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ASC Announces Fall Distinguished Scholar-Athletes
12/11/2009 2:52:36 PM
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, Texas
), 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, Texas
), 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, Texas
), 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, Utah
), 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, Texas
), 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.
ASC FALL 2009 DISTINGUISHED SCHOLAR-ATHLETE TEAM
(+Sport’s Distinguished Scholar-Athlete)
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
Name
School
Cl.
Major
Hometown
+ Ken Wheeler
McMurry
Sr.
Exercise Science
Fort Worth, Texas
Mark Giardinelli
Concordia Texas
So.
Communication
Boerne, Texas
Brian Verrett
Louisiana College
Sr.
Biblical Studies
Denham Springs, La.
Donny Gable
Mississippi College
Jr.
English Education
Pass Christian, Miss.
Lee Goble
Ozarks
Sr.
Sociology
Dallas, Texas
Kendall Smith
Sul Ross State
Jr.
Range Animal Science
Johnson City, Texas
Matthew Sanchez
Texas-Dallas
So.
Computer Science
Austin, Texas
Jeff Chandler
Texas-Tyler
So.
Business Marketing
Longview, Texas
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
Name
School
Cl.
Major
Hometown
+ Stephanie Baer
Louisiana College
So.
English /Journalism / Mkt.
Monroe, La.
Joli Bula
Concordia Texas
So.
Kinesiology
Austin, Texas
Kara Beall
East Texas Baptist
So.
Chemistry
New Guinea
Vanessa Montelongo
Hardin-Simmons
Jr.
Athletic Training
San Antonio, Texas
Carla Lewis
McMurry
Sr.
Exercise Science
Tuscola, Texas
Jennifer Cooper
Mississippi College
So.
Biology
Raymond, Miss.
Tadera Garland
Ozarks
So.
Early Childhood Education
Pelsor, Ark.
Brenda Bui
Texas-Dallas
Sr
Biology
Carrollton, Texas
Rachel Carroll
Texas-Tyler
Jr.
Management
Tyler, Texas
Jacqueline Allen
Texas Lutheran
Sr.
Kinesiology
Katy, Texas
FOOTBALL
Name
School
Cl.
Major
Hometown
+ Kyle Pope
East Texas Baptist
Sr.
Accounting
Longview, Texas
ZaVious Robbins
Hardin-Simmons
Sr.
Marketing
Mesquite, Texas
Cody Hambrick
Howard Payne
Jr.
Business Administration
Paradise, Texas
Ben McLaughlin
Louisiana College
Jr.
Math / Physical Education
Dierks, Ark.
Quincy Daniels
Mary Hardin-Baylor
Sr.
Management
Belton, Texas
Renard Ellis
Mississippi College
Sr.
Business Administration
Winter Haven, Fla.
Ricardo Vera
Sul Ross State
So.
Kinesiology
Hebbronville, Texas
Josh Goodlow
Texas Lutheran
So.
Kinesiology
Austin, Texas
MEN’S SOCCER
Name
School
Cl.
Major
Hometown
+ Daniel Green
Mary Hardin-Baylor
Sr.
Chemistry
Abilene, Texas
Brian Friend
Concordia Texas
Sr.
History / Theology
Bannockburn, Ill.
Ryan Collins
East Texas Baptist
Sr.
Biology
Tyler, Texas
Isaiah Hicks
Hardin-Simmons
So.
Biology
Waco, Texas
Hugo Uribe
Howard Payne
Sr.
Criminal Justice / Spanish
Greenville, Texas
Patrick Thompson
LeTourneau
So.
Engineering
Southlake, Texas
Nic Philpot
Louisiana College
So.
Athletic Training
Pineville, La.
Barry Prather
Mississippi College
Jr.
Kinesiology
Clinton, Miss.
Philip Johnson
Ozarks
Sr.
Business Administration
Plano, Texas
Miachel Anyirah
Texas-Dallas
Jr.
Biochemistry
Dallas, Texas
Mark Oliphant
Texas-Tyler
Jr.
Civil Engineering
Bedford, Texas
Morgan Parker
Texas Lutheran
Jr.
Accounting / Business
Humble, Texas
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Name
School
Cl.
Major
Hometown
+ Emalee Pearson
Ozarks
Sr.
Strategic Communications
Salt Lake City, Utah
Lya Morfitt
Concordia Texas
Jr.
Business Management
Brownsville, Texas
Danica Saxon
East Texas Baptist
So.
Undecided
Tyler, Texas
Sarah Stansell
Hardin-Simmons
Jr.
Math
McAllen, Texas
Lauren B Hankins
Howard Payne
Jr.
Elementary Education
Midlothian, Texas
Kirby Posey
LeTourneau
Sr.
Kinesiology
Longview, Texas
Stephanie Baer
Louisiana College
So.
English /Journalism / Mkt.
Monroe, La.
Lindsay Hunt
Mary Hardin-Baylor
Sr.
Art
Lahaina, Haw.
Carrie Kirk
Mississippi College
Sr.
Foreign Language / Int. Trade
Madison, Miss.
Brittany Cardwell
Schreiner
So.
Math
Spring Branch, Texas
Emily George
Texas-Dallas
Sr.
Accounting
Lubbock, Texas
Kristen Chockley
Texas-Tyler
Jr.
Biology
Plano, Texas
Kaysie Boomhower
Texas Lutheran
So.
Community Studies
San Antonio, Texas
VOLLEYBALL
Name
School
Cl.
Major
Hometown
+ Kaela Parnell
Hardin-Simmons
Sr.
Pre-Med Biology
Carrollton, Texas
Kevyn Jackson
Concordia Texas
So.
Biology
Baytown, Texas
Jane Hays
East Texas Baptist
Sr.
Education
Hereford, Texas
Cathie Lynn Kilmartin
Howard Payne
Jr.
Ex. and Sport Science
Lorena, Texas
Erin Maenius
Mary Hardin-Baylor
Jr.
Marketing / Finance
San Antonio, Texas
Danielle Kelton
McMurry
Sr.
General Business
Andrews, Texas
Jessica Torick
Mississippi College
So.
Interior Design
Pleasant View, Utah
Misty Fletcher
Schreiner
Jr.
Business
La Vernia, Texas
Whitney Clements
Texas-Tyler
Jr.
Special Education
Flint, Texas
Jamie Jahns
Texas Lutheran
Sr.
Business Marketing
Spring, Texas