMurry University senior cross country runner Kenneth Wheeler, Louisiana College sophomore cross country runner Stephanie Baer, East Texas Baptist University senior football player Kyle Pope, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor senior soccer player Daniel Green, University of the Ozarks senior soccer player Emalee Pearson, and Hardin-Simmons University senior volleyball player Kaela Parnell have all earned the title of Distinguished Scholar-Athlete in their respective American Southwest Conference 2009 fall sports, the ASC office announced on Friday (Dec. 11).

Overall, 61 student-athletes from ASC men’s cross country, women’s cross country, football, men’s soccer, women’s soccer and volleyball were named to the Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Team.

The honor, in its third 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 15 member institutions vote on a Distinguished Scholar-Athlete from each sport.

Wheeler (Fort Worth, TX), who is majoring in exercise science with a 3.77 GPA, earned an all-region selection for the fourth-straight year. He will be named academic all-America for the fourth-straight time in February. Wheeler finished third overall at ASC Championships and made nationals as a junior in 2008. He is a three-time academic all-ASC award winner.

Baer (Monroe, LA), who is majoring is a triple major in English, journalism and marketing and management with a perfect 4.0 GPA, is active in Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a member of the 2009 Louisiana College Honor Court and holds a Top 30 scholarship at Louisiana College. She is the winner of 2009 rising star award on Louisiana College debate team. She also won the debate completion and placed second in public speaking at the IDPA national tournament. Baer was named most improved runner on LC women’s cross country team and appeared two semesters on the dean’s list.

Pope (Longview, TX), who is majoring in accounting with a 3.89 GPA, is a two-sport athlete at ETBU. He has been an ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete in both football and baseball and is a three-time member of the ASC All-Academic team for football and twice for baseball. Pope set an ETBU career record for field goals made with 25 and also notched a school-record of 12 field goals in 2007. He hit .386 and was ASC East Newcomer of the Year in baseball in 2008. Pope was the back-to-back winner of ETBU’s Top Tiger Award, given annually to the top student-athlete on campus.

Green (Abilene, TX), who is majoring in chemistry with a 3.797 GPA, is a two-time ASC Academic All-Conference selection and also earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VI First Team honors this season. Green is also a First Team All-ASC selection as he helped lead the Cru men to their first ASC regular season title and the first NCAA tournament bid in the program’s history this season. He led a Cru defense that gave up just 11 regular season goals and posted 12 total shutouts. Green also scored two goals and serves as the men’s soccer team’s representative on the UMHB Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Pearson (Salt lake City, UT), who received a degree in strategic communications with a 3.65, took 19 hours this semester in order to graduate early. On the field, she was the clear team leader, serving as team captain. She was among the top defenders in the conference, earning All-Conference honors twice during her career. This season she recorded two assists. She ends her career as the program’s career leader in starts (70). She is a three-time ASC All-Academic Team member and was a 2008 NSCAA Scholar All-American. Additionally, she has worked in the Sports Information Office for two years, earning ASC SID All-Academic status. Pearson is the editor the Communique, a bi-weekly campus newsletter, and helps produce Ozarks’ award-winning media guides. Pearson has done community service at the Needy Paws Animal Shelter, Salvation Army and is a campus tutor.

Parnell (Carrollton, TX), who is majoring in pre-med biology with a 4.0 GPA, was the ASC West Division Player of the Year and an honorable mention All-American by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. She was also an academic All-American as voted on by CoSIDA. Parnell led the Cowgirls to the ASC West Division title and an appearance in the ASC title match.

All honorees were also named to the Fall 2009 ASC Academic All-Conference Team.

(+Sport’s Distinguished Scholar-Athlete)

MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

WOMEN’S SOCCER

ALL-TIME ASC DISTINGUISHED SCHOLAR-ATHLETES