ASC Announces Winter/Spring Distinguished Scholar Athletes

5/29/2013 10:00:00 AM

RICHARDSON, Texas –– Texas-Dallas’ Kyle Schleigh, Louisiana College’s Natosha Gottlieb, Texas Lutheran’s Sean Kistler and Ashley Meadows, Concordia Texas’ Jack Cersosimo and Kayla Burch, East Texas Baptist’s Lya Swaner, Ozarks’ Todd Turner, Mary Hardin-Baylor’s AshLee Bilbo, and Texas-Tyler’s Jake Waddingham have all earned the title of Distinguished Scholar-Athlete in their respective American Southwest Conference 2012-13 winter/spring sport, the league office announced on Wednesday (May 29).

Overall, 106 student-athletes from basketball, baseball, golf, softball, tennis and track and field were named to the 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.

Schleigh (Houston, Texas / Kingwood HS), a junior basketball player who is majoring in accounting with a 3.48 GPA, picked up All-ASC honors for second straight season. He was named ASC East Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year after leading Texas-Dallas to a fifth straight East Division title. Schleigh was a seven-time ASC East Player of the Week during the season. He led the conference in scoring at 21.4 points per game. He became the first junior ever at UTD to top 1,000 career points. He was named to ASC All-Tournament Team. Schleigh is a two-time Academic All-ASC selection.

Gottlieb (Alexandria, La. / Bolton HS), a senior basketball player who is majoring in athletic training with a 3.53 GPA, was named the ASC East Player of the Year; ASC East Defensive Player of the Year; D3hoops.com All-South Region Player of the Year; as well as an All-American by D3hoops.com and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. Gottlieb became the first player in ASC history to have at least 1,000 points, 600 rebounds, 250 steals, 200 assists, and 100 blocks in a career. She also became the first player in LC history to win four ASC Eastern Division titles and make 4 NCAA Division II tournaments. Gottlieb is an honor student in LC’s Athletic Training program, which was named the 2012 ASC Athletic Training Staff of the Year.

Kistler (Conroe, Texas / CHS), a senior baseball player who is majoring in kinesiology with a 3.55 GPA, set the ASC records for career saves (22) and did not allow a run (earned or unearned) in 2013. Texas Lutheran’s Co-Male Student-Athlete of the Year did not allow a run in the final 39 innings of his career. His scoreless inning streak dated back to April 6, 2012. This season, the right-hander recorded 14 saves and 33 strikeouts and allowed just 14 hits. Kistler and the Bulldogs played in the NCAA Division III West Regional and won an ASC West Division crown. He was named to the ASC West First Team.

Cersosimo (Austin, Texas / Lanier HS), a sophomore golfer who is majoring in biology with a 3.60 GPA, is the only men’s golfer from the ASC to make the 2013 Capital One Academic All-District At-Large Team. Cersosimo is also the only men’s golfer in Concordia Texas history to be named to the All-ASC First Team twice in a career. He holds program records for the lowest two and three-round tournament scores. Cersosimo was among CTX student-athletes that volunteered at the Special Olympics Texas Area 13 flag football competition in December

Burch (Magnolia, Texas / MHS), a senior golfer who is majoring in accounting with a perfect 4.0 GPA, is the only women’s golfer from the ASC to make the 2013 Capital One Academic All-District At-Large Team. Burch has made the National Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholar Team twice. She has been Concordia Texas’ team representative on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) for 2 1/2 years. Burch was among CTX student-athletes that volunteered at the Special Olympics Texas Area 13 flag football competition in December. She is the only women's golfer in school history to win an individual tournament title.

Swaner (St. Paul, Texas / Wylie HS), a senior softball player and national champion who is majoring in chemistry and biology with a 3.85 GPA, was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-American third-team. Swaner earned East Texas Baptist’s Top Tiger award as the top female student-athlete. She led the Tigers to the ASC championship this spring and was named tournament MVP. She is a three-time Academic All-ASC selection and has appeared on the Dean’s List since her freshman year. She won the M.L. Dubach Scholarship at ETBU for grades, service and athletic play. Swaner is ETBU’s SAAC president and helped bring East Texas Special Olympics to campus for an event.

Turner (Pearcy, Ark. / Lake Hamilton HS), a sophomore tennis player who is majoring in biology with a perfect 4.0 GPA, posted a program-best 14-2 doubles record and also owned a 12-4 record at No. 1 singles. His 12 wins ranked second at No. 1 singles in the ASC at the end of the regular season. An Honorable Mention All-Conference player in singles and doubles, Turner was named ASC Player of the Week once. Additionally, Turner fueled Ozarks to a program-best 12-4 overall record and the team received the program’s first ever regional ranking.

Bilbo (College Station, Texas / Bryan HS), a junior tennis player who is majoring in organismal biology with a perfect 4.0 GPA, was a two-time ASC All-West Division First Team selection this spring. She earned First Team All-Division honors at No. 1 doubles and No. 3 singles. Bilbo posted a 9-0 doubles record and led the Lady Cru to a ASC West Division title. She has earned a total of five All-West Division honors in her career and is a two-time ASC All-Academic pick.

Waddingham (Macksburg, Iowa / Orient-Macksburg HS), a senior track and field athlete who is majoring in political science and journalism with a 3.86 GPA, was named the 2013 Texas- Tyler Student Athlete of the Year. Waddingham also was the photographer for all athletic events and a member of the 2013 ASC track and field championship team.

Meadows (Marion, Texas / Home School), a junior track and field athlete who is majoring in biology and chemistry with a perfect 4.0 GPA, was a letter-winner and key team member on two ASC Championship squads in 2012-13. She was also Academic All-ASC in 2011-12 and two straight years in cross country. Meadows has been active in community service, with TLU’s Day of the Dogs, Hot DAWGS and the serving of Thanksgiving dinner to Seguin shut-ins. She has been the Vice President of FCA, Pi Rho Chemistry Club, and Biology Honors Society.

Burch was voted as ASC Women’s Golf Distinguished Scholar-Athlete for the second straight season. All honorees were also named to the 2012-13 ASC Winter/Spring All-Academic Teams.

ASC 2012-14 WINTER/SPRING DISTINGUISHED SCHOLAR-ATHLETE TEAMS
(+Sport’s Distinguished Scholar-Athlete)

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Name	Institution	Cl.	Major	Hometown
+ Kyle Schleigh	Texas-Dallas	Jr.	Accounting	Houston, Texas
Brett DeMetrotion	Concordia Texas	So.	Computer Science	Allen, Texas
Erby Thompson	East Texas Baptist	So.	Mathematics	Pitkin, La.
Andy Spears	Hardin-Simmons	Sr.	Math	Abilene, Texas
Jorden Young	Howard Payne	So.	Social Studies	Ponder, Texas
Phillip George	Louisiana College	Sr.	Health and P.E.	Baton Rouge, La.
Cory Meals	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Sr.	Finance	Whitesboro, Texas
Marcus Bobb	Ozarks	Sr.	Marketing / Spanish	Ponder, Texas
Manny Longoria	Schreiner	Sr.	Accounting	El Paso, Texas
Juston Weldon	Sul Ross State	Sr.	History	Wimberley, Texas
Dallas Bean	Texas-Tyler	Sr.	Kinesiology	Port Arthur, Texas
Joseph Richardson	Texas Lutheran	So.	Kinesiology	San Antonio, Texas

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Name	Institution	Cl.	Major	Hometown
+ Natosha Gottlieb	Louisiana College	Sr.	Athletic Training	Alexandria, La.
Brianna Smith	Concordia Texas	Sr.	Business	Carrollton, Texas
Amanda Rucker	East Texas Baptist	So.	Kinesiology	Grand Saline, Texas
Rachel Holik	Hardin-Simmons	So.	Exercise Science	Wall, Texas
Kayla Scott	Howard Payne	Gr.	MBA	Azle, Texas
Julencia Curtis	LeTourneau	Jr.	Biology	Deltona, Fla.
Samara Williams	Mary Hardin-Baylor	So.	Computer Info. Systems	San Antonio, Texas
Lindsay England	Mississippi College	Sr.	Kinesiology	Jackson, Miss.
Jordyn Ferrell	Ozarks	Sr.	Physical Education	West Fork, Ark.
Colby Adolph	Schreiner	Sr.	Biochemistry	Katy, Texas
Nicole Murdock	Sul Ross State	So.	Mathematics	Wolfforth, Texas
Kimmie Grimes	Texas-Dallas	Jr.	Geophysics	Austin, Texas
Lauren Glasco	Texas-Tyler	Sr.	HR Development	Spring, Texas
Natasha Benavides	Texas Lutheran	Jr.	Mathematics	San Antonio, Texas

BASEBALL

Name	Institution	Cl.	Major	Hometown
+ Sean Kistler	Texas Lutheran	Sr.	Kinesiology	Conroe, Texas
Brent Schaekel	Concordia Texas	Sr.	Business	Houston, Texas
Lance Anding	East Texas Baptist	Jr.	Religion	Bullard, Texas
James Simmons	Hardin-Simmons	Sr.	Accounting / Finance	Abilene, Texas
Houston Holmes	Howard Payne	Sr.	Ex. and Sport Science	Brownwood, Texas
Garrett Methvin	LeTourneau	Jr.	Kinesiology	Longview, Texas
Chaston Lacaze	Louisiana College	Jr.	Health and P.E.	Kolin, La.
Danny Horstman	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Jr.	Pre-Physical Therapy	Clifton, Texas
Brooks Fortenberry	Mississippi College	So.	Kinesiology	Magee, Miss.
Sam Shook	Ozarks	So.	Mathematics	Katy, Texas
Chris Whitehead	Schreiner	Sr.	Exercise Science	Edna, Texas
Josh Vasquez	Sul Ross State	So.	Business Administration	Lubbock, Texas
Tanner Gandy	Texas-Dallas	Jr.	Business Administration	Belton, Texas
Matt Sheppard	Texas-Tyler	Sr.	Marketing	Tyler, Texas

MEN'S GOLF

Name	Institution	Cl.	Major	Hometown
+ Jack Cersosimo	Concordia Texas	So.	Biology	Austin, Texas
Ryan Hughes	Hardin-Simmons	So.	Exercise Science	New Braunfels, Texas
Hayden Adams	LeTourneau	Sr.	Engineering Materials	Newark, Texas
Dillon Dunbar	Louisiana College	So.	Biology	Marksville, La.
Justin Judkins	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Jr.	Exercise & Sport Science	San Antonio, Texas
Ethan Doan	Mississippi College	Jr.	Kinesiology	Forney, Texas
Cheyne Kendall	Schreiner	So.	Graphic Design	Deer Park, Texas
Brad Panske	Texas Dallas	So	Undeclared	Green Bay, Wis.
Joey Rippel	Texas-Tyler	Sr.	Finance	Sugar Land, Texas
Jacob Garza	Texas Lutheran	Jr.	Accounting	Corpus Christi, Texas

WOMEN'S GOLF

Name	Institution	Cl.	Major	Hometown
+ Kayla Burch	Concordia Texas	Sr.	Accounting	Magnolia, Texas
Kacy Bartlett	Hardin-Simmons	So.	Marketing	Wellington, Texas
Taylor O'Rear	Mary Hardin-Baylor	So.	Nursing	Belton, Texas
Melanie Dean	Schreiner	Jr.	Marketing	League City, Texas
Katie Walser	Texas-Dallas	Sr.	Historical Studies	Downers Grove, Ill.
Jordan Sloane	Texas-Tyler	So.	Criminal Justice	Cypress, Texas
Macy Glass	Texas Lutheran	So.	Biology	Bryan, Texas

SOFTBALL

Name	Institution	Cl.	Major	Hometown
+ Lya Swaner	East Texas Baptist	Sr.	Chemistry / Biology	St. Paul, Texas
Christina Smith	Concordia Texas	Sr.	Biology	Mesa, Ariz.
Carley Willis	Hardin-Simmons	So.	Biology	Hurst, Texas
Jourdan Glover	LeTourneau	Jr.	Finance	Ft. Worth, Texas
Katie Poerner	Howard Payne	Sr.	Mathematics	Comfort, Texas
Brianna Hall	Louisiana College	Sr.	Biology	Shreveport, La.
Caitlin Bollier	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Sr.	Exercise & Sport Science	Kerrville, Texas
Catherine Brand	Mississippi College	Jr.	Elem. Education	Hickory, Miss.
Shawnee Sorensen	Ozarks	So.	Biology	Mountainburg, Ark.
Charis Sultemeier	Schreiner	Jr.	Nursing	Lago Vista, Texas
Maile Hoyt	Sul Ross State	So.	Kinesiology	Toyah, Texas
Hannah Creech	Texas-Dallas	So.	Marketing	Lake Jackson, Texas
Rachel Howell	Texas-Tyler	Sr.	Kinesiology	Bossier, La.
Megan Carmichael	Texas Lutheran	Sr.	Accounting	Yoakum, Texas

MEN'S TENNIS

Name	Institution	Cl.	Major	Hometown
+ Todd Turner	Ozarks	So.	Biology	Pearcy, Ark.
Nicholas Larzabal	East Texas Baptist	Jr.	University Studies	Bogota, Columbia
Jesse Rawlings	Hardin-Simmons	Sr.	Athletic Training	Mt. Pleasant, Texas
Carlos Cantu	LeTourneau	Sr.	Business Administration	Brownsville, Texas
Nathan Boles	Louisiana College	Sr.	Biology	Pineville, Louisiana
Collin Davies	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Jr.	Chemistry	Pasadena, Texas
Matthew Martin	Mississippi College	So.	Biology / Pre-Med	Laurel, Miss.
Nathan West	Schreiner	Sr.	Marketing	Greenley, Colo.
Geoffrey Schuette	Sul Ross State	Sr.	Mathematics	Grady, Texas
Camden Cornwell	Texas-Dallas	Sr.	Economics	Lafayette, La.
Edward Timponi	Texas-Tyler	Jr.	Finance	Rio de Janiero, Brazil
David Schneider	Texas Lutheran	Sr.	Business Management	San Antonio, Texas

WOMEN'S TENNIS

Name	Institution	Cl.	Major	Hometown
+ AshLee Bilbo	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Jr.	Organism Biology	College Station, Texas
Kayla Franklin	East Texas Baptist	So.	Kinesiology	Princeton, Texas
Genene Haddad	Hardin-Simmons	Jr.	Elementary Education	Vernon, Texas
Larissa Lynskey	Howard Payne	So.	Biology	Anton, Texas
Miranda Lamb	LeTourneau	Jr.	Psychology	Burkburnnett, Texas
Hannah Ingerson	Louisiana College	So.	Accounting / Theatre	Shreveport, La.
Abby Bassie	Mississippi College	So.	Biology / Pre-Med	Gunnison, Miss.
Whitney Lewis	Ozarks	Jr.	Management / Admin.	Hartman, Ark.
Kelley Spahn	Schreiner	Sr.	Exercise Science	Gonzales, Texas
Rachel Houston	Texas Dallas	Sr.	Biology	Plano, Texas
Amy Friesenhahn	Texas-Tyler	So.	Political Science	Austin, Texas
Caitlin Zarr	Texas Lutheran	So.	Business Management	La Grange, Texas

MEN'S TRACK & FIELD

Name	Institution	Cl.	Major	Hometown
+ Jake Waddingham	Texas-Tyler	Sr.	Pol. Science / Journalism	Macksburg, Iowa
Matt Ruhe	Concordia Texas	So.	Physical Therapy	The Woodlands, Texas
Zeth Barron	Hardin-Simmons	Jr.	Exercise Science	Eastland, Texas
Shane Brogdon	Mississippi College	Sr.	Kinesiology	Birmingham, Ala.
Miguel Ramirez	Sul Ross State	So.	Kinesiology	El Paso, Texas

WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD

Name	Institution	Cl.	Major	Hometown
+ Ashley Meadows	Texas Lutheran	Jr.	Biology / Chemistry	Marion, Texas
Megan Wagenaar	Concordia Texas	Jr.	Business	Missouri City, Texas
Kami Bellah	Hardin-Simmons	Sr.	Speech Pathology	Merkel, Texas
Meredith Johnson	Mississippi College	So.	Kinesiology	Vancleave, Miss.
Debbie Jernigan	Sul Ross State	So.	Business Systems & Tech	Abilene, Texas
Baylee Talaska	Texas-Tyler	Sr.	Kinesiology	San Antonio, Texas

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