ASC Announces Winter / Spring Distinguished Scholar Athletes
6/8/2016 8:54:17 AM
ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athletes
RICHARDSON, Texas - Ten student-athletes from five different member universities headline the 2015-16 Winter / Spring American Southwest Conference Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Teams, the league office announced on Thursday (June 11).
The University of Texas at Tyler led with five Distinguished Scholar-Athlete awards. Michelle Obach in women's basketball, Raven Rodriguez in softball, Frankie Fisher in men's tennis and Conner Benson and Krista Painter in men's and women's track and field. Conner Combs from East Texas Baptist received the baseball award and Justin Jones from Hardin-Simmons was the recipient for men's basketball. Frankie Fischer of Texas-Tyler and Kayla Casey of East Texas Baptist were named the men's and women's tennis award winners and Tanner Landry of Texas Dallas and Elizabeth Davis of Mary Hardin-Baylor received the men's and women's golf awards.
Overall, 93 student-athletes were named to the American Southwest Conference Winter / Spring 2015-16 Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Teams.
The Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Teams recognizes 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 select a Distinguished Scholar-Athlete in each sport.
Conner Combs is the third East Texas Baptist student-athlete to receive the ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete award in baseball. The ASC Player of the Year and Scholar-Athlete Medal of Honor recipient, Combs is the first ASC student-athlete in any sport to receive the CoSIDA Division III Academic All-American of the Year award. A D3baseball.com third team All-American, Combs also picked up American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) / Rawlings First Team All-Region honors. Combs led the ASC in home runs (15) and was the league leader in slugging percentage (.734). He ranked second in the ASC in RBI (52) and also was second in total bases (116). He ranked fifth in stolen bases (20), sixth in batting average (.399) and ninth in hits (63).
Justin Jones was named the ASC Defensive Player of the Year, first-team All-ASC and was first-team All-ASC West Division. He set the HSU and ASC records for blocks in a season (122), was selected to the All-South Region teams by the National Basketball Coaches Association and D3hoops.com. Jones led the Cowboys to their first ASC title and to the second round of the NCAA Division III Championship. Jones is the second HSU player to receive the ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete award in men's basketball joining Jim Walter (2013-14).
Michelle Obach made history as the first Texas-Tyler recipient of the ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete award in women's basketball. Obach was the catalyst for a Patriots team that went 30-2 and made its first appearance in the Elite Eight of the NCAAA Division III Championship. Named a Division III All-American by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, Obach was one of 10 players in Division III to earn the honor which was selected by a vote of the WBCA selection committee. Obach led the ASC in three-point field goal percentage (.457), ranked third in scoring (18.1), and assists (109), fourth in field goal percentage (.456) and three-point field goals (69) and fifth in free throw percentage (.768).
While just a junior athletically; Tanner Landry has already received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Texas Dallas. He has a 4.00 grade point average and was recently named the first CoSIDA Academic All-American in UTD men's golf history. He played in 15 rounds for the Comets with a scoring average of 80.27 and finished 33rd at the ASC Championship Tournament. Landry joins Surya Prakash (2010) as the second UTD recipient of the ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete in men's golf.
Elizabeth Davis led Mary Hardin-Baylor in stroke average (76.95) and was selected to compete in the NCAA Division III National Championship as an individual. Named All-West Region by the Women's Golf Coaches Association, Davis posted five top-five finishes and was the ASC Tournament Individual runner-up. She is a three-time All-Conference and three-time Academic All-Conference selection and received first team CoSIDA Academic All-District honors. Davis is the second UMHB player in the last three years to receive the ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete award in women's golf.
Raven Rodriguez is the second consecutive Patriot to receive ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete award in softball. A CoSIDA Academic All-American, Rodriguez also received All-American honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. The ASC Player of the Year, Rodriguez started all 54 games at shortstop for the Patriots en route to their first NCAA Division III Championship in softball. The Division III active leader with 202 games played, Rodriguez led the ASC in total bases (120) and hits (72), tied for second in home runs (11) and ranked third in RBI (58), slugging percentage (.698) and sixth in runs scored (42).
Frankie Fischer competed in the NCAA Division III National Championships as an individual for the second straight season and played in doubles with teammate Arthur Fagundes. Fischer and Fagundes went 14-5 as doubles partners this season, secured an 8-1 win in the ASC Championship finals and entered the NCAA tournament having won seven straight matches. They earned an 8-6 win against No. 3 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in the NCAA tournament in No. 1 doubles after taking a 9-8 (6-0) victory over of Whitman. Fischer is 41-9 in his two seasons at Texas-Tyler in doubles action. He has an 18-6 doubles record as a senior after also going 3-1 with Jose McIntyre and 1-0 with Keaton McCormick. Fischer is the third Patriot selected as the ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete in men's tennis.
Kayla Casey is the first East Texas Baptist student-athlete to receive the ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete award in women's tennis. With her career ending after just one year at ETBU, Casey set the record for awards for the program. She was the ASC East Division Player of the Year, Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year, and Newcomer of the Year. Named All-ASC at No. 1 singles and doubles, Casey was also a three-time ASC East Division player of the week and won the ITA Southwest Regional Individual tournament. Casey led ETBU in its best season with 14 match victories and a runner-up finish in the ASC Championship Tournament.
Conner Benson is the fourth Patriot to be named the ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete in men's track and field in the eight-year history of the award. Benson led the Patriots to their fourth consecutive ASC cross country championship with the High Point Athlete of the Year Award (26) with wins in the 5,000 meter and 10,000 meters.
Krista Painter is the first Patriot to be named the ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete in women's track and field. She won the 5,000 meters and the 10,000 meters at the ASC Championships and also finished fourth in the 800 meter and third in the 1,500 meters.
ASC Winter / Spring 2015-16 Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Teams
Sport's Distinguished Scholar-Athlete*
Baseball
| Name |
University |
Cl. |
Major |
Hometown |
| Conner Combs* |
East Texas Baptist |
Jr. |
Business |
Southlake, Texas |
| Daniel Ammirati |
Belhaven |
Jr. |
Sports Administration |
New York City, N.Y. |
| Colton Poindexter |
Concordia Texas |
Jr. |
Finance |
Humble, Texas |
| Blake Northrop |
Hardin-Simmons |
Jr. |
Biology |
Mansfield, Texas |
| Cliff Lunceford |
Howard Payne |
So. |
Engineering Science |
Fort Worth, Texas |
| Taylor Empkey |
LeTourneau |
Sr. |
Biblical Studies |
Bedford, Texas |
| Austin Taylor |
Louisiana College |
Jr. |
Business Administration |
Pineville, La. |
| Seth Martin |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
So. |
Accounting |
Gatesville, Texas |
| Chris Baker |
McMurry |
Jr. |
History Grades 8-12 |
San Angelo, Texas |
| Grady Finley |
Univ. of Ozarks |
Sr. |
Health Science |
Sheridan, Ark. |
| Trent Pearson |
Sul Ross State |
Sr. |
BBA Business Admin. |
Lubbock, Texas |
| David McKenzie |
Texas Dallas |
Sr. |
Information Technology |
Dallas, Texas |
| Alex Bishop |
Texas-Tyler |
So. |
Mechanical Engineering |
Calgary, Alberta |
Men's Basketball
| Name |
University |
Cl. |
Major |
Hometown |
| Justin Jones* |
Hardin-Simmons |
Jr. |
Finance |
Holliday, Texas |
| Rashad Coleman |
Concordia Texas |
Jr. |
Kinesiology |
San Antonio, Texas |
| Bret Atkins |
East Texas Baptist |
Sr. |
English Education |
Zagreb, Croatia |
| J Bailey |
Howard Payne |
Jr. |
Pre-Law / Honors Academy |
Gunter, Texas |
| Giovanny Thompson |
LeTourneau |
Sr. |
History |
Klein, Texas |
| Russell Green |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Sr. |
Pre-Physical Therapy |
Klein, Texas |
| Thierry Tchenko |
McMurry |
Jr. |
Political Science |
Houston, Texas |
| Dillon Gash |
Univ. of Ozarks |
Jr. |
Mathematics |
Elkins, Ark. |
| Damien Rodriquez |
Sul Ross State |
Jr. |
BBA Business Admin. |
San Antonio, Texas |
| Dapo Ogunfeitmi |
Texas Dallas |
Jr. |
Accounting / Finance |
San Antonio, Texas |
Women's Basketball
| Name |
University |
Cl. |
Major |
Hometown |
| Michelle Obach* |
Texas-Tyler |
Jr. |
Political Science |
Tyler, Texas |
| Candler Gregory |
Belhaven |
Jr. |
Chemistry |
Hampton, Ga. |
| Ally Terry |
Concordia Texas |
Sr. |
Kinesiology |
Austin, Texas |
| Morgan Garrett |
East Texas Baptist |
Sr. |
Physical Education |
Coushatta, La. |
| Heidi Schroeder |
Hardin-Simmons |
So. |
Exercise Science |
Montgomery, Texas |
| Kristin Cunningham |
Howard Payne |
Jr. |
Exercise & Sport Science |
Carrollton, Texas |
| Alexandria Burroughs |
LeTourneau |
Jr. |
Psychology |
Houston, Texas |
| Kortney Kling |
Louisiana College |
Jr. |
Media / Journalism |
Lafayette, La. |
| Mackenzie Coffey |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Jr. |
Pre-Physical Therapy |
Pflugerville, Texas |
| Taylor Russell |
McMurry |
Sr. |
Biomedical Science |
Liberty Hill, Texas |
| Ashley Hipps |
Univ. of Ozarks |
Sr. |
Health Sci. / Psychology |
Greenland, Ark. |
| Madison Steele |
Texas Dallas |
Jr. |
Undeclared |
Dripping Springs, Texas |
Men's Golf
| Name |
University |
Cl. |
Major |
Hometown |
| Tanner Landry* |
Texas Dallas |
Jr. |
Finance |
The Hills, Texas |
| Lucas Almond |
Concordia Texas |
Sr. |
Management |
Dallas, Texas |
| Daniel Kay |
LeTourneau |
Jr. |
Management |
Mansfield, Texas |
| Jarrod Brown |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Jr. |
Engineering Science |
Groves, Texas |
| Buddy Hallman |
Texas-Tyler |
Sr. |
Finance |
Richmond, Texas |
Women's Golf
| Name |
University |
Cl. |
Major |
Hometown |
| Elizabeth Davis* |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Gr. |
Master's of Sports Admin. |
Houston, Texas |
| Shelby Allen |
Concordia Texas |
Jr. |
Marketing |
Magnolia, Texas |
| Kara Doege |
Hardin-Simmons |
Sr. |
Comm. Sciences |
Monahans, Texas |
| Alisa Wilson |
LeTourneau |
Jr. |
Biology |
Snohomish, Wash. |
| Morgan Dennis |
Louisiana College |
Jr. |
Business / Accounting |
Opelousas, La. |
| Randi Hanfeld |
McMurry |
Sr. |
Ex. Science / Human Per. |
Odessa, Texas |
| Hailey Hollas |
Texas Dallas |
So. |
Management |
Richmond, Texas |
| Stephanie Tutt |
Texas-Tyler |
So. |
Mechanical Engineering |
McKinney, Texas |
Softball
| Name |
University |
Cl. |
Major |
Hometown |
| Raven Rodriguez* |
Texas-Tyler |
Sr. |
Kinesiology |
Houston, Texas |
| Makenzie Hawkins |
Belhaven |
Sr. |
Communications |
Nettleton, Miss. |
| Brooke Jones |
Concordia Texas |
Sr. |
Computer Science |
Rowlett, Texas |
| Lacey Lindsey |
East Texas Baptist |
Jr. |
Nursing |
Leander, Texas |
| Sarah Truelove |
Hardin-Simmons |
Sr. |
Exercise Science |
Temple, Texas |
| Allison Eaton |
Howard Payne |
Gr. |
Masters of Bus. Admin. |
Briggs, Texas |
| Courtney Matulis |
LeTourneau |
Jr. |
Math Education |
Pittsburg, Texas |
| Jessica Johnson |
Louisiana College |
Sr. |
Psychology |
Deville, La. |
| Karley Free |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
So. |
Sport Management |
Henderson, Texas |
| Krysten Shavers |
Univ. of Ozarks |
Jr. |
Business Administration |
Waco, Texas |
| Jackie Gonzalez |
Sul Ross State |
So. |
BS Biology |
El Paso, Texas |
| Stefanie Polderman |
Texas Dallas |
So. |
Biochemistry |
West Vancouver, B.C. |
Men's Tennis
| Name |
University |
Cl. |
Major |
Hometown |
| Frankie Fischer* |
Texas-Tyler |
Sr. |
Biology |
Georgetown, Texas |
| Harry Amor |
Belhaven |
Sr. |
Business / Accounting |
Chandigarh, India |
| Jack Proctor |
Concordia Texas |
Sr. |
Religious Education |
Fairfax Station, Va. |
| Tyler Tolopka |
East Texas Baptist |
Sr. |
Biology |
Sugar Land, Texas |
| Ben Gutierrez |
Hardin-Simmons |
So. |
Economics / Finance |
Dumas, Texas |
| Isaac Williams |
Howard Payne |
So. |
Youth Ministry |
May, Texas |
| Morgan Weaver |
LeTourneau |
Sr. |
Mechanical Engineering |
Jacksonville, Texas |
| Scott Wilding |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Jr. |
Nursing |
College Station, Texas |
| Carlos Perez |
McMurry |
Sr. |
Ex. Science / Human Per. |
Harlingen, Texas |
| Dillon Murray |
Univ. of Ozarks |
Jr. |
Health Science |
West Helena, Ark. |
| Gunner Gardner |
Sul Ross State |
Jr. |
BA History |
Granger, Texas |
| Ryan Morton |
Texas Dallas |
So. |
Mechanical Engineering |
Odessa, Texas |
Women's Tennis
| Name |
University |
Cl. |
Major |
Hometown |
| Kayla Casey* |
East Texas Baptist |
Sr. |
University Studies |
Franklin, Texas |
| Ivanna Echezuria |
Belhaven |
Sr. |
Accounting |
Caracas, Venezuela |
| Shayne Cook |
Hardin-Simmons |
Jr. |
Pre-Physical Therapy |
Abilene, Texas |
| Brittony Walker |
Howard Payne |
Sr. |
Family Studies |
Abilene, Texas |
| Rachel Morisseau |
LeTourneau |
So. |
Early Childhood Ed. |
Fort Worth, Texas |
| Elizabeth Ostroff |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Sr. |
Psychology |
The Woodlands, Texas |
| Madison Hathorn |
McMurry |
Sr. |
Business Administration |
Abilene, Texas |
| Maggie Johnson |
Univ. of Ozarks |
Jr. |
Physical Education |
Munford, Tenn. |
| Alexa Gallardo |
Sul Ross State |
So. |
BS Animal Science Pre-Vet |
El Paso, Texas |
| Kelly Reed |
Texas Dallas |
Jr. |
Finance / Economics |
Arlington, Texas |
| Tori Musngi |
Texas-Tyler |
Jr. |
Kinesiology |
Rowlett, Texas |
Men's Track and Field
| Name |
University |
Cl. |
Major |
Hometown |
| Connor Benson* |
Texas-Tyler |
Sr. |
Kinesiology |
Humble, Texas |
| Cody Blankenship |
East Texas Baptist |
Jr. |
Business |
Hallsville, Texas |
| Kaelon McLemore |
Hardin-Simmons |
Jr. |
Business Management |
Duncanville, Texas |
| Chris Veail |
McMurry |
Sr. |
Psychology |
Abilene, Texas |
Women's Track and Field
| Name |
University |
Cl. |
Major |
Hometown |
| Krista Painter* |
Texas-Tyler |
So. |
Political Science |
Mission Viejo, Calif. |
| Madison Schumaker |
Belhaven |
Jr. |
Sports Med. / Ex. Science |
Moscow, Idaho |
| Hannah Godwin |
East Texas Baptist |
Jr. |
Athletic Training |
Spring, Texas |
| Paige Goen |
Hardin-Simmons |
Sr. |
Kinesiology / Sport Mgmt. |
Santo, Texas |
| Shantel Thomas |
McMurry |
Jr. |
Chemistry |
Highlands, Texas |
| Kathleen Norris |
Sul Ross State |
So. |
BS Animal Science Pre-Vet |
Fort Worth, Texas |